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HOLIDAY EVENTS

Mesilla, Las Cruces Christmas tree lightings are Dec. 2, 3

NMSU luminaria lighting is Dec. 4

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The City of Las Cruces and the Town of Mesilla will light up the holidays this weekend with separate tree-lighting ceremonies.

The tree lighting in Mesilla will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, on the historic Mesilla Plaza. It will include performances by students from Mesilla Elementary School and Las Cruces Academy, said Mesilla Special Events Coordinator Dorothy M. Sellers. The Grinch will also be on hand for photo ops with visitors, she said.

The City of Las Cruces will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Main St. The lighting is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The event will include live music performed by local high school choirs, activities, photo opportunities, giveaways, refreshments, food trucks and activities for the whole family, the city said.

Following the City of Las Cruces tree lighting, Rio Grande Theatre, located across the street from the plaza, will show the movie “A Christmas Story” beginning at 8 p.m. Admission for the movie is $5 per person and doors will open after the tree-lighting ceremony.

Mesilla Christmas tree and luminarias

The Mesilla Christmas tree is 20 feet tall and takes four people approximately eight hours to put up, Sellers said.

The tree is “decorated with hundreds of ornaments provided by our friends at Mesilla Elementary,” she said. La Posta restaurant donates lights and garland around the plaza.”

Sellars said the Town of Mesilla buys more than 2,000 luminarias from the Las Cruces High School band and Los Leones de Mesilla. The LCHS baseball team will begin lighting the luminarias at the plaza and

“The Christmas season in Mesilla is truly magical,” Sellars said. “From the quaint shopping experiences to excellent dining and drinking experiences to the feeling of family and community at our events Mesilla is the place to be during the holiday season and always.”

Las Cruces Christmas tree

The City of Las Cruces Christmas tree is 42 feet high. with a 23-foot base, said city Recreational Administrator Phil Catanach. The tree has 400 ornaments and 3,600 LED lights. It is put together by nine city Parks and Recreation Department construction and right away/median crew members, Catanach said.

Luminarias at NMSU

New Mexico State University’s 37th annual “Noche de Luminarias” is 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, as more than 8,000 luminarias lining NMSU’s International Mall, the Alumni Duck Pond and Corbett Center Student Union, trailing down to the NMSU Horseshoe, will be lit.

The event will include Horse-driven carriage rides, hot cocoa, caroling, a movie showing in the grassy area across from Corbett Center and other activities, possibly including pop-up art exhibits and selfie stations, performances by NMSU bands, cheerleading rallies, crafts for kids, information, and giveaways.


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