Article and Photos by Charlie McKee
On a very chilly Friday evening, Dec. 6, the Kiwanis Club of Silver City held its annual Gazebo Lighting and Holiday Sing-Off in Gough Park. As the crowd gathered to watch the cheerful holiday lights brighten the Gough Park gazebo, three caroling groups prepared to perform and compete for the $200 first place prize, in spite of the cold.
2013 Gazebo Lighting Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off Sabrina Pack, President of the Kiwanis Club of Silver City, welcomes the crowd to the evening's festivities. Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off Bob Carson, past President of the Kiwanis Club, seemingly prays for power on his precarious perch prior to throwing the switch to light up the Gazebo. Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off Success! MC Michael Rowse (left on stage) congratulates past President Bob Carson (right on stage) on a job well done as lights sparkle from the Gazebo. Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off The Silver High Key Club gets ready to entertain the crowd with their rendition of "Jingle Bell Rock." Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off The K-Kids Club of 5th Graders gathers for their prize-winning performance. Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off The K-Kids' "Christmas Trees" ready themselves for a great performance! Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off The K-Kids won the crowd over with their song-and-dance routine, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"! Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off The Circle K International (CKI) carolers from WNMU light up the evening with beautiful harmony. Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off As evening falls and the Gazebo lights glisten, all of the carolers gather together on stage to loud applause. Kiwanis Gazebo Lighting & Holiday Sing-Off The audience finally succumbs to the cold and scurries for home and warmth, as the Gazebo shows off its new crown of holiday lights.
This year's carolers were: the Silver High Key Club; the K-Kids Club of 5th graders; and the Circle K International (CKI) group from Western New Mexico University. When the singing was over and the judging complete, the K-Kids -- who added a dance routine to their caroling -- walked away with the $200 prize to the exuberant cheering of the crowd. Of the total prize, $100 will go to the K-Kids' treasury, and $100 will go to the charity of their choice.
As dark settled on Gough Park and people hurried to leave to the warmth of their homes, the twinkling lights of the gazebo brought cheer to the night.