The garlands are hung, the lights are ready to light, and downtown Silver City waits quietly for the biggest shopping weekend of the year - and for Saturday's 21st Annual Silver City Lighted Christmas Parade.
“Every year, we hear about this special and that deal at the malls out of town, so local merchants got together and put together an amazing weekend of events to remind people that many of the best gift ideas are right here at home,” said Nick Seibel, Silver City MainStreet manager. “From original art to clothes to toys to books to home furnishings to food, downtown has more unique shopping than you can find in any mall - and money spent here supports your neighbors and your community.”
Always popular with kids of all ages, free horse-drawn trolley rides will return to Bullard street from noon to 6 pm both Friday and Saturday. The trolley will pick up riders at Home Furniture, 207 S Bullard, and circuit up and down Bullard.
Saturday, better known as Lighted Christmas Parade day, will feature a number of activities beyond just the parade. Silver City Town Councilor Jose Ray, Jr. and MainStreet are sponsoring two showings of How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Silco Theater at 1 pm and 3 pm. Thanks to the support of LULAC Council 8003, AmBank and First NM Bank, admission is free with the donation of one can of food, to be distributed to organizations assisting the needy during the holidays.
Kids can get their first visit with Santa for the year at the corner of Market and Texas streets, with keepsake photographs available. Santa will meet with children from 1 pm until just before the parade begins at 7 pm. Just around the corner at the Silco Theater, 311 N Bullard, MainStreet will offer free gift wrapping for downtown purchases from 1 to 4 pm.
Broadway and Bullard will be closed to parking after 5:30 pm and closed to all traffic after 6 pm. Handicapped parking is available in front of the old post office, next to the Silver City Museum.
“Traditionally, many families come downtown early to stake out a good spot for the parade, and we'll have plenty of entertainment available for them during the wait,” Seibel said. “A number of local non-profit organizations will be selling hot drinks and goodies on the sidewalk for paradegoers, and holiday carolers will roam the streets of downtown prior to 7 pm.”
New this year to the pre-parade entertainment lineup is a free concert by the Silver City Christmas Orchestra, a group of local musicians organized just for the purpose of spreading holiday cheer. The group, which will be performing at a number of locations around Grant County throughout the holiday season, will hold their inaugural concert in the Silco Theater beginning at 5:30 pm on Saturday. Donations will be accepted for the MainStreet holiday decoration fund.
Just before the parade begins, MainStreet volunteers will be distributing Downtown Holiday Passports on the sidewalks. Passport holders will find a list of downtown retailers on the card, and anyone visiting all the businesses and returning their passport on the December 2 First Friday will be entered in a drawing for $250 in MainStreet gift certificates.
The parade will begin at 7 pm, when the streetlights will be extinguished, and the floats will begin their descent down Broadway from the Grant County Courthouse. The parade entries, built by community organizations and businesses, will continue onto Bullard street and up to Pope street, ending the parade near Gough Park. Be on the lookout for Santa Claus and his kindergarten helpers, the winners of MainStreet's Holiday Art Contest.
This year's parade theme, “Christmas in the Great New Mexico Territory,” celebrates the history of New Mexico in the years leading up to statehood.
“We're going to have a Statehood Day Celebration on January 6,” Seibel said, “but the parade committee thought it would be nice to incorporate some of our history into the parade, too.”
Long-time residents of Grant County will judge the parade entries on theme, lighting, child appeal, and originality. Awards will be presented at a reception at the Visitors' Center immediately following the parade. The public is welcome to come see who the winners are and enjoy free holiday cookies and hot drinks.