Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News
Victoria, 14, a St. Jude’s Ranch resident, catches a penguin snowman from falling over while preparing for the Night of Lights at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.
Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 | 11:47 a.m.
Those who come out to Boulder City for Christmas could get a lot of face time with Santa.
Drop him (and Mrs. Claus) a few hints. Butter them up with cookies. Pad your good-deed record for 2008. The Boulder City Christmas starts with Santa lighting the tree in the center of the historic district, and continues with the annual Nevada Southern Railroad excursion with the Claus family.
The 6 p.m. Friday tree lighting is an important community event, said Jill Lagan, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer.
The Elton M. Garrett Junior High choir, under the direction of Pam Barlow, will perform prior to Santa and Jingle Cat's grand entrance, she said.
"They magically turn on the Christmas tree," Lagan said. "The lights will flash on and stay on until shortly after New Year's."
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6, Santa appears for a "picture party" in the Bicentennial Park gazebo on Colorado Street.
"It's nothing like the malls," Lagan said.
It's free. And there's a very short wait. If you didn't catch Santa yet, you could be viewing him from afar. He'll be on the move.
Santa will hop in his modern form of transportation — gas powered — for the 4:30 p.m. Santa's Electrical Night Parade. It begins at Nevada Way at Colorado Street. This year more than 70 entries are expected for the hourlong parade. Cox Cable channel 19 will be filming the event. For more information contact the chamber of commerce at 293-2034.
Getting up close to Santa won't be as difficult on the seventh annual Santa Train, leaving the 601 Yucca St. depot hourly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and 13-14. Santa will have few places to hide from eager children while the train is chugging up the historic tracks of the Boulder branch line.
Greg Corbin, Nevada State Railroad Museum director, recommends getting tickets ahead to avoid the lines. Each train seats 300 and most will want Santa time. The holiday rate is $2 a seat.
"The train ride will last 40 minutes and Santa and Mrs. Claus will come and greet all the children," he said. "Free candy canes will be passed out at the end."
The Southern Nevada Chapter of the Toy Train Operating Society will have model trains on display.
If you couldn't get Santa's ear, there's a North Pole mailbox at the depot. Start practicing your present persuasion prose now. To buy Santa Train tickets call 486-5006.
If Santa sighting isn't your thing, Jesus could be your holiday celebrity encounter. The Luminaria live nativity is 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the gazebo in the park. Several local choir groups will perform at the free event.
Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or [email protected].
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy