Hundreds attend Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

ALAMOGORDO — On Friday evening about 400 residents came out to the city's annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, hosted for the first time in Washington Park.

Mayor Richard Boss, in his second year lighting the tree, was grateful for the new venue. 

"Last year we had a little snafu because someone had turned the lights on before the ceremony," Boss said. "So a decision was made not to turn them on again. Then the Chief of Police Daron Syling turned them off and contacted me and it took me a little while to get over there. Now we've got a lock box and I have control of the switch, it's much better." 

The event also offered free holiday fun for Alamogordo's youngest residents, such as visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus, photo opportunities, hot chocolate and cookies, children's games and an Ugly Sweater contest for both adults and children. 

"I think it was a great ceremony and a great way to break in our new stage," Boss said. "It was a fantastic turnout, at least several hundred people are here. It's more than we usually see." 

Over the last week, several departments within the City of Alamogordo collaborated to make the event come to life.

"Community Services, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Finance Department, the Fire Department – everyone was just incredible," said Community Services Director Ronnie Ortega. "It was a week of building (decorations) and then the brunt of the work was done (Friday)." 

City staff also re-purposed a large Christmas wreath they found in storage that was meant for City Hall and hung it on the Washington Park stage, facing First Street. The wreath and tree will be lit up during the rest of the holiday season.

"This brings families together and it's something very nice," Ortega said. "The staff enjoyed doing this, it was a lot of hard work but it is important for us to come together as a community and just be thankful for the things that we have in our city." 

Ortega hopes the new stage will be utilized next summer for performances by the Alamogordo Family Recreation Center's youth theater program. The stage is also available to rent by calling the Recreation Center at 439-4142.