Alamogordo celebrates Christmas with tree lighting ceremony

ALAMOGORDO – Christmas music echoed through Washington Park on Friday evening as a few hundred revelers celebrated the holidays at the City of Alamogordo’s second-annual tree lighting.

Revelers were able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, take photos in an inflatable photo booth, and admire the trees decorated by the Alamogordo Fire and Police departments. The first 300 people at the event got free cookies and a cup of stew.

The tree was illuminated at 6:30 p.m., following short speeches by City officials and a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by City Commissioner Nadia Sikes. 

Alamogordo spokeswoman Michelle Brideaux said the tree-lighting event was developed last year to augment the Olde Fashioned Christmas hosted by MainStreet and the Christmas parade.

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Brideaux said the tree is a permanent fixture of the park and will be used for successive holiday events, she said.

“We used to have a tree-lighting but it wasn’t an event like this,” she said. “We used to have a big tree that we would cut down in the forest and we’d put it up at the corner of White Sands and 10th. With the brand new stage, it’s a great place to have the event and bring the community out for the holidays and enjoy the holiday season.”

Alamogordo Special Events Manager Kerry Uribe said she was pleased with the turnout.

“Things are going great,” Uribe said. “We have a lot of people out here who are enjoying everything. The green chili stew from Hitch n’ Post really hit the spot in this cold weather. I’m really excited about the tree additions we’ve added this year.”

And there was no arguing with the delight on children’s faces when Santa arrived on a big firetruck.

Leland and Edwige Hall, of Holloman Air Force Base, said they brought their daughter to the tree-lighting and were dancing with her to the music.

“This is actually her first Christmas, so that’s why we wanted to come out and celebrate,” Leland said. “She’s loving it – she got a picture with Santa.”

While their daughter wasn’t able to articulate what kind of gifts she was hoping for, Edwige said she knew what she might be interested in.

“She doesn’t know what she wants yet, but she probably wants new books,” she said. “We like to read to her.”

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Alamogordo resident Sasha Saunders, visible in her holiday-themed top hat and Christmas lights necklace, said her visit to the local Christmas tree lighting was part of a tour to different regional holiday events.

Saunders said celebrating the holiday reminds her of her mom.

“I’ve been hitting every city. I’ve been to El Paso, I went to Las Cruces, Ruidoso, now here. I’ve come full circle,” she said. “It’s the atmosphere. Watching the kids enjoy this – it’s the highlight in their life when they’re that tiny.”

While Saunders looked festive in her Christmas get-up, she said someone had outdone her style-wise.

“It was at a worst Christmas sweater party – he put a mirror on his sweater,” she said.

The wind that kicked up during the event led to the cancellation of the gingerbread house-building relay, but Uribe said the evening’s other events went over well.

“We’re just trying to have something that feels like home during the holidays and brings everybody together and gets everyone in the holiday spirit,” she said. “It looks like everyone is having a really good time.”