Pilgrimages, performances and luminarias: Take a look at these festive events
LAS CRUCES – Take a look at these festive events scheduled in the area this weekend.
Tortugas Pueblo Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Tortugas Pueblo’s annual Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe is once again open to the public. The Corporación de Los Indigenes de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe hosts the festivities Dec. 10-12, including a pilgrimage up Tortugas “A” Mountain on Dec. 11, historically attended by hundreds of people.
The festival begins Dec. 10 with a procession of the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe, followed by a vigil. Lunch will be served the third day and matachines groups will perform traditional dances.
Los Pastores del Valle de Mesilla performances
“Los Pastores,” the story of the pilgrimage the shepherds took to see the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem, will be performed twice over the weekend. Los Pastores del Valle de Mesilla perform the traditional story annually at various locations in the area.
Performances of “Los Pastores” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1327 N. Miranda St., and at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 at Holy Cross Retreat Center Chapel, 600 Holy Cross Road. Both performances are free and open to the public.
Illuminate: A New Christmas Experience
Las Cruces First, a long-established multicultural church, will host three showings of what they describe as a “unique Christmas experience.” Shows include “epic” music, along with lighting and visual effects.
Shows are at 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 2 p.m. Dec. 10 and 7 p.m. Dec. 10. Doors open half an hour ahead of the performance. Las Cruces First is located at 5605 Bataan Memorial West. Seating is free, but first-come, first-served.
ACTion Programs for Animals’ Holiday Open House
ACTion Programs for Animals is hosting a holiday open house Saturday, which will also double as a ribbon cutting for its new facility. The nonprofit animal shelter, which largely pulls animals from Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley, moved into its location on Solano Drive at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with rescuing dogs and cats, APA is working toward making Las Cruces a no-kill community.
The public is invited to visit the facility from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Tours, pet photos, ribbon cuttings, food trucks, holiday sweater contests and more are planned. APA is at 537 N. Solano Drive.
Holiday at the Depot
Las Cruces Railroad Museum is hosting Holiday at the Depot from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 9. The open house is a free event where people can enjoy holiday lights and decorations at the depot.
Children also have the opportunity to make winter crafts at the depot from 11 a.m. to noon Dec. 14 and 21. Letters to Santa Claus will be sent to the North Pole by train if dropped in the mailbox at the depot before Dec. 17. Responses will be available three days after a letter is sent.
The Las Cruces Railroad Museum is at 351 N. Mesilla Ave.
A Celestial Evening on the Dunes
Southwest Expeditions is offering a special “Celestial Evening on the Dunes” at White Sands National Park on Saturday, Dec. 10, with Native storytelling and more. Alex Mares will bring “Coyote Winter Stories” to life.
Attendees will also receive a dinner of fajitas, a complimentary glass of wine and camp chair seating next to several fire puts. Cost is $69 per attendees, not including the park entrance fee. The program starts at 4:30 p.m. at the park entrance and will conclude around 8 p.m.
Seating is limited. Reservations can be made online at swexpeditions.com or by calling 877-808-6877.
Meet Krampus at Zia Comics
Have you been misbehaving this season? Come out to Zia Comics from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 and meet Krampus. The demon will be on site to take pictures with for free. Zia Comics is at 125 N. Main St.
Iluminando Las Montañas
Luminarias will be illuminating the beautiful Dripping Springs Trail head from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. The event is free. Luminaria crafts, loteria prizes, warm drinks and tamales will all be available.
The luminaria and public lands celebration is hosted by Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project in partnership with various other land and community-centered organizations. Dripping Springs Natural Area is at 15000 Dripping Springs Road.
RIFA Toy Run to Hatch
Motorcyclists will be traveling from Las Cruces to Hatch Saturday delivering new toys to children at Rio Grande Elementary School. Bikers will meet at the Field of Dreams, 2300 Tashiro Dr., at 11 a.m. and will be escorted north on Highway 185. The elementary school, located at 940 Herrera Rd. in Hatch, will be the meeting place. Food will be provided for kids and riders.
Admittance is $20 per bike and a new, unwrapped toy.
2nd Annual Holiday Booknanza Signing and Sale
Las Cruces Writers is holding their second annual Holiday Booknanza event from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Mesilla Valley Mall, located at 700 S. Telshor Blvd. Local authors will be set up with their published works, which will be available for purchase and signing. Authors and at least one of their titles include:
Jim Humphreys – “My Friends Walk Barefoot”
Desiree Bustamantes – “Tell Me About You!”
George Pintar – “Tombstones of Famous or Near Famous People”
Frank Mantua – “Eye For The Work”
Andrea Messineo – “Alone In Church”
Janie Franz – “Handful of Dirt”
Susan Pfeiffer – “The Dusty Attic”
Rosemary Matos – “Promises From Cuba”
Bob Worthington – “The Making of An Army Psychologist, From Fighting in Vietnam to Treating Fellow Veterans
David Osterhout – “OINK, Only in North Korea”
Fenton Kay – “La Llorona, a Carol Montgomery Murder Mystery
Charmayne Samuelson – “’What I Love!’ said Rubee Dove”
Mesilla Valley Chorale's December concert
The Mesilla Valley Chorale will present their annual Christmas/Holiday concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Performers will take to the Rio Grande Theatre stage, located at 211 N. Main St., to perform such classics as "Carol of the Bells," "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "Shepherd's Pipe Carol and more.Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at www.mesillavalleychorale.org/tickets or at the door.
Christmas for a Cause
The first annual Christmas for a Cause, hosted by Farmers Insurance Agent Pat Gavin, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Main St. The event is a partnership with the Salvation Army. The organization will be collecting coats, gifts and non-perishable food items at the event.Music, food trucks and local vendors will be offered on site. There will also be folklorico performances, cheerleading performances by Mesilla and Sonoma Elementary Schools, the Centennial High School Drumline and a special appearance by Santa Claus.
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Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Pilgrimages, performances and luminarias: Take a look at these festive events
