Cultural hub unites for December to Remember

The Cultural Corridor Coalition is preparing for another holiday-filled December to Remember , with events such as a statue dedication, arts and crafts and the addition of the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company.

The event kicks off with the dedication of the Helen J. Stewart statue at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, 500 E. Washington Ave., from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Attendees will learn about the history of "The First Lady of Las Vegas" and will be given an opportunity to meet her family members and Ben Victor, the statue's sculptor. Following the statue dedication will be Pioneer Christmas, which includes live music and historic demonstrations.

Ranger Don Bolton of the Old Mormon Fort said the statue dedication is an integral part of December to Remember.

"The statue of Helen Stewart being dedicated to the park is significant to Las Vegas," Bolton said. "With the statue at the fort, we'll be able to talk about the statue and the artifacts we'll have on display, like (Stewart's) books, letters and baskets."

The Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, plans to host arts and crafts workshops for each holiday, beginning with a greeting card workshop and a chance to decorate paper winter mittens planned from Saturday to Dec. 9. Planned holiday workshops include an opportunity to make a menorah for Hanukkah from Dec. 10 to 16, decorate a Christmas pine tree from Dec. 17 to 23 and a bracelet or Kwanzaa unity cup from Dec. 24 to 30.

Brock Radke, director of marketing for the museum, said the arts and crafts workshops are the highlights of the facility's events.

"For December to Remember, we really try to incorporate the theme of the holiday season into programs and workshops," Radke said. "Our winter-themed arts and crafts are a good way to bring families to the Cultural Corridor."

The Cultural Corridor Coalition welcomes a new member to its December to Remember events this year. The Las Vegas Shakespeare Company, 4675 W. Flamingo Road, has two events planned beginning Dec. 11 with a "fun -raiser" planned from noon to 4 p.m. at the theater. Families are invited to participate in a scavenger hunt and a raffle drawing, which includes a prize of eight tickets to "The Lion King" at Mandalay Bay. The company also plans free screenings of Shakespeare plays.

Dec. 17 the company invites everyone to join theater members in singing carols at each museum along the corridor.

Dan Decker, director of the company, said members are excited to take part in one of the Cultural Corridor's largest events of the year.

"We are very happy to help out the Cultural Corridor with their plans," Decker said. "It's a natural fit for us. It's the city's vision coming together in a really interesting way."

One of the Cultural Corridor's longtime December to Remember partners, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd. North, has events extending to Jan. 1. To coincide with the December to Remember kickoff, a concert from the Las Vegas Academy of Creative Arts Music Department is slated for 2:30 p.m. Saturday and includes a chance for attendees to make their own musical instruments. The events are set to conclude at 1:15 p.m. Jan. 1 with the opportunity to color a traditional Japanese doll in celebration of the New Year.

Marilyn Gillespie, executive director of the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, said the most notable event is the cultural fashion show, which is set to begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 17.

"Our cultural fashion show is something we are particularly proud of," Gillespie said. "We decorate for -- and illustrate -- all of the different cultural traditions from around the world. There are a lot of different cultures celebrated in the winter, and we want to show how they're celebrated."

For more information on December to Remember and for a full schedule of events, visit culturalcorridorvegas.org.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-0492.