Northern area gears up for winter celebrations
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Hot summer days are now memories, and the beginning of festivities, hot chocolate and tree lightings are near. In the spirit of the holidays, North View takes a look at events planned in the area in December.
COWBOY CHRISTMAS
In a mixture of rural and urban style, Ward 6 Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross is bringing Cowboy Santa back for his signature annual event.
The Cowboy Christmas and Car Show is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road.
“This winter wonderland will be a step back to what Christmas used to be in the past,” said Jana Bruner, special assistant to Ross.
The event is set to include a car show and farmers market with food trucks and 40 vendors selling everything from jewelry to nuts and crafts.
Activities planned include hayrides, face painting, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, games, balloon artists and jump houses.
Local student choirs and musicians are also slated to perform throughout the day.
Cowboy Santa plans to set up inside a ranch house, where students from Arbor View High School are scheduled to take photos for a donation.
A canned food and toy drive will also take place at the event. The public is asked to bring new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots and canned food donations for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.
People can register their cars for the car show until the day of the event. The fee is $25 to register in advance or $35 cash only for on-site registration.
Admission and entrance to the park are free.
For more information, call 702-229-8100.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS
After spending time with Cowboy Santa, families are invited for a hometown celebration.
The Providence Master Homeowners Association is set to host its annual Hometown Holidays event from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at Knickerbocker Park, 10695 W. Dorrell Lane.
“This event was created to celebrate all of the holidays of December,” said Jenna Bell, lifestyle director at the association.
The festival is set to feature arts, crafts, live entertainment, pony rides and free cookie decorating.
A Christmas tree lighting is planned at 4:30 p.m., and a light show is slated at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Children will have an opportunity to make Christmas ornaments, Hanukkah Star of David crafts and Kwanzaa necklaces.
Santa Claus is scheduled to sit at his station for free photos, while the Grinch, P.D., Providence’s 7-foot-tall dog mascot, and Olaf, Anna and Elsa from the movie “Frozen” plan to make appearances for holiday photos.
Hot chocolate is to be sold for $1 in addition to other food and beverages.
Attendees will also have a chance to write messages to members of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed throughout the U.S. and overseas as well as veterans and military families, through the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.
In addition, a canned food drive benefiting Three Square food bank is planned.
Now in its sixth year, Bell said she expects between 2,000 and 3,000 people at the event.
Bell added that families could also bring their well-behaved dogs to the event as long as they’re leashed.
Admission is free.
For more information visit providencelv.com or call 702-216-2020.
CELEBRATION ON ICE
Christmas isn’t the same without a trip to the ice skating rink to watch a holiday performance.
“The Joy of Christmas,” the 10th annual winter holiday ice show, is planned at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 and 1 p.m. Dec. 14 at Fiesta Rancho SoBe Ice Arena, 2400 N. Rancho Drive.
“The show is centered on a simple message of helping people during the holidays,” said Camilla Nilsson, creator of the show and skating instructor.
The annual winter holiday ice show plans to feature local figure skaters ranging from 3 to 80 years old performing to music.
It follows the story of a group of school children who realize some families are less fortunate than others and want to help in any way possible. Throughout the show, the children come up with ideas to give back and create merriment for all.
Katie Freter, 12, is slated to perform her first solo as Olaf, the snowman character from “Frozen.”
“I look forward to the Christmas show every year,” she said. “It really gets people into the holiday spirit.”
The show is set to last 80 minutes.
General admission is $10, and VIP admission is $15, which includes prime seating.
A $2 discount is offered on all tickets in exchange for a donation of at least three canned goods.
For more information, call 702-631-7000.
WINGS IN WINTER
Families are invited to spend the holidays with exotic animals and the birds of Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary for a special collaborative event.
The second annual Wings In Winter is set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary, 8103 Racel St.
Roos-N-More, a private nonprofit zoo in Moapa, plans to bring a few of its exotic animals, including lemurs and monkeys, to interact with attendees.
Face painting, presentations with the animals and speakers are planned.
Vendors are set to be on site selling food and hot cocoa, and Santa Claus is scheduled to make an appearance and pose for photos with families.
In addition, participants will have a chance to make necklaces, bracelets and cockatoo sock puppets with Christmas sweaters.
“We have something for everyone,” said Carrie Marques, education and wellness director at the sanctuary. “It will be a unique experience to celebrate the holidays with this many animals.”
Admission is $10 and free for children younger than 2.
For more information, visit gnslasvegas.org or call 702-645-4224.
Contact North View reporter Sandy Lopez at slopez@viewnews.com or 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.
