Summerlin residents hold Hometown Holidays event

Thousands of lights decorated the trees while artificial snow flurries filled the air as Santa took his seat at The Gardens Community Center to greet thousands of Summerlin residents attending the community's annual event, Hometown Holidays.

The two-day, outdoor event has become an annual tradition for many Summerlin families who appreciate the opportunity to kick off the holiday season with family and friends in one of the most spirited seasonal gatherings of the year.

Featured activities include horse-drawn carriage rides; candy land train rides; sugar cookie decorating; children's arts and crafts projects; musical performances; face painting and visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus and other children's characters including the Grinch, Frosty and Rudolph.

The event is one of many annual events coordinated by The Summerlin Council, the nonprofit arm of the Summerlin Community Association that oversees the community's special events, social programs and sports leagues.

These special resident-only programs are part of the Summerlin lifestyle that comes standard with a home purchase in the community.

And that in and of itself is a reason to move to Summerlin, according to Kevin Orrock, president of Summerlin and executive vice president of master-planned communities for The Howard Hughes Corp.

"Summerlin residents enjoy a surplus of social and recreational programming that forge relationships, strengthen neighborhood ties and bring vibrancy and life to the community," Orrock said. "There isn't another community in Southern Nevada like Summerlin and we're proud of that."

Amenities include more than 150 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 miles of the Summerlin Trail System, 26 public and private schools, 14 houses of worship, nine golf courses, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities and business parks.

The community has more than three dozen actively selling floor plans priced from the $200,000s.

Visit www.summerlin.com for more information.