Deck the Halls

Typically I go home to Maine for the holidays, but since I used up my vacation time during the summer I'm staying in Roswell this year. That's fine though, because as it turns out, there are a lot of great holiday-related things to do right in town. I think we can all agree that 2017 has been a challenging year, so let's take a break and look at some holiday lights.

These first pictures are from a relatively new event, the Roswell Christmas Railway. Founded in 2016 and sponsored by the City of Roswell, this event takes place at the Spring River Zoo, and it's a nice, family-oriented festivity.

I've shared sketches from the zoo on here many times over the years, but what you may not know is that there is a miniature train that takes you around the zoo. Most of the year it remains dormant, but between Thanksgiving and New Year's it gets covered in lights and escorts you to a pop-up holiday village complete with food vendors, shops, performance stages, and even Santa's workshop.

There are multiple light displays throughout the village, ranging from miniature buildings to more abstract constructions. The rectangular panels below synchronize to music. My favorite was the arrangement they did for Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, with the middle panel showing film footage of ballerinas. 

Part of the appeal of this event is its reliance on local talent. Artists and other volunteers around town help to set up the displays, and local businesses sponsor the displays. Several dance and musical groups perform here, including one I happen to play in, the Roswell Flute Ensemble.

This is the second year I've visited, and I have to say, I'm impressed with the expansions and improvements they've made to the event. There are more displays to check out, better-insulated tents to keep you warm, and plenty of vendors. I give a lot of credit to the Zoo for putting this together, and it's nice to see Roswell try out new things.

A few days after I visited the Christmas Railway I checked out the open house at the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico. On the way in I got to see a couple of historical cars from the early 1930s. As the owner of a Prius myself, I'm always a little taken aback at the size of these things. I love the designs though, you can definitely see the Art Deco influence.

I've been to the archives a few times to do research, but I hadn't been inside the main house for a few years, and what a pleasant surprise it was. The house dates from the early 20th century, and is a great example of Prairie Style in Roswell.

The house itself is already grand, but inside it's all been decorated with a Victorian Christmas theme replete with garlands, wreaths, and lots of trees. They've also updated the exhibits upstairs since I last visited, so I enjoyed having the opportunity to check those out. If you're in town and haven't checked it out, I recommend it. This was one of the first places I visited when I moved to Roswell, and it provided a great overall introduction to the city.

Of all the events I've attended though, the most elaborate is undoubtedly Christmas Around the World, held every year at the Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame in Hobbs. I went here a few weeks ago with a couple of my coworkers, and while it is a 2-hour drive each way from Roswell to Hobbs, it's definitely worth it.

They pull out of all of the stops for this event, but like the Christmas Railway, it relies heavily on local talent. One resident, Bonnie Moran, sets up an elaborate miniature village of the North Pole in the main exhibition gallery, while different organizations and groups decorate a veritable fleet of Christmas trees. A mariachi group also performs in the Museum's auditorium.

The trees are especially fun to look at because they reflect the different personalities of the groups involved. Some went for a western theme, while another went with a wildlife theme. My personal favorite of the trees was this one, covered in reproductions of Victorian illustrations for seed packets. I mean come on, who doesn't like turnip man?

Can you find the turnip guy?

In addition to the decorations, this event is known for its spectacular food. Participants cook up popular holiday dishes from around the world, while text panels behind the booths describe Christmas traditions within that particular country. Over the course of the evening, you get to learn about Christmas in Germany, Lebanon, Ireland, Russia, the Caribbean, and many other places, all while sampling a diverse range of cuisine. The concept reminds me of a Victorian book I read as a kid, Around the World with Santa Claus, in which a couple of kids tag along with Santa on his Christmas Eve run. I don't remember how they negotiated that, but getting back to the event in Hobbs, they both offer a glimpse into a variety of countries and traditions. The Western Heritage Museum's celebration is a good way to introduce visitors to other regions and culture, all while embracing the spirit of the holiday.

Even the museum's story-telling animatronic gets into the holiday.

Overall, it's been a fun holiday season, and I've been able to check out a lot of fun events. Still, at the end of the day, there's nothing like being able to go home to enjoy my own tree, covered in my own ornaments and memories:

Good tidings to you all, and happy holidays, whatever it is you celebrate.