Illuminating

Christmas tree lighting celebrations in area

Yuma, Somerton and Wellton will get in the holiday spirit with Christmas tree lighting celebrations tonight and Saturday.

Here’s a roundup of festivities:

SOMERTON

Somerton’s celebration has a new location – Centennial Park, which was inaugurated in 2018 on the occasion of the city’s 100th birthday.

Festivities get underway at 6 p.m. today at the base of the city’s iconic century-old water tower in the park located at the corner of Somerton Avenue and George Street.

Entertainment will feature music or dance performances by the Somerton Elementary School District band, Quetzalcoatl II folkloric dance group, Somerton Middle School cheerleading team and Glam Dance studio.

Free hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

YUMA

The city of Yuma’s Heritage Festivals will host the city’s celebration Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. on Main Street in the downtown.

Deputy Yuma Mayor will do the honors of lighting the city’s tree at 6 p.m. Following that ceremony, Yuma vocalist Wendy McKay will appear in a live performance.

Other live entertainment will include music by the String Ambassadors at 6:20 p.m., dance performance by Glam Dance at 7 p.m., followed by another dance performance at 8 p.m. by Dancers Workshop. A DJ will play Christmas music throughout the night.

People can have their photos taken with Santa from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in the 270 Black Box Theatre, 270 Main St.

As in years past, artificial snow will be produced at 2nd and Main streets for youngsters’ enjoyment.

WELLTON

Wellton’s tree lighting ceremony takes place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Westside Park, 28489 Los Angeles Ave.

There will be live Christmas music, and Mohawk Valley’s 4-H group will serve burritos. Wellton’s parks and recreation department will serve coffee, hot cocoa, cider and cookies, and Wellton Town Hall will pass out bags of candy and stuffed toys to children.

SAN LUIS

The tree lighting ceremony in San Luis has already taken place, but the public can come out for the city’s Holiday of Lights Parade at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Cars, floats and marching bands, all decked out for the Christmas season, will travel along Cesar Chavez Boulevard from 8th Avenue west to Joe Orduño Park.

Any organizations wishing to have an entry in the parade can call the San Luis Parks and Recreation Department, at 928-341-8535.

FILE PHOTO JOSEPH GOMEZ, WITH YUMA ART CENTER, CLEANS THE EXTERIOR of the building in preparation for the 2018 Christmas Lighting on Historic Main Street event, presented by Yuma Heritage Festivals. In the foreground is the tree. The event takes place again Saturday.