Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
As you tuck into that last plate of leftovers today … or polish off a piece of pumpkin pie for breakfast (my personal favorite) … I’ve got some alarming news: Christmas is coming. And it is coming fast.
In fact, we are about to be bowled completely over with events celebrating the Yuletide season in eastern New Mexico, and they won’t stop until everyone’s favorite jolly old elf arrives one month from … yikes … yesterday.
Local festivities kick off on Tuesday, so grab a pen and a calendar (or your favorite electronic device if you’re so inclined). I’ve got a list of some of the upcoming highlights that you won’t want to miss.
(Please note: This list is deliberately incomplete. Check out our events calendar for more details on all of these, as well as many others.)
The Clovis Community Chorus invites you to step into the spirit of the season with its free Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday at First Methodist Church in Clovis. Not only will you hear some great tunes, but the concert is followed by a cookie social (another great way to get into the spirit, if you ask me).
Back-to-back Christmas light parades are rolling our way by the weekend. Portales will light up the evening on Friday with its Christmas Jubilee light parade beginning at 6:30 p.m., and running from ENMU down Second Street to the courthouse square, then back up First Street to conclude at the C&S parking lot.
Clovis turns on the sparkles on Saturday with nod to our favorite Disney mouse in “A Very Mickey Christmas” parade on Main Street beginning at 6 p.m.
The Clovis Civic Center throws open its doors on Dec. 5 for what they are calling a “Community Holiday Party.”
This ticketed event includes a holiday buffet, music, dancing … even a photo booth. The Civic Center is offering group rates for businesses or organizations that might want to turn the evening into an official seasonal celebration (but with other folks doing the heavy lifting). Give them a call at 575-935-5000 to see if that might work for you.
Former local singer and songwriter Andy Mason makes his home in France these days, but he’s jetting across the Pacific to bring his popular program, “A Brief History of Christmas Music,” to our area.
There are two free opportunities to catch his show — at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Portales Public Library, and at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 at 311 Entertainment, one of Portales’ newest entertainment venues at 311 S. Main St.
Also on Dec. 7, but at 7 p.m., Eastern New Mexico University presents its annual holiday concert, which features all of the ensembles from its talented music department. That free event (which is followed by refreshments) is held in the Ballroom at ENMU’s Campus Union Building
Hillcrest Park Zoo in Clovis welcomes us to “Christmas Nights at the Zoo” from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 12-16. With free admission, it’s a great place to let kids run off some of their holiday energy while you enjoy the beautiful lights and some tasty treats.
Finally (and I can’t wait for this one), the Clovis Community College Cultural Arts Players — under the direction of the multi-talented Christy Mendoza — are presenting a reprise of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, “A Christmas Carol,” with four performances from Dec. 13-16 at the Norm and Vi Petty Performing Arts Center (the old Mesa Theater) in downtown Clovis.
You’ll recognize lots of familiar faces in the cast, and there’s no better tale than this one to put us all in the mood for a wonderful Christmas season.
Have some eggnog (for protein, mind you) and enjoy every moment.
Betty Williamson is hanging her stocking and trimming her tree. Reach her at:
