Henderson lets it snow at WinterFest

View File photoEvelyn Joseph, 5, bottom, and her twin brothers Jude, left, and Landon, right, 3, make snow angels in the snow provided at the Henderson WinterFest in 2008. Advertisement

Winter officially begins Dec. 21, but Henderson isn't going to wait that long to begin its own solstice celebration. Henderson WinterFest 2009 begins Thursday, and events continue through Saturday in the Water Street District, 200 S. Water St.

"This is our ninth year," said Annette Mullins, Henderson cultural programs supervisor and the person overseeing the three-day event. "We started working on this about nine months ago, and it takes that much time to adequately coordinate everything. There are so many people involved in putting something of this size together."

Mullins said the show has grown dramatically over the years and has become a real family event.

"WinterFest provides an opportunity for families who live throughout the valley to come together in Henderson," she said. "We know of families who live on the west side of town that come to the parade to be with family members who live on the east side. Then they spend the remainder of the day enjoying the entertainment, craft fair and each other."

Mullins is expecting about 50 entrants for the 90-minute parade, including a variety of floats, the Basic and Coronado High School marching bands, Boy Scout troops, church groups and even an elementary school marching kazoo band. Vendors at the craft fair will display an array of holiday gifts and decorations.

WinterFest 2009 gets under way at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Henderson Convention Center with "Sounds of the Season," a concert by the Henderson Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra will be joined by local high school choirs.

Festivities continue at 5:15 p.m. Friday at the Henderson Events Plaza with entertainment starring the International School Chorus. Friday's guests of honor will be Santa Claus and Mayor Andy Hafen, who will light the holiday tree at 6 p.m. There also will be ice skating, wagon rides, snow play, kids' activities, pony rides and a petting zoo. Other scheduled performances will include Schofield and White middle schools at 6:30 p.m., followed by a production of "The Nutcracker."

The weekend concludes at 10 a.m. Saturday with the WinterFest 2009 parade that begins at Ocean Street and continues on Water Street to Pacific Street. At noon, parade awards will be presented in the Henderson Events Plaza.

After the parade, the craft fair will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. with more than 65 vendors displaying their specialties. Over at the Events Plaza, scheduled entertainment includes Green Valley Baptist Church at 11:45 p.m.; Delly's Young Entertainers at 12:30 p.m.; Bootleggers Ten Future Stars at 1 p.m.; Brenda's School of Dance at 1:30 p.m.; Vegas Voices at 2 p.m.; Foothills Montessori Choir at 3:15 p.m.; Twist & Shout at 4 p.m.; and New Song Church Chorus at 4:45 p.m. A group of wandering carolers begins at 2 p.m.

WinterFest attendees are being asked to bring a toy for the annual U.S. Marines Toys For Tots program. Admission and all WinterFest activities are free. For information, call 267-2171 or visit HendersonLive.com.