Celebrating 35 Years of Holiday Magic

Guests at Las Noches de las Luminarias, the Desert Botanical Garden’s annual holiday gift to the community, can expect to see some 8,000 hand-lit luminaria bags and thousands of white twinkle lights. They will enjoy musical performers stationed throughout the garden and perhaps some food to eat and warm cider to sip.

 

This year, the grand event celebrates 35 years. It is nearly a year in the making, staged by the Garden’s Visitation department, lining up volunteers, entertainment and catering.

 

Guests on the bridge during Las Noches de las Luminarias

 

Las Noches de las Luminarias dates back to 1978, when Garden supporters and staff put their heads together to think of a way to make money to help sustain the Garden through the summer months when the flow of visitors diminished. Their idea was to create a holiday event around the Southwest tradition of luminarias.

 

So they rolled up their sleeves, folded about a thousand paper bags just so, placed them around the garden and on the rooftops, lighted a candle in each and invited the public. And it worked. More than 600 people came for the one-night show.

 

Wendy Hodgson, director of the Herbarium, helped fold those bags. She was 23-years-old and at that time the curator of the Herbarium. In the past 35 years, she’s not only folded bags but also served as path guide, ticket taker, traffic director, hot chocolate maker, sweatshirt and card designer, lighting snuffer, bus greeter and more. That’s in addition to her role as plant illustrator, a skill she learned while studying at Arizona State University.

 

In the early years, she also worked roof detail. “We used to have live fire on the top of the building,” Hodgson says. “One job was to get up on the roof to make sure the building didn’t burn down.”

 

That worked until the fire department called a halt to the practice.

 

The Desert Discovery Loop Trail

 

The party was fun from the get-go, she says. “It’s a serene evening, but you can have fun, too.”

 

One year, she and girlfriends were at the top of the Sonoran Desert Trail, having a good time. There was no entertainment at that location, she says. So she and her friends burst into song.

 

“I don’t remember what the people around us thought, but we had fun doing it!” says Hodgson.

 

Even though there are far more bags (now fire-resistant faux to protect the Garden) to place and light, the process is much easier than in the early years. Volunteers and staff used to light the candles by bending over with a butane lighter. New lighters have been devised that eliminate the bending over. But the lighting still must start at 4:30 p.m. because a throng of people will be waiting for admission at 5:30.

 

Luminarias has grown in the number of nights as well. Due to its first-year success, in 1979, a second night was added. In successive years, more nights were added. This year, the event runs from Dec. 7 to Dec. 30.

 

While Hodgson appreciates past events, she says this year is probably the best yet. Each night features 11 performing groups, including a harpist who will greet guests at the entry and Dickens Carolers singing songs of the season.

 

The Arizona Republic is the presenting sponsor and offers the opportunity to donate to Season for Sharing when you purchase your ticket. Your donation will be matched 50 cents on the dollar. Season for Sharing funds agencies that help at-risk children and families, improve education, aid victims of domestic violence and serve the elderly.

 

Dates and tickets

 

Text by Cindy Miller

Photos by Adam Rodriquez

 

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