Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

Laredo, TX—Dec. 1, 09—“Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, riding down Santa Claus Lane.”  Actually, it will be Houston Street, but after joining his helpers in the parade that kicks off NavidadFest on Saturday, December 5, 2009, the jolly old guy in the red suit will join the City of Laredo Mayor Pro Tempore Mike Garza and other community leaders to officially “flip the switch,” at this year’s tree lighting ceremony in San Agustin Plaza.  “This is going to be such a wonderful event for the entire family,” said MPT Garza.  “Christmas is a beautiful time of year, when hope and magic are real and alive in the hearts and spirits of children.  Everything about NavidadFest’s activities will help herald in Christmas in Laredo.”

“Santa Claus and I have the most important mission of turning on the lights on our Christmas tree, officially heralding in Christmas into Laredo.  We really want to make Christmas special, especially for the children of Laredo,” he concluded.

 Indeed, event organizers are hoping to dazzle the community with a brand new 22-foot tree and an array of activities to delight and create a sense of anticipation for the ever-approaching Christmas season, that revelers may think they are actually in Santa’s Village, instead of the two downtown locations for the event.

 The revelry will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a parade and performances for the community.  The parade, featuring LISD and UISD dance and cheer groups, countless floats, mounted patrols, motorcycles, cars and of course, the Border Media Boom Box and that famous Z-93/Guerra Communication Sleigh carring Santa Claus, will start at St. Peter’s Plaza and head east on Houston Street, then south along San Bernardo where it ends at the Mercadito Plaza on Hidalgo (Laredo Center for the Arts). If, for whatever reason, anyone cannot make the parade, they can watch the parade live on Public Access Channel 13 (Time Warner Cable customers only).

 Attendees can watch the parade along the parade route, or already be waiting downtown to catch any number of performances that will already be taking place on the stage in San Agustin Plaza,  enjoying the Bazar San Agustin that will be taking place in the evening this month.  A special feature of the festival is the Kids’ Zone which will feature a one-of-a-kind snow slide, sure to delight the kids, and the kids at heart, as well.  The snow slide is about a 10 foot climb up a solid steel structure that slopes down to a gentle 16 foot slide, which is packed with about 5,000 pounds of “snow.”  The “snow” is actually crushed and blown ice from Mireles Ice House out of San Antonio.  Anyone wishing to take a ride climbs up and into an inflatable raft and slides down into a soft landing area packed with ice and hay.

 “I’m so excited about this added feature to the festival,” said District II Council Member Hector Garcia, who along with District VIII Council Member Cindy Liendo Espinoza, is sponsoring the slide at the event.  “It will be so much fun, a real winter wonderland for Laredo!”

 Various performers will also entertain the crowd, until the official tree-lighting at 7:05 p.m., with help from MPT Garza, Bishop James Tamayo, Consul Migul Angel Isidro and Congressman Henry Cuellar, and of course, the man of the hour, Santa Claus himself.   The tree this year will be placed in front of historic San Agustin Cathedral, where all of the stage performances will also take place.   Additionally, Santa will greet children and pass out goody bags, while his bag of goodies lasts.  

 At 7:30 p.m., the Pastorela, sponsored by the Mexican Consulate’s Office, a traditional Mexican holiday play that is a humorous reenactment of the Three Wise Men’s journey to pay homage to the newborn baby Jesus will kick off at the Plaza, and work its way down Tatangelo Walkway  back to the Laredo Center for the Arts.  Once there, children will also get a chance to break any one of four holiday piñatas filled with candy.

 Thanks to the Bazar de San Agustin and the Laredo Center for the Arts, attendees at NavidadFest will find a lovely array of artisans and holiday crafts, as well as delicious and traditional Mexican holiday foods, sold throughout downtown.  Except for the arts and crafts and food, everything at NavidadFest is free.

 Speaking of free. . .

 If anyone is wondering how they will be able to get downtown with so much activity happening, event organizers have solved the problem with an easy and FREE park and ride solution into downtown.  Everyone is encourage to take the Santa Ursula Connector Ramp, which will take them right to the River Front Parking lot (next to Los Dos Laredos Park on Pedregal), park in the parking lot – for free – and hop onto the El Trolley – for free – that will take everyone into downtown for the fun.  Starting at 3:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., the trolley will drop people off along the parade route.  After that time, it will take revelers down to the festival area so as not to disrupt the parade. 

 According to one of the main event organizers, the festival is all about helping everyone get into the Christmas spirit by bringing the Christmas spirit into Laredo’s downtown.

 “We just want to help make Christmas a little brighter for everyone,” said Garcia.

 The event was organized by the City of Laredo, Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, Diocese of Laredo, Laredo Center for the Arts, La Posada Hotel, Main Streets Laredo, and the Mexican Consulate’s Office and of course, media sponsors Border Media, Guerra Communication and the Laredo Morning Times.