Clifton’s 22nd annual Festival of Lights is Saturday

Photo By Walt Mares: Snoopy, perhaps the world’s most famous pooch, holds a Christmas wish list during a past Clifton Festival of Lights. Saturday, Dec. 1, marks the festival’s 22nd year. It will again be held on historic Chase Creek.

Staff Reports

CLIFTON – The 22nd annual Festival of Lights will be held in historic Chase Creek in Clifton on Saturday, starting with opening ceremonies at 12 p.m.

There will be special events throughout the day, including a cake walk every hour, a craft site, marshmallow shooting arena, mini raffles with drawings every hour (must be present to win) as well as a grand prize raffle of $500 and a runner-up prize of one night stay at Apache Gold Casino. Winners will not have to be present to win the top two raffle prizes.

*Photo By Walt Mares: Characters from the Wizard of Oz shine during the 2010 Clifton Festival of Lights.*

Reed Richins will be the master of ceremonies for the event and Anthony Ortega will be the reindeer games host.

This year, the theme for the Festival of Lights Parade is “A Christmas Vintage.”

Photo By Walt Mares: The award-winning Morenci High School Band will again perform at the 22nd Annual Clifton Festival of Lights this Saturday, Dec. 1. The band is among the highly regarded performers and floats festival crowds love.

Schedule of Events

12 p.m. Opening ceremonies at Chase Creek Main Stage with the presentation of colors by American Legion Post #28

12 – 4 p.m. Children’s activities (wristband fee $5 per child) Various bounce-around features, face painting, allow artist (the child craft site and marshmallow shooting arena do not require a wristband as they are free)

12 – 5 p.m. Greenlee County Historical Society Museum is open

1 p.m. Teresa and Bell Campbell will sing selected Christmas songs

1:30 p.m. Reindeer games on stage with host Anthony Ortega

2 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 1573 will sing selected songs

2:30 p.m. Reindeer games on stage