Lights in Mesa to shine again
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A spectacular display of Christmas lights will again illuminate the Arizona Temple Gardens and Visitors Center this year, as it has done the past decade.
Mesa Mayor Peggy Rubach will turn on the lights at a ceremony Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m.
Some 275,000 lights, (25,000 more than last year) will glow, and special background music will be featured. The lighting covers a mile of fenced walkways, a lighted reflection pool, fences, hedges, trees and other plants. Palm trees rising seven stories will also be lighted.The display will be open from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. through Jan. 1.
Guided tours will be available and musical groups will perform nightly Dec. 2-23. Among featured musical groups will be the Phoenix Boys Choir Town Singers, Arizona Mormon Choir, Grace United Methodist Chancel Choir and the Chapel Ringers, Westwood Honor Choir and Cantoiri Di Madrigalis, and the Glendale Community College Choir.
The colorful lighting event has been part of the valley's Christmas tradition for the past 10 years. More than 1 million visitors toured the gardens during December 1988.
About 100 volunteer workers donate 6,000 hours installing lights and sound equipment. Under the direction of lighting and artistic directors Nordess and Murry Coates, the volunteers began work Nov. 6.
In the event of inclement weather on any night, the appearance of musical groups and the lighting will be canceled, but the visitors center will remain open for a special Christmas presentation.
