Tag Archives: Mountain Village Holiday

Cold weather lessens crowd, but enthusiasm remains for tree lighting.

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640-15-11-28-08WILLIAMS — The cold may have caused many to stay home for the Parade of Lights and tree lighting this year. The crowd that came, however, did not have cold spirits. Some attendees even came lit up themselves, this year.
640-15-11-28-09The air was bitter cold, this year, for the ceremonial tree lighting and Parade of Lights in Williams. Most of the crowd appeared after 6 p.m. to find spaces to view the parade. Some in the parade reported that there were many empty spaces, however, over previous years. Which is really too bad since the parade this year was better than last year.
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The Parade of Lights featured Churches, non-profits and businesses with beautifully lit floats. There were even a few classic cars that joined the parade from Flagstaff.
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Kiwanis also collecting warm pajamas for kids.

Kiwanis also collecting warm pajamas for kids.

The Kiwanis Club reminded visitors of their Toys for Kids campaign. They are also collecting warm pajamas for kids in need. You can find out more information at Williams Wear and Buck’s Place in the mall. St. Vincent de Paul joined St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Williams for their presentation.
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The event led up, of course, to the annual ceremonial Christmas Tree lighting on 2nd Street between The Gallery in Williams and Colors of the West. The lighting of the tree officially kicks of Mountain Village Holiday in the City of Williams.
Williams Mayor John Moore and Santa Clause countdown to the lighting of the tree with the crowd.

Williams Mayor John Moore and Santa Clause countdown to the lighting of the tree with the crowd.

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Williams ready for tree lighting and parade this weekend

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Christmas-15-11-23-03WILLIAMS — Giant snowmen, toy soldiers, Nativity scenes and lights are springing up in Williams as the City moves into Mountain Village Holiday this weekend.

Events begin with the Holiday Craft Show from 10 a.m. 5 p.m. at the World Famous Sultana Theater. The Grand Canyon Railway Polar Express will run Friday the 27th through Sunday with special 3:30 matinee runs on Friday and Saturday.
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Mountain Village Holiday “The Songs of Christmas” Parade of Lights will run along Historic Route 66 starting at 6:30 p.m. Hot Chocolate will be provided by Pine Country Restaurant and there will be other family fun before the parade.
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The annual lighting of the Community Christmas Tree occurs right after the light parade featuring Santa and Mayor John Moore.

The annual series of Advent Concerts at St. John’s Episcopal-Lutheran church on Second and Grant (next to the tree) begins this weekend also. They will present Lessons and Carols on Sunday, November 29 at 4 p.m. The free concerts continue on Sunday, December 6, 13 and the 20th. Each concert starts at 4 p.m. and features different performers each night. A reception is held following each concert.
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Williams lights the tree

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Mayor Moore lights the Williams city tree.

Mayor Moore lights the Williams city tree.

WILLIAMS – Williams lite the city Christmas tree for yet another year. Mayor Moore officiated the light ceremony while KAFF Radio officiated the parade.

Winner of the elf contest.

Winner of the elf contest.

After the parade there was an elf contest before the tree was lit. Pastor Billy Martin read the nativity story to start out the event.

The parade was larger than usual ending with, of course, Santa Clause.
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Mayor John Moore lights the tree.

Mayor John Moore lights the tree.


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Williams set up for Mountain Village Holiday festivities.

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City of Williams Christmas tree set up on Second Street.

City of Williams Christmas tree set up on Second Street.

WILLIAMS – The tree is up and decorated for the 2014 Christmas on Route 66 celebration next weekend. The tree will be lit following the annual Parade of Lights. This year and Elf Costume Contest has been added.

300-141122-04Businesses lining Route 66, and beyond, have been decorated for a couple of weeks in preparation for the event.

The Polar Express will begin two nightly runs to the North Pole. Santa has also lent one of his late-model sleighs to the Zip Line located at the Williams Visitor Parking lot.

You can also take a tour around the city to see the decorations of the residents of the City of Williams.
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Other events include:

November 29th

Save-MTR 11th hold their 11th annual Holiday Craft Show at the Sultana Theater at 301 W. Route 66 in downtown Williams from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be over 35 vendors and you can have pictures of your pets, family and friends taken, as well. Benefits building animal shelter.

The Parade of Lights starting around 6:30 p.m.

Elf Costume Contest at the city tree after the parade. Open to young elves to age 13 and elder elves 14 and older.

Lighting of the Christmas tree will occur upon completion of the Parade of Lights.

November 30th

Santa will be at the Spoiled Rotten Pet Boutique at 517 E. Route 66 from 12 to 5 p.m. for photos. The price of photos benefits the Animals in Need fund at the Williams Veterinary Clinic.

December 5

The American Legion Cordova Post #13 will host an Arts and Crafts fair from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the American Legion and VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Table rental is $10 and all items must be original and home-made. You can get more details or reserve a table by contacting Carolyn Kleck at at 602-677-2561. Spaces are limited so reserve early.

December 6

Restaurants, gift shops and galleries will be offering specials and possibly special treats to

The Mountain Village Holiday continues through New Years Day so events will continue throughout the city.
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You can obtain more information for the time you plan to arrive at the Williams Visitor Center at 200 W. Railroad Avenue (Across from Circle K and the Zip Line) or by visiting the Williams Grand Canyon Chamber site.
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Santa’s Memorandum of Understanding with Williams

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Photo of North Pole taken earlier this year.

WILLIAMS – While Phoenix is trying to promote something called the “North Pole Experience,” Santa’s Memorandum of Understanding with Williams signed over ten-years ago and re-newed yearly is still valid. Williams, Arizona is the only place where you can take the special train to visit the North Pole.

The MOU reads in part:

Whereas, the City of Williams, Arizona desires to run a train, hereafter known as The Polar Express, which shall desire to stop for fuel for a return to Williams, such fuel within the political and economic boundaries of the North Pole,

Therefore Santa Claus shall allow such The Polar Express to arrive nightly as they require with the following provisions:

1. No one may depart the train while refueling so as to

a) Not disturb the work being conducted by the employees of the North Pole, hereafter known as Elves,
b) Maintain security of the naughty/nice database, hereafter known as The List,
c) Not create any other disturbance which might cause a delay in the annual ride of Santa.

2. Santa may, at his option, depart on The Polar Express to ride to Williams to

a) Obtain necessary supplies, or
b) To distribute bells, or
c) To obtain intelligence on what persons who have and exemplary record during the prior year, hereafter known as The Nice, might want to obtain from Santa’s annual ride.
…

In recognition of this MOU, while in good standing, Santa also shall authorize the Mountain Village Holiday of Williams, Arizona as the official ceremony of The Polar Express.

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Hole made for annual City Tree earlier this week with lights decorate the City of Williams for Mountain Village Holiday.

So it is clear that the City of Williams has the only official means of visiting the North Pole.
Williams, as it has for years, has started setting up for the Mountain Village Holiday which begins in earnest next week with the annual Parade of Lights and lighting of the city Christmas Tree downtown on Second Street and Route 66.

The Polar Express will start running nightly with two trains to the North Pole. It is rumored that Santa will make several visits and be available for photos during that weekend, such as to Spoiled Rotten Pet Boutique and Supplies.

Williams prepares for Mountain Village Holiday

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640-141029-18WILLIAMS – The trees are starting to look bare as the beautiful fall colors are starting to give way to the coming winter. The long range forecast shows a possibility of snow on Sunday. The city is stringing lights. The Pumpkin Patch train ended and the Grand Canyon Railway Haunted Train has given way to Christmas lights in preparation for Mountain Village Holiday. The annual Mountain Village Holiday begins Thanksgiving weekend and runs through the new year.

The Grand Canyon Railway is also preparing the Polar Express which starts November 7 and runs through the new year.

The City of Williams has sent applications for the annual lighting contest and they may also be picked up at the City Hall on First Street.

300-MVH-1Mountain Village Holiday kicks off with the annual lighting of the Christmas tree on Second Street and a Parade of Lights. During this period the Young Life camp hosts a Thanksgiving dinner and the Kiwanis Club hosts a community dinner.

There is still plenty of Halloween, of course. The scarecrows still adorn Route 66. Bearizona ends their Howly Growly Owly Festival tomorrow. Their new cave display of small creatures of the west—such as mice, scorpions and Ringtail Cats—will remain.

The First Baptist and Family Harvest Churches, across from Safeway on Grant, will hold safe activities for the kids.

Of course trick-or-treating of the houses and businesses on Route 66 will still be available.

Just after Halloween, the weather forecast shows a chance of rain on Saturday with a low of 37. Sunday there is a 30% chance of snow with accumulations of less than a half-inch. A high of 47 is possible during the day dropping to 23-degrees overnight. Fair weather returns Monday with highs around 50-degrees during the day dropping to the mid-20s at night.

Treeson in Williams! (Again)

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131130-066WILLIAMS—Williams lit the city Christmas tree to highlight its Mountain Village Holiday. The event kicked off with the annual Parade of Lights leading to the lighting by Mayor John Moore and Santa Clause. While the crowd waited they sipped hot chocolate and cokes handed out free by the Grand Canyon Railway which runs the Polar Express.

Mayor John Moore scans the crowd for Santa after the parade no doubt wondering if he is on the "naughty" list.

Mayor John Moore scans the crowd for Santa after the parade no doubt wondering if he is on the “naughty” list.

The parade this year was one of the best. Lasting almost an hour entries can from Flagstaff and Williams. And there were plenty of fire trucks from Williams, Junipine and the forest service. Churches from Williams also came out to celebrate the birth of the Savior.

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Mayor John Moore and Santa countdown to the ceremonial lighting of the tree.

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Centerpiece for Mountain Village Holiday arrives

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tree-1118-01WILLIAMS—The smell of Christmasy pine wafted through downtown, yesterday, as city workers implanted the freshly-cut city Christmas tree on Second Street.

The fifty-foot Ponderosa Pine was selected in the Kaibab Forest by the Grand Canyon Railway and transported by them to be set in place.

The tree is, of course, the centerpiece for the annual lighting of the tree portion of Mountain Village Holiday. The tree will be lit on Saturday, November 30th.

The annual Parade of Lights down Historic Route 66 is also a feature of the event. The theme of the parade is “All I Want For Christmas Is…” The parade route is the normal route from Safeway eastward past Goldie’s Route 66 Diner.
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Williams dresses up for Mountain Village Holiday

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Grand Canyon Railway spiffed up for the Polar Express.

Grand Canyon Railway spiffed up for the Polar Express.

20131105 005WILLIAMS—The City of Williams and the Grand Canyon Railway are dressed up for the Mountain Village Holiday. This is the time when the City and local businesses dress up in lights for the Polar Express which starts its run today. Bearizona Wildlife drive-through park will also be open through the Mountain Village Holiday which ends early January.

The Zipline will also be running, weather permitting.

This event really kicks off after Thanksgiving. The annual Parade of Lights and lighting of the City Christmas Tree on historic route 66 takes place on the 30th starting at 6:30. A Fine Art Show, live entertainment, hot chocolate and other holiday activities, including shopping for unique gifts, are added to the venue.

Western Outfitters is offering denim stockings by Wrangler for the holidays.

Western Outfitters is offering denim stockings by Wrangler for the holidays.

Come early to shop at the 10th annual SAVE-Meant to Rescue Craft Show which benefits animal rescue efforts in Williams and the surrounding area. Their show starts at 10 am and runs until 5 pm. The show will be at the World Famous Sultana Theatre and you can contact Nadine for more information at 928-897-8710.

Bearizona will be hosting its annual Wild Wonderland event for annual pass holders only. This event will be held on the 30th from 4 to 6 pm in Fort Bearizona. Santa Claus will be making a special appearance at the event. Of course you will be able to stroll through the animal exhibits, as well. A reservation is not required, but they request an RSVP with the number of people attending by November 22nd. You can RSVP to Jocelyn(at)bearizona.com or by calling 928-635-2289.

There is a lighting contest which encourages residents to decorate their homes. So plan a tour of the City as homes and more businesses decorate for the holiday.

You can find more information at the Williams Visitor Center on Railroad Avenue across the street from Circle-K.
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Tree arrives for Mountain Village Holiday

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WILLIAMS—The tree that caused the closing of Second Street between Route 66 and Grant Street arrived today. The tree will be decorated and officially lit this Saturday.

Events start with the 9th Annual Holiday Craft show on Saturday to benefit the SAVE-Meant to Rescue organization which rescues animals in Williams. The event will run from 10 am to 5 pm at the Sultana Theater; 301 W. Route 66.

Bearizona Wild Animal drive-through park will be open at 8 am with the last car being admitted at 4:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for kids to see animals roaming free. At the end of your journey you can stretch your legs and see some animals close-up. Plus raptor shows three times a day. Please obey all park rules for a safe journey.

This is also a great time to be part of the Polar Express departing each evening at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. There is a special matinee trip at 3:30.

Finally the Parade of Lights begins at 6:30 with the lighting of the Christmas tree at the completion of the parade.

Of course all shops will be open to purchase those unique Route 66 gifts for friends and family back home. The restaurants will be stocked and read to feed. Twister’s on the east end of Route 66 and the Red Raven right downtown have both been named Top Ten places to eat in Arizona in various years by Arizona Highways magazine.