Photos by Marie Mccolm On Saturday, Dec. 3, more than 100 people attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Fullenweider Park. On Saturday, Dec. 3, an estimated 500 people were downtown on Main Street and Adams Street for the Parade of Lights in Monte Vista.

MONTE VISTA — On Saturday, Dec. 3, more than 100 people attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Fullenweider Park at 5:15 p.m.

The ceremony kicked off with residents singing Christmas carols at the park. City Mayor Dale Becker, his wife, Jennifer, Evette Atencio of the LOR Foundation, and City Manager GiGi Dennis all spoke at the ceremony.

“We are so excited about the lights this year,” Dennis said. “We want to first thank Jennifer Becker for taking so much time and effort in getting the whole parade together. Thank you, Jennifer.”

Becker smiled and thanked everyone.

Dennis continued, “If you hadn’t noticed, the whole walkway with lights, and the little trees with lights, those are all new. I want to give a big shoutout to our City, our Public Works Department. They have worked so hard, to get this together. I am really proud of everyone with Public Works. I want to give a shout out also to Loren Howard, with the San Luis Valley Rural Electric, his team also helped, with donated lights. The library is going to be lit up for the first time this year. The City could not have done all of this without the help of two foundations. One foundation is the Robert. H. Rawlings Foundation out of Pueblo, and the second one is the LOR Foundation.”

Atencio walked up near Dennis and said, “I am so excited that you are all able to be here this evening. As part of the LOR Foundation, we are just really excited that we are able to support projects like this; that is our mission to enhance livability in Monte Vista. Happy holidays!” 

Mayor Becker also spoke at the event.

“Tonight, being here, this is so awesome, to bring the community together,” the mayor said. “This means a lot; the community is so important. We don’t see that in big cities like this. Thank you all so much for being here tonight. I am going to say Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. May the true spirit and blessings of this holiday be with all of you and your families. I pray for everybody here tonight, and everybody not here tonight. Thank you all so much.” 

There was a countdown from number 5 by all the residents in the park and after number 1, the large tree in the middle of the park was lit and “Go tell it on the Mountain could be heard by residents singing in the park.” 

After the ceremony at 6 p.m., at least 500 people were downtown on Main Street and Adams Street for the Parade of Lights. The streets were filled with colorful floats and lights. Various floats were in the parade, including a float from Wayne Pacheco, a large, decorated tractor, the Mystic Valley Art Council, The Optimystics, the Monte Vista High School Marching Band was in the parade, and Santa Claus was in the parade waving happily to the crowds.

Many of the floats had people throwing candy and children ran up and down the streets waving to everyone in the parade and laughing happily as they picked up the candy.

Holiday Business Window Judging

First - Farm Credit of Southern Colorado

Second - Rainbows End

Third - Faemoon Wolf Designs

Holiday Parade Judging

First - Wayne Pacheco with Widowmaker Apparel

Second - Marty's Maintenance

 C-Squared Electric