Page 43 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

THE SOUTHWEST THROUGH THE Y EAR  41

Winter Public Holidays
Christmas in the Southwest New Year (Jan 1)
is celebrated in traditional Martin Luther King
American style, with lights Jr Day (third Mon in Jan)
decorating almost every Presidents’ Day (third Mon
building and tree. The ski in Feb)
season stretches from mid-
November to early April in the Easter Sunday (variable)
region’s many resorts. Skiing, El Cinco de Mayo (May 5)
snow-boarding, and ice-skating Memorial Day
are all popular. (last Mon in May)
Independence Day (Jul 4)
November Pioneer Day (Jul 24 – Utah)
Festival of the Cranes (mid- Labor Day (first Mon in Sep)
Nov) Socorro. Festival held
during the November A skier descending the Ridge in Taos Columbus Day
migration of whooping cranes Ski Valley (second Mon in Oct)
to the Bosque del Apache Veterans Day (Nov 11)
Wildlife Refuge (see p222). Desert Botanical Garden (p86). Thanksgiving (fourth Thu
There is festive music and in Nov)
December telescopes for stargazing. Christmas Day (Dec 25)
La Fiesta de Tumacácori (first Canyon Road Farolito Walk
weekend) Tumacácori. Festival (Dec 24) Santa Fe. Candle-lit
held on mission grounds to tour of Canyon Road with
celebrate the Native American carol singing and bonfires.
heritage of the upper Santa Fiesta Bowl Festival and
Cruz Valley. Parade (late Dec or early Jan)
Old Town Stroll (first Friday) Phoenix. College football at
Albuquerque. The town’s ASU Sun Devil Stadium.
Christmas festivities begin in
the Old Town with a parade, January
lighting of the tree, live music, Ice Festival (early Jan) Ouray. The
and food stalls. world’s largest ice climbing event
Parade of Lights (early Dec) (half competition, half party),
Lake Mead Marina. Fifty boats high in the Colorado Rockies.
show off their special light Tucson Area Square Dance Festival
decorations to thousands of (mid-Jan) Tucson. The festival
spectators, a tradition that attracts thousands of dancers. Saguaro Cactus illuminated by
has been going since 1975. Tucson Gem and Mineral Show Christmas lights
Las Noches de Las Luminarias (late Jan-Feb) Tucson. Open to
(Dec) Phoenix. Thousands of visitors, this is one of the biggest San Ildefonso Pueblo Feast
luminarias line the paths at the gem and mineral shows in the US. Day (late Jan) San Ildefonso
Pueblo. Ceremonial dances
commemorate this feast day.
February
Tubac Festival of the Arts (early
Feb) Tubac. A highlight of the
town’s calendar, and one of the
most important arts and crafts
festivals in southern Arizona.
PGA Phoenix Golf WM Open
(late Jan–early Feb) Phoenix. The
PGA’s largest annual tournament.
Silver Spur Rodeo (mid-Feb)
Yuma. Along with the rodeo,
this festival features arts and
crafts and Yuma’s biggest parade.
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (late
Feb) Tucson. A rodeo and
assorted cowboy events, plus
the country’s largest non-
Marching band at the Fiesta Bowl Festival and Parade motorized parade.

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