River of Lights gets into flow of Christmas

by Caleb Fort

Daily Lobo

Near-freezing temperatures made this year's River of Lights more enjoyable, said Gloria Radoslovich, who attended the event.

"I think it's wonderful because it's so quiet," she said. "Usually it's packed."

Sculptures crafted out of Christmas lights adorned the Rio Grande Botanic Garden. They ranged from snowmen and reindeer to zebras and giraffes. There were also abstract sculptures.

Radoslovich said she and her family go to the event annually.

"It's always great. We come every year, but usually we come after Christmas," she said. "I think this year we'll probably come at least one more time."

The display is open every night until Dec. 30 - except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

UNM student Jessica Harris said this year's display was not very different from previous years'.

"It's cool," she said. "It's the same as every other year."

Her friend Anthony Montoya agreed.

"But it's cool enough to keep you coming back," he said.

The first display was set up in 1997 as a fund-raiser for an Albuquerque Biological Park education program, according to the City of Albuquerque's Web site.

Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children.

About 32,000 people came to the first display, said Anjelica Rubio, a spokeswoman for the event.

Last year about 58,000 people came, and this year she expects up to 80,000, she said.

The event is growing because word gets around about how fun it is, she said.

"More people go out and tell their friends about it if it was nice," she said.

Becca Martin, who attended the display, said she liked it.

"I love it. It's something different," she said. "It's different than the decorations you see just on people's houses."

Attendee Brittany Gabriel said the display showcases the gardens in a different way.

"It also sheds a different light on the botanical garden," she said. "It highlights the trees different than you usually look at them."

The sculptures are designed and built by the park's graphic design department, with some help from the maintenance crew, Rubio said.

Preparing the lights is a difficult task, she said.

"I think the people who put the lights up have the hardest job," she said. "They have to start in the middle of October to get those lights ready."

Lindsey Cress, who attended the display, said it helps get people in the Christmas spirit.

"I think it's a good way to prepare for the holidays after Thanksgiving," she said. "Especially in this day and age when people are so bah-humbug because of the war and all our other problems."

Rubio agreed.

"I think it's successful. It does what it's supposed to," she said. "People looking at it - they're just so happy."

The event also featured carolers and a brass band, both performing Christmas carols. There will be similar performances throughout the month.