Burqueños kicked off the holiday season this year with the fourth-annual Winterfest at Civic Plaza in Downtown Albuquerque on Nov. 24.
The free, family-friendly event was filled with local vendors for everyone’s holiday shopping needs, comfort food and holiday treats.
Winterfest took place the same day as Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday is a day when the state suspends collections of gross receipt tax on qualifying items at certain small businesses with 10 employees or less, according to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue website.
Santa Claus made an appearance to talk to the kids and take pictures. Guests could also stay warm with hot cocoa, eggnog or adult libations.
Every year in Civic Plaza an ice rink is opened up for the holiday season and this year’s Winterfest featured the grand opening of the Holiday Ice Qube Skating Rink — a synthetic skating rink that is free to the public. Skates can be rented for $3, or guests can bring their own.
The City of Albuquerque provided the synthetic skating rink, which is made of interlocking polymer material panels, along with the Civic Plaza holiday decorations, said the Director of Event Services at SMG-managed Albuquerque Convention Center, Damian Lopez-Gaston.
Winterfest is meant to start the Christmas season, right after Thanksgiving, Lopez-Gaston said.
“We do this to get people out to the plaza and to get them out, get them into the Christmas mood, the Christmas spirit,” Lopez-Gaston said.
Last year, Winterfest was held on two consecutive Saturdays with about 1,500 people in attendance each day within the first four hours. Lopez-Gaston said the event is only becoming more popular.
“Obviously it’s so popular I think we’ll go back to two weekends again next year,” Lopez-Gaston said.
Attending as a vendor was Rose Smith, owner of Salvation Skin Healer. Originally from Maine, Smith said she enjoys the people, food and traditions of New Mexico.
“I’m surprised at the early turn out, it’s great, the weather’s gorgeous — it’s a little windy — but I’m so happy to be here,” Smith said.
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Smith said she makes and sells cream and hand lotions to help people who suffer from dry skin in the New Mexico desert.
“It’s my first year and I definitely will be coming back next year,” Smith said.
The rink will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but will be open for skating Wednesdays through Sundays, with weekday hours 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and weekend hours 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Alyssa Bitsie is a freelance reporter with the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Albitsie.
