Sure, it sounds easy enough bag, sand, candle but multiply by 8,000 and youve got Las Noches de las Luminarias at Desert Botanical Garden. The thought of lighting and extinguishing 8,000 candles for 16 nights would make anyone want to throw herself on the nearest cholla cactus. Not with Marcia Flynn running the show. Shes the Gardens director of event services and Las Noches chairwoman.
It used to be back-breaking work, Flynn says, but the best story is how weve made it as efficient as possible.
Shes talking about the lumi-lighter and the lumi-snuffer. Made from household items like butane lighters and turkey basters, these lum-inventions are the brainchildren of the Gardens staff and volunteers and make the process quicker and a lot less painful.
This year, youll find the 8,000 luminarias, along with food and music, lighting the way for the Gardens newest attractions: the Berlin Agava Yucca Forest, an exhibit of bronze sculptures by Native American artist Allan Houser, and a 900-square-foot synthetic ice-skating rink (skates included with admission).
Thu., Dec. 10, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 11, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 12, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 13, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Thu., Dec. 17, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 18, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 19, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 20, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Mon., Dec. 21, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Tue., Dec. 22, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Wed., Dec. 23, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 26, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 27, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Mon., Dec. 28, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Tue., Dec. 29, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Wed., Dec. 30, 5:30-9:30 p.m., 2009