When dealing with thickheaded folks who spout that the Valley has no history or traditions to speak of, we find inviting them to our favorite places and events around town is slightly more effective than socking them in the face.
Thankfully, Las Noches de las Luminarias, now in its 30th year, gets us in the mood to invite rather than fight.
The Desert Botanical Garden already inspires a sense of tranquility and the soft illumination of luminarias, the candle-powered paper-bag lanterns, further enables us to get lost in the joy of the holidays. Expect nightly music from folks like the Dickens Carolers, the Bad Cactus Brass Band, and the Chris Burton Jacome Trio.
Thu., Dec. 16, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 17, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 18, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 19, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Mon., Dec. 20, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Tue., Dec. 21, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Wed., Dec. 22, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 26, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Mon., Dec. 27, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Tue., Dec. 28, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Wed., Dec. 29, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Thu., Dec. 30, 5:30-9:30 p.m., 2010