Clik here to view.
“I’m looking forward to a bright 2015 and what a better way to say it than with a half million lights.” said Valley real estate investor Michael Pollack.
Valley real estate investor/philanthropist Michael Pollack is ready for 2014 to be over.
“We’ve seen some dark days behind us, more than we care to have seen—especially in Arizona,” he says.
Now, however, he is seeing the holidays and 2015 in a positive light—so to speak. With the New Year knocking on the door, Pollack is celebrating by adorning his Pollack Tempe Cinemas with more than 500,000 LED lights.
“We are going so far overboard this year that even I question me,” he says with a laugh. “But you know, I truly believe that it will be exciting and thrilling for both young and old alike.
“My whole deal is I’m looking forward to a bright 2015 and what a better way to say it than with a half million lights.”
Besides the half a million lights, Pollack Tempe Cinemas boasts an animated, computerized show designed by a Texan programmer.
“That’s why this year it’s going to be way over the top,” Pollack says.
Pollack and Valley businesses, attractions and families are decking their buildings, grounds and homes with elaborate light shows ready to melt the heart of the meanest Scrooge. Among the others are the Desert Botanical Garden and its Las Noches de las Luminarias, Glendale Glitters, Red Mountain Community Church and the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
Pollack admits that his show, which originated at his Mesa headquarters more than 10 years ago, was inspired by Disneyland’s magical display.
“I’ve always respected it,” says Pollack, whose shopping centers pepper the Valley. “I always thought it was an incredible show. I always wanted to do something of that magnitude, that quality. The budget was never there.
“This year, I thought, ‘I am going to pull out the stops. We’re going to try to do a show that even Disney would say, ‘Hey, nice job. Not that we need their approval, but I just think they do a phenomenal job.”
There are plenty of Valley residents, he says, who can’t afford to head to Disneyland. That’s why he offers his show for free. On opening night, Thursday, Nov. 13, he even screened Christmas movies in his theater without a charge.
“I think it’ll be spectacular and I hope it definitely brightens up the holidays for many people,” Pollack says.
Pollack perhaps puts the holiday season into perspective the best.
“It seems like just yesterday we were taking the decorations down,” he says. “Now, here we are doing it again.”
Honoring Christ
Clik here to view.
Red Mountain Community Church’s display is titled “While the World Slept.”
Pastor Bob Fox of Red Mountain Community Church (RMCC) in East Mesa began his display simply in 1995. Like the area in which RMCC is located—the Loop 202 and Recker Road—“While the World Slept” and the church have developed into something larger.
“You kind of create a monster over the years,” he says. “It’s gotten a lot bigger.”
“While the World Slept” tells the story of Christ’s birth and how “the world really didn’t notice right away,” he says.
But Fox, who welds the displays as well as leads the church, describes “While the World Slept” as “symbolic.”
“Before I moved to Mesa, I was a rancher up in rural Nevada,” Fox explains. “Rural life and animals and this and that were a part of my life. When I began to think about our church and our place in the community, I began to envision this light display. It’s symbolic of the past and the good memories that stir in people’s heart, even though younger people haven’t yet experienced it. That’s what started it.”
The congregation began meagerly. RMCC was founded in 1990 and held services at the now-former location of Anzio Landing at Falcon Field.
“We had like 30 people when we started,” he says.
Now the congregation has hit 1,500 members. “It’s been an adventure,” he says.
With “While the World Slept,” Fox and his church hope to work toward healing the community.
“Some people come down after the crowds are gone, just enjoy walking through it in the quiet of the night,” he says. “They’re alone and they’re going through stuff in life like a broken marriage or financial hardship. I hear a lot of stories of how much it meant to them, just the fact that it’s there. Whenever I’m putting up lights, I’m thinking of that and how it’s something special.”
Festive Paper Lanterns
Clik here to view.
Desert Botanical Garden uses more than 8,000 luminarias to illuminate the gardens at night.
The Desert Botanical Garden’s Las Noches de las Luminarias bring the gardens to life at night, illuminating each of its trails with more than 8,000 luminarias.
“Normally, if you come in the evening to the garden, we have to close certain trails off because they’re not lit at night,” says Marcia Flynn, director of event services. “The luminarias give you access to every trail.”
Visitors stroll through the grounds, while being entertained by a variety of musical acts, ranging from the folk music of Traveler to the Sugar Thieves’ Delta blues. Patrons are welcomed to the Desert Botanical Gardens for the 36th year by a mariachi band.
“Every year, we change up some of the music and entertainment,” Flynn says. “We have the traditional groups, like the handbell ensembles and certain key musicians who are member favorites and are very popular. Then we fold in some new groups that give people a reason to come back every year.”
New this year is a visit by the Phoenix Astronomical Society, which will bring four telescopes and very versed stargazers to the Sonoran Desert Nature Trail to help patrons explore the night sky.
“We’ve never done that before,” she explains. “People are always fascinated by astronomy and the desert is a perfect place to view the stars.”
Founded 37 years ago, Las Noches de las Luminarias started with just 600 bags and as a silent night. The event is one of the major fundraisers for the garden.
“It helps support our operations budget, which in turns helps conservation, research, education, exhibits and horticulture, all of those pillars of the garden.
“It’s an important fundraiser for the garden. It’s important to us to keep the price affordable. Luminaria makes a great holiday gift, too.”
21 Years of Glendale Glitters
A West Valley tradition for 21 years, Glendale Glitters returns in 2014. Event organizers, trying to entice residents and visitors to return to the 16-block event, are changing the theme each weekend to pull in crowds.
“Jingle Bell Rockin’ Nights” is Dec. 5 and Dec. 6; “Winter Wonderland Weekend” Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, and the “Spirit of Giving Weekend” from Dec. 19 to Dec. 20. All of the events take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“We do want people to come back, not only year to year, but multiple times during the season,” says Kim Larson, public information office for the City of Glendale. “We’ve even changed up the theme. There’s ‘Jingle Bell Rockin’ Nights’ that are all about music. We’re doing an ugly sweater contest that weekend, too, which ties into our textile drive.”
During the “Winter Wonderland” weekend, the City of Glendale usually brings in snow. But this year, it is offering ice skating for $2, skates included.
“We’re doing stuff with a ‘Frozen’ theme,” she says. “That’ll be a really exciting weekend for kids. We’re going to show the ‘Frozen’ movie on Saturday night, Dec. 13.”
Larson says the public is moved by the free LED presentation, an event that’s known for its romantic air.
“We’ve had a couple weddings at Glendale Glitters, a couple proposals,” she says. “We have the horse-drawn carriage rides. That’s a romantic thing that a lot of people do. I hear all kinds of cool stories.”
Three Decades of Fun
The Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park—which kick off Friday, Dec. 12—have so many lights, that organizers stopped counting. That just goes to show you the magnitude of the event.
“Really what we do is we close off the back of the park,” says Kira Peters, the park’s supervisor. “We pull out 50 tubs of extension cords. We pull out 50 tubs of lights, then we go to work setting everything up. There’s a big winter palace and things that are popular with little kids, like a Dora the Explorer area, a penguins area. We’re going to throw in ‘Frozen’ characters. We do our best to stay relevant with what’s popular with little kids.”
Santa Claus even makes a visit to the historical Roald Amundsen Pullman Car. The event is free, however, there is a $3 charge for the train and $2 for the carousel.
“We try to show that we’re more than just a train,” Peters says.