Tlaquepaque Festival of Lights to take place on December 8, 2007

Sedona, AZ - Enjoy one of Sedona's oldest holiday traditions of music and festivities including the amazing lighting of 6,000 luminarias at Tlaquepaque's 34th Annual Festival of Lights on Saturday, December 8th from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This event, which is patterned after the 17th Century La Posada - a folk tradition of Old Mexico, will warm hearts and brighten this holiday season. Plan on spending the afternoon and evening at Tlaquepaque selecting holiday gifts while wandering through the festive courtyards listening to holiday music and carolers.

The shop owners at Tlaquepaque will pass out chime candles just prior to 5 p.m. and when the Chapel bell tolls, visitors are encouraged to light the luminarias, creating a dramatic sight at Tlaquepaque. In preparation for this incredible evening, the Soroptomists of Sedona will help fill and place the 6,000 luminarias around the entire property.

Returning again this year to the Festival is the critically acclaimed River of Life Tabernacle Choir from Phoenix. This group of more than 100 young singers and musicians from diverse backgrounds will be singing in the Plaza de la Fuente from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The choir's enthusiastic style of praise has made them the event's favorite for the past 10 years. The choir has had incredible exposure over the years playing for Senator John McCain as well as performing with the Judds and Reba McEntire.

Luminarias dedicated to loved ones

Patio del Norte will have specially designated luminarias honoring cancer survivors, victims and families. The public can purchase and personalize a luminaria for $10 in honor of a loved one. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research. These luminarias can be purchased prior to the event on-line at www.tlaq.com. Each bag with its touching message will be on view the entire day at Tlaquepaque.

A full slate of other entertainment and carolers will perform in the plazas and courtyards of Tlaquepaque.

Santa Claus will make a special guest appearance from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in Patio del Norte where he will be checking to see who has been naughty or nice. Shoppers and visitors can sip on complimentary hot cider while they watch the manger with the live nativity scene in Plaza de la Fuente. Also dancing their way throughout Tlaquepaque will be the Red Rockin' Grannies, Sedona's own high-stepping ladies. Ranging in age from 55 to 83, this energetic group brings to the Festival some spirited holiday numbers starting at 3:30 p.m.

The lead soloists from the River of Life Tabernacle Choir, Ron Tolson and Brian Pace will perform in the Chapel and charm listeners with their beautiful sacred hymns from 3 to 4 p.m. Local Sedona favorite Jim Buchanan will perform on the piano from 4 to 5:30 p.m. under the stunning mural in the Tlaquepaque Chapel.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Dos Geckos, a guitar and violinist duo, will liven the Chapel festivities with a sampling of their favorite Christmas music, which will include an array of both traditional and popular songs. The acoustic sounds of these strings performed in the intimate setting of the Chapel will be most spectacular.

Jazz à la mode, a group founded by Frankie and Rosemary Chavez, may be new arrivals to the Sedona music scene but bring years of professional experience. An accomplished drummer and vocalist, the duo recently released a CD together called Sweet Jazz à la mode. They are set to perform in Patio del Norte from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Acoustic guitarist Patrick Ki and Nuevo flamenco artist Eric Miller will intrigue audiences in the Patio Las Campanas from 5 to 8 p.m. Listeners will enjoy an intriguing blend of smooth Latin favorites and popular holiday songs by this Hawaiian acoustic guitarist, and hear compositions from the new album Quiet Nights, Ki 's latest CD.

Red Rock Appella, the Sedona/Northern Arizona women's a cappella barbershop harmony chorus will be singing from 4 to 4:30 p.m. at the Patio Las Campanas and again at Plaza de la Fuente from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

Harmony on the Rocks, a Sedona based men's barbershop quartet, will be sharing their vocal talents by performing a variety of holiday music a cappella from 4:30 to 5 p.m. at Plaza de la Fuente and again in Portal Lane from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Sedona Heat Wave, a group comprised of four voices from Sedona's Red Rock Appella chorus, will perform from 3:30 to 4 p.m. in Portal Lane and then in the Patio Las Campanas from 4:30 to 5 p.m.

The wonderful sounds of the Canyon Singers can be heard from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Portal Lane.

Tlaquepaque is extending the Luminarias activities by adding a special concert featuring Pace and Tolson of the River of Life Tabernacle Choir. They will be playing piano and singing classical hymns and holiday music in the Tlaquepaque Chapel on Friday, December 7 from 3 to 7 p.m.

The restaurants at Tlaquepaque – Secret Garden Cafe, Oak Creek Brewery and Grill, Rene, and El Rincon Mexican Restaurant – will be serving throughout the weekend and reservations are highly recommended. All of the shops and galleries will be open until 8 p.m. on Saturday evening.

Sedona Trolley will provide free shuttle service every 15 minutes from 3 to 8 p.m. with pick-up and drop-off in the Uptown Municipal Parking Lot at Apple and Jordan, one block from Highway 89A.

For updates on activities and times, please call Tlaquepaque at (928) 282-4838. The Art and Soul of Sedona, Tlaquepaque is the home to more than 40 shops and galleries and four restaurants, visited by more than one million tourists each year. For more information, please visit www.tlaq.com.

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