Upon news of massive construction to Santa Fe Avenue (USDA Water & Sewer Improvements), Grants Main-Street Project has taken the careful and thoughtful decision to pull back from a portion of its holiday season event, the 27th Annual Holiday Light Parade. Canceling the parade portion of this event and continuing, ONWARD, with the MainStreet Cookie Crawl.
By November 17th, 2023, the City of Grants with its contractor, TLC Plumbing, will start this critically needed infrastructure project on Santa Fe Avenue from 5th Street to Cedar Drive (Kentucky Fried Chicken location). Construction will impact westbound and eastbound Santa Fe Avenue, and will include trenching along the right lanes and shoulders in both directions. The duration of this construction is expected to take place for 280 days to 365 days (1 year).
Upon this news, at the November 9th Grants Main-Street board meeting, the board of directors made the careful decision to cancel the parade portion of its December 9th event and to continue with the” Cookie Crawl” activities and festivities. President Patrick Clingman said, “A lot went into making this decision. We obviously all want this parade but we have to balance that need with the needs of MainStreet businesses on Santa Fe Avenue. When it came to light last week that our proposed route was not viable due to extensive road construction on Santa Fe, our Boards’ thoughts first went to how we support those impacted businesses. This decision is about creating an event which best supports our MainStreet businesses.” As a result, Main-Street will continue to support businesses during this holiday season by continuing to hold the MainStreet Cookie Crawl.
Many are familiar with the Holiday Light Parade, but the “Cookie Crawl” is a new concept that invites families to stroll through the Main-Street district and enjoy activities inside businesses. Saturday, December 9th, 2023 from 12PM to 6PM businesses will provide cookies and/or hot cocoa to visitors that stop in. Businesses will host additional activities such as: photos with Santa Claus, Christmas card crafting, ornament crafting, holiday concerts, and more. Businesses involved include: Jenny’s on 66, Five 22, Double 6 Gallery, Second Time Around, Loeffler’s Guns Etc., Custom Etching & Gifts, Kenneth Brown Photography, 1912 Market, New Mexico Mining Museum, Golden Heart Yoga & Dance, Mt. Taylor Funerals, West Theater and Enchanted on 66. There will also be festivities in the Fire & Ice Park including: vendors, bounce houses, and live music.
Whether it's the Cookie Crawl or the Holiday Light Parade, Grants MainStreet Project’s events should help to drive traffic into the downtown area to support small businesses. Executive Director William Yarborough said, “I’m excited to see families enjoy the same activities they would wait in the cold for, but in the comfort of businesses across the MainStreet district. We hear too often that the night is too cold for families and children to wait for Santa. With this year’s event families will have more time to get their iconic photo with Santa and enjoy the holiday season comfortably with the whole family.”
For more information and updates, please visit grantsmainstreetproject. com/holiday- light-parade or reach out to the MainStreet Office via email, telephone, or Facebook Messenger.