Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

The holiday season in downtown Artesia opened on a festive note Dec. 5 with a full day of shopping, the annual Parade of Lights and the traditional Christmas tree-lighting at the Derrick Floor.

It was all part of Artesia MainStreet’s Light Up Artesia event and the folks at Chez Camille Salon across the street from the Derrick Floor were doing their part to promote the celebratory mood.

“We just open up and try to make it festive and put cookies out and watch the parade and the lighting of the tree,” said owner Camille Menefee.

Menefee’s salon at 520 W. Main St. has been a downtown fixture for 25 years and she likes to be involved with the events hosted by Artesia MainStreet.

“Artesia is a great place,” she said. “We’ve made Main Street so much better so we can have all of these activities. It’s great for the community. Everybody wants to come out and be part of it.”

Kalani Bolen and her family wanted to be part of it and they enjoyed the pre-Christmas festivities around the Derrick Floor while waiting for the tree lighting and the Parade of Lights.

“It’s something for the kids to do,” Bolen said as her children Brynlee, Ellington and Silas along with friend Zachary Martin explored the lights and Santa’s sleigh, and sipped hot chocolate.

“We’re just taking everything in,” Kalani said.

Artesia MainStreet Director Morgan Fox said citizens, businesses and others made the event special.

“To see families gather around the Christmas tree, friends enjoying each other’s company, the people of this great town bound together to celebrate the season, there is just nothing like it,” she said. “The community of Artesia is special year-round. They outdid themselves at Light Up Artesia.”

The Parade of Lights started at the Bulldog Bowl parking lot and made its way downtown as parade-goers watched semitrailers, law enforcement vehicles, motorcycles and decorated floats kick off the season.

Fox said the parade had over 80 entries and Eddy County Public Works took first prize for the best decorated float.

More Christmas events are set for Dec. 14, starting at 10 a.m. at the Derrick Floor with the Oil Patch Market, the Cookie Crawl and Stuff the Sleigh. More information can be found at artesiamainstreet.com.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.