When it comes to festive holiday light displays, it's pretty hard to beat the Lighted Christmas Parade - but downtown Silver City plans to give it a try this week on AmBank First Friday, with gazebo lighting, luminarias, fire barrels and the light of the silver screen.

The Holiday Cheer-themed evening will begin at 5 pm this Friday, Dec. 7, with the annual lighting of the Gough Park gazebo, followed by the Kiwanis Club's Holiday Sing-off, supported by Western Bank. Winners of the competition will receive $100 for their group or organization and $100 for the charity of their choice.

"Many of our community's most talented young people will be in Gough Park Friday evening to sing their hearts out for charity," said Nick Seibel, Silver City MainStreet manager. "We hope there's a great crowd to support them and check out the hard work town staff and volunteers have put into making the heart of our town festive for the season."

The light display will continue down on Bullard street, where local Cub Scouts will be lining the sidewalk with more than 500 luminarias, lighting the way to the Silco Theater, where a free showing of the classic holiday film "It's a Wonderful Life" will begin at 7:30 pm.

AmBank and MainStreet will also have MainStreet Gift Certificates for sale at the Silco before the film, and thanks to the generous sponsorship of Conner Fine Jewelers, those who purchase $100 of gift certificates will receive an additional $10 gift certificate free. The gift certificates are accepted at every store, restaurant and business downtown.

"Many of downtown's shops will be open late for holiday shopping, and of course there are always so many good places to eat," Seibel said. "From a wine and cheese tasting at the Curious Kumquat to the yearly Hanukkah celebration at Shevek & Co., there are lots of ways to mix food and fun."
Just down the street, the Greenwood Misses, a local all-female group, will be performing at Diane's Parlor, their first performance since being featured at this year's Silver City Blues Festival.

Art lovers will find plenty to do as well, with Leyba and Ingalls Arts hosting a show of endangered animals painted on paper plates by regional artist MF Dondelinger. Works in the show are featured in Dondelinger's new book, Modern Icons, also available in the shop.

Meanwhile on Broadway, the Silver City Museum will be open until 6 pm with the opening of their Winter Under the Westen Skies exhibit, offering glimpses into the way the season was celebrated in years past. The exhibit includes a hands-on winter campsite for kids, and the museum will also host a free handprint holiday wreath-making class for kids from 4-6 pm.

"And of course, we'll be giving away $250 in MainStreet Gift Certificates to the lucky winner of the Downtown Holiday Passport promotion, to be drawn at the Silco at 7:30," Seibel said.

The passport promotion, launched during November's AmBank First Friday, offers shoppers who visit every shop on the passport card a free local music CD, as well as an entry into the gift certificate drawing.

More information about AmBank First Fridays events can be found online at www.SilverCityMainStreet.com, or by calling the MainStreet office at (575) 534-1700. Details about the Kiwanis Holiday Sing-off can be obtained by calling (575) 590-1587.