HARLINGEN — “Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six!”
Excitement swept through the crowd gathered Thursday night at McKelvey Park for the 36th Annual Lighting of the Arroyo.
“Five! Four! Three! Two! One!”
The trees and poles that had waited patiently for the right moment suddenly awakened with strings of light spiraling upward; shadow areas came alive with words of “Merry Christmas” and “Seasons Greetings!” in electric blue and Santa red and piercing green.
“I love it,” said Leyla Becerra, 17, a junior who looked forward to performing later that night with the Harlingen High School cheerleaders.
“It brings everyone together,” she said, smiling at the families gathered for a night of joyous performances. Because the lighting of the ornaments and sculpted light was only the beginning of the evening. Harlingen High School Cardettes, Harlingen High School South Southern Stars, young dancers from Monarch Dance Studio and numerous other local entertainers would perform this evening.
“I am excited,” said Ruby Gracia, 17, a major in the Southern Stars.
“I have never done it before actually with the Stars,” she said. “We have been practicing a lot and we have a really nice dance.”
Cars quickly filled parking lots of nearby businesses relaxing their towaway zones in the spirit of the season. Couples with children and grandparents in red covers and thick jackets maneuvered their way across streets monitored by police officers and made their way to the park alive with spinning windmills of color, remote controlled cars speeding down pathways, and vendors selling funnel cakes and street tacos.
“It’s a fun event and exciting,” said Norma Arismendi. “Also our granddaughter is one of the Cardettes.”
The stage lined with red and white poinsettias sent out a whole repertoire of Christmas music.
“Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart/The Very Next Day You Gave It Away,” sang a familiar tune while young dancers prepping for the show moved in a brisk step to the music.
The Lighting of the Arroyo is an annual tradition for Harlingen residents like Celina Garza. This year it held an extra tier of excitement for her as her daughter Marlee, 14, would perform for the first time as a Southern Star.
“I am very proud of her,” Garza said. “She has a real love of dance. It’s an opportunity for her to dance with her team.”
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” sang the next tune as a drone gave away its presence overhead with it’s flashing red and green lights.
Kids waved light sabers, older folks relaxed in layers of clothes and graying hair that fell around eyes glittering, and a boy in a stroller gazed in wonder at the newness of things.
Suddenly, the lights came on, snow poured.
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