Henderson offers small-town holiday celebration

Santa Claus is coming to Old Town. Henderson stages its eighth WinterFest today through Saturday at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St.

Activities include Santa's arrival, the WinterFest Parade, a petting zoo, train and pony rides, gingerbread house displays and a tree-lighting ceremony with Mayor Andy Hafen.

Admission to all events is free.

"With the economy the way it is, you can still come out and have a fantastic day, enjoy the parade and have a lot of activities for the kids," says Annette Mullins, cultural supervisor for the city of Henderson.

New this year will be a Ferris wheel (rides available through Sunday), performances of Theatre in the Valley's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and five-foot inflatable snowballs propelled by kids running like hamsters inside.

"I guess it's just a matter of preference, but I think a lot of people like the family feel of small-town Henderson on the holidays," Mullins says.

Here are WinterFest highlights (all at the Henderson Convention Center and Events Plaza).

Today: Henderson Symphony Orchestra presents "Sounds of the Season," 7 p.m.

Friday: Tree-lighting ceremony and Santa's arrival, 6 p.m.; "A Charlie Brown Christmas," 8 p.m.

Saturday: WinterFest Parade, 10 a.m.; craft fair, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; "A Charlie Brown Christmas," 6 p.m.

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0456.