Public Invited To Celebrate Holiday Traditions Around The World “A December To Remember” Events To Highlight Cultural Corridor         The entire family is invited to learn about holiday traditions from around the world during “A December to Remember” holiday celebration beginning this month. This month-long celebration will showcase the diversity of Las Vegas each Saturday from November 25-January 6, 2007. Seven downtown cultural institutions will collaborate to present a series of ongoing exhibits, performances, special events and hands-on children’s activities that show how the diverse cultures of the word celebrate this very special time of year. These cultural facilities include the Old Mormon Fort, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, Natural History Museum, Neon Museum, Reed Whipple Cultural Center, Las Vegas Library and Cashman Center.         The celebration will open at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort at 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, with a special holiday program that includes a presentation of Indian dances by children of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and a special appearance by Elvis — as Santa — arriving in his pink Cadillac. This reception is free and open to the public. The fort is located at 500 E. Washington Ave.         Throughout the month, these special holiday programs will bring insight and understanding to how diverse cultural traditions are practiced, how they differ and how universal themes of renewal and faith are manifest at the time of the changing seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres of the globe.         A series of events are scheduled every Saturday, each hosted by one of the cultural institutions, with free admission for the day and special programs to include music, food and hands-on holiday fun for the entire family. These Saturday events include: ·       Saturday, November 25, 1 to 7 p.m., Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, 500 East Washington Avenue. The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe will present “Christmas Pow Wow at the Old Fort” with dancing and singing in celebration of a rich heritage. ·       Saturday, December 2, noon to 2 p.m., Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North. The library offers a Yule event hosted by Lady Morgan of the Wiccan tradition explaining the history of pagan rituals associated with the winter solstice. A free concert of holiday music will take place at 2 p.m. ·       Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North. “A Latino Holiday” is the theme of this event with creativity workshops offering children a chance to make colorful Piñatas and other holiday ornaments. ·       Thursday, December 7, 6 to 9 p.m., Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort. “A Civil War Christmas” will feature a living history reenactment. ·       Saturday, December 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Las Vegas Natural History Museum, t900 Las Vegas Boulevard North. “If Reindeers Could Fly” will feature a special reindeer exhibit with performances in the main gallery and kids’ holiday craft activities—topped off with an all day visit from Santa Claus. Also, members of the local Jewish community will make a presentation about the traditions of Hanukah. ·       Saturday, December 16, 2 to 5 p.m., Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Boulevard North. “Celebrating Kwanzaa” is the theme of this event, which will explore the history of the holiday, its principals and its symbols. ·       Saturday, December 16, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, Kids take center stage in making “take home” tree decorations all under the watchful eye of a turn of the century St. Nick. ·       Saturday, December 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Neon Museum Boneyard, McWillams andLas Vegas Boulevard North. “Very Vegas Holiday” will feature guided tours of the neon relics that have given Las Vegas its fame and fortune.         A December to Remember is sponsored by the CityLas Vegas, the Cultural Corridor Coalition and the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, with support from the Office of Business Development and the Planning & Development and Neighborhood Services Departments. For more information, residents can call 229-5431.