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Shining bright: Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe at the helm of New Year's Eve celebration in Santa Fe for 9th time
To say Ray Sandoval is busy is an understatement.
As the event chair for the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, Sandoval is at the helm of the organization鈥檚 events.
He goes from working on Zozobra to D铆a de los Muertos to planning the New Year鈥檚 Eve event on the plaza.
鈥淧lanning for New Year鈥檚 Eve is like my childhood tea parties,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about putting everything together that I love.鈥�
This year鈥檚 event will mark the 9th time that the zia symbol will rise at midnight from the rooftop of La Fonda on the Plaza.
鈥淲e work towards making it one of the best New Year鈥檚 Eve celebrations in the country,鈥� he says.
The festivities kick off on the Plaza at 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31.
There will be music by Alex Maryol, Sol Fire and Felix y Los Gatos.
鈥淲e鈥檒l also have free biscochitos and hot chocolate for free while supplies last,鈥� Sandoval says. 鈥淲e will also have luminarias, or bonfires, lighting the way around the plaza.鈥�
Shining bright: Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe at the helm of New Year's Eve celebration in Santa Fe for 9th time
At 11:45 p.m. Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber will introduce the countdown.
At the stroke of midnight the Zia will rise above the city with fireworks to follow.
Sandoval says the team is always looking for the best in technology when it comes to the fireworks used.
鈥淲e鈥檙e surrounded by historic buildings that are priceless,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to use close proximity fireworks because they burn at a lower temperature. We鈥檒l also be playing the Goo Goo Doll鈥檚 鈥楤etter Days鈥� for the celebration. Of course, in New Mexico tradition, we will sing 鈥楲a Mananitas鈥� to ring in the new year.鈥�
Santa Fean Lillian Dutton was selected to sing the national anthem at the New Year鈥檚 Eve, Sandoval says.
