UPDATE 11/30: The Alamogordo Center of Commerce Board of Directors met in special emergency session on Wednesday at 8 am to discuss reviving the Alamogordo Christmas Parade, after the fallout and public outcry from the controversial decision announced on Monday that they were canceling the traditional Alamogordo Christmas Parade for 2023.
And the winner is a knock out of the Grinch. The Spirit of Christmas prevails with the miracle of 10th Street. The Parade is a go Saturday December 9th at 6 pm on 10th Street to New York Avenue.
11/28 Christmas 2023 and the score is the Grinch 1 knockout and the citizens of Alamogordo a zero. The Alamogordo Center of Commerce which hosts the annual Alamogordo Christmas parade has announced the cancellation of this year’s parade amid rising litigation and insurance premium costs. In a statement issued late Monday afternoon the Alamogordo Center of Commerce stated…
“Alamogordo Center of Commerce announces, with a heavy heart, the cancellation of the Christmas Parade 2023
Alamogordo, NM - It is with a heavy heart that we come to you today to share some regrettable news. After much consideration and exploration of every possible option, we must inform you of the cancellation of the 2023 Christmas Parade.
In recent times, our community, like many others, has faced unexpected challenges in the form of escalating premiums and instability in the insurance market due to the high volume of litigation. This has created an environment where the financial risks associated with hosting large public events have become too great to bare.
We understand the special place the Christmas Parade holds in the hearts of our community members, and we share in the disappointment that this announcement brings. The decision to cancel such a beloved event was not made lightly, and we want you to know that every effort was made to find a solution that would allow us to proceed. We recognize the importance of the Christmas Parade in bringing joy, unity, and a sense of community to Alamogordo. We share in the disappointment felt by each resident, young and old, who looks forward to this festive tradition each year.
While we are saddened by the necessity of this cancellation, we encourage you to continue embracing the Christmas spirit in your own unique ways. The City of Alamogordo will be hosting the Christmas tree lighting on December 8th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Alamogordo MainStreet will be hosting Christmas on MainStreet on December 2nd from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
As we navigate these challenges, we remain committed to exploring options for the future and finding ways to bring back the Christmas Parade to our community. We appreciate your understanding, support, and resilience during these times.
We wish you a peaceful and joyous holiday season.
Sincerely,
Alamogordo Center of Commerce Board of Directors”
The city of Alamogordo’s Christmas Parade is “more difficult to insure” and “the event is considered high risk” according to an insurance industry insider due to an incident at last year’s Christmas Parade resulting in the injury of a child.
During last years parade the parade was temporarily paused when police reported a child was trying to reboard a float but was caught by the tire and partially ran over. The child was initially in critical condition and was air lifted to an El Paso Trauma Center for treatment. Statements issued by the family a few days after the incident implied that the child was recovering well.
However as a result of the incident there is litigation issues and the event is now all but uninsurable at a rate that is affordable for the production company the community event.
The Alamogordo Christmas parade is a long time family tradition with a variety of sponsors and hosts of the event since the founding of the city of Alamogordo. The planned theme this year was a “Cowboy Christmas” as a tribute to the founding of the town that just celebrated its 125th anniversary of formation of a town that served the area ranchers, lumbering industry and railroads.
Christmas on MainStreet and still planned and a go this year. According to Alamogordo MainStreet officials insurance, security and rising costs continue to be a concern for public events but they are committed to keeping Christmas alive on New York Avenue. Join Christmas on MainStreet Saturday Dec. 2 from 4 -9 p.m. This event includes dancers, singers, Santa’s Village, a Live Nativity Scene, a car show and more.
