Salt River Dashes Through the Snow at Snowfest

By Juan Ysaguirre

Now that Santa Claus has begun making his nice/naughty list and will assuredly check it twice, it is also the time of year for Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members and staff to enjoy some holiday cheer with their family and loved ones.

This year’s holiday extravaganza is the Holiday Snowfest, a Christmas-themed snow village featuring 350 tons of real snow, the only five-lane toboggan slide in Arizona, games, delicious food and jolly old St. Nick himself. Holiday Snowfest is set up at a Salt River Fields parking lot and runs through January 4.

During SRPMIC Night at the Holiday Snowfest, on December 3, Community members and staff were treated to an exclusive night out. The snow village was closed to the public for the event, allowing SRPMIC members and staff to enjoy the Christmas spirit in private.

The toboggan slide was routinely coated with fresh snow as the line slowly started to grow from a few people to a huge crowd as the night wore on. A toboggan is a sled used for sliding down snow and ice. At Snowfest, Salt River families utilized the unofficial toboggan of the Valley: an inflatable inner tube.

Out on the snow play area, some spent time playfully throwing snowballs while others opted to build mini snowmen. To ensure everyone remained safe, Holiday Snowfest established a smaller snow play area for the tiny kiddos.

Once Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus arrived, they happily posed for photos with families and made sure to find out what the children in Salt River would like for Christmas this year.

For the adults, an established area featuring couches and loveseats inside a well-lit igloo was at the center of the snow village. Those wanting a bit of heat with their snow were able to spend time at the campfire grounds, perfect for roasting marshmallows under the moonlight. Additionally, rows of cornhole boards could be found in the 21-and-up area.

The SRPMIC Night celebration featured such ample amounts of snow, fun, food and Christmas cheer that even the Grinch himself could have a good time there.