Glendale Glitters in giving spirit this weekend

Glendale Glitters will be a place where generosity and compassion are celebrated for the holidays with the Spirit of Giving weekend Dec. 11-12, from 6-10 p.m. each night, with 1.5 million lights and all kinds of entertainment for the entire family.

Glendale is honoring and celebrating many nonprofit organizations and companies that give back to the Glendale community and Valleywide, including the West Valley Child Crisis Center, Donor Network of Arizona, the Swift Branch and The Boys and Girls Club.

Glendale’s Spirit of Giving event will also have St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance on hand, collecting canned food items to benefit to the less fortunate during this holiday season. Last year, the event collected enough food to help feed 10,186 meals to needy families, so this year, event organizers hope to exceed that number.

The Spirit of Giving weekend in downtown Glendale offers free admission, and will also feature food and beverages, horse-drawn carriages rides with special mini-pony rides, inflatable rides and visits with Santa Claus. Bring your camera, or have Santa’s helper snap one for a small fee.

Many of the downtown merchants will offer extended hours to help visitors get their holiday shopping done. Free make-and-take crafts will be holiday cards that children can decorate and take home or donate to St. Mary's Food Bank to accompany the meals going to needy families.

In addition, “Madagascar” will be shown for free, twice each evening, so viewers can bring a blanket to spread out and watch a family film.

Musical and dance troupe performances will get everyone in the festive holiday spirit, as well. The entertainment lineup includes:

For information on Glendale Glitters’ Spirit of Giving weekend, call the Special Events Hotline at 623-930-2299 or visit www.glendaleaz.com/events.