Carlsbad Christmas Pecos tour may be at the end

CARLSBAD — After 18 years of decorating their homes and yards for the annual Christmas on the Pecos light show, some residents living along the river say they are weary of it.

Christmas on the Pecos held annually from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve has evolved into a tourism event and has been named as one of the top 100 bus tour events in the nation. The spectacular light show has become one of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's top draws for the Carlsbad area during the holiday season.

The chamber sells tickets for boat rides on the river to view the lights and advertises the event in several markets.

A small group of residents along the river recently wrote a letter voicing their frustration over the chamber's lack of communication with the homeowners, and the fact that there was no end in sight to the annual decorating chores.

The chamber officials have vowed to improve communication with the homeowners and address the issues of concern.
Instead, they suggested the chamber should consider decorating the Riverwalk and the riverfront park starting from the railroad bridge and going south toward the walking bridge across the river near Tansill

"I think the biggest thing that came out of the meeting was the lack of communication. We listened to them and we are improving our communication with them," said Robert Defer, chamber executive director. "We are trying to address their concerns and we are taking their suggestions seriously. Without the homeowners along the river, there can be no Christmas on the Pecos."

Cindy Elkins, who authored the letter with support from several of her riverfront neighbors, said there are a few homeowners who have indicated they plan to withdraw their homes from the this year's Christmas of the Pecos light show.

"Personally, I love Christmas on the Pecos," Elkins said. "But I don't want it in our backyard any more. A lot of homeowners feel the same way. Some of us are prepared to do this for another two years, which would bring it to 20 years. But we would want assurance from the chamber that they will start preparing people for changes that are coming that our homes will not be lit up for the holiday season beyond two years from now."

She said homeowners agreed to participate for two more years because they are cognizant that the chamber still has two years left on a five-year contract for the operation of the boats. She said homeowners do not want the chamber or concessionaire to be in a financial bind if the contract is terminated because homeowners withdrew their homes.

In addition to the boat operator, ticket sellers are also paid. She said the only large block of volunteers still involved are the homeowners.

Defer said the chamber still operates one boat, which is run by chamber volunteers.

The chamber's bill for the private operation of the boats by the concessionaire is in the $40,000-a-year range.

Elkins said. "We just want it moved to another location."

Elkins said the price in time, money and loss of privacy during one of the busiest and time-intensive holiday seasons in their own lives, compounded over almost two decades, has taken a toll and has worn many residents down.

"You have to be home from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve," she said. "If you want to go out of town for the holidays, you have to find someone willing to turn on the lights and turn them off. We don't go to bed until the last boat completes the trip. Then we can turn off the lights. Some of the elderly homeowners do receive help in the form of putting up the decorations. But that is it."

Elkins said the original concept for Christmas on the Pecos was for it to be an all-volunteer event primarily for the enjoyment of local residents. The chamber would provide the boats and the homeowners provided the decorations, the setup, daily maintenance and electrical power. Volunteers from across the business and public sector of the community would provide their time to help pilot the boats and greet and disperse blankets to the boat riders on very cold nights.

She said the plan was to transition over time from individual homeowners decorating their yards to a commercial-based operation with less direct involvement of the homeowners.

"Here we are 18 years later and that transition has not taken place nor is it even discussed any longer as part of the event's near- or long-term planning," Elkins said.

"The present status leads to a general homeowner question to the chamber and the event's management: are the homeowners expected to continue their efforts in the present system forever? Are they being asked to handle the decorating of their homes without support or transition for the next 18 years or beyond? Will Christmas on the Pecos ever grow or evolve into the original vision of a truly commercial event?" she said in the letter.

Another issue voiced by the eight homeowners who attached their names to the letter is the evolving detachment of the event from the broader community. They believe the event has grown to the point where it has become a business.

Elkins said that Defer has made every effort to be open and forthcoming when asked for the financial information pertaining to Christmas on the Pecos revenues

Elkins said that this past holiday season the chamber, at best, broke even on the annual event, according to information provided by the chamber.

Still, she said, the chamber declared that this past holiday season, with "record ridership" and an "astonishing $17.50 weekend ticket price," it lost about $10,000.

"Although approximately $160,000 in ticket sales by the chamber was not enough to break even because of operating, contract and labor costs that were previously provided through volunteerism, the chamber estimated that the out-of-town visitors to the event spend about $600,000 at our local motels, restaurants and gas stations," Elkins said in the letter. "When asked how much of this local cash infusion to a small number of businesses was being invested by these businesses in the event to defray costs and/or relieve some of the expenses, the chamber has replied that little, if any, of the money is being plowed back into the event."

Elkins told the newspaper it is a shame the $17.50 per person ticket has excluded local families who can't afford it from enjoying a trip on the river to view the Christmas lights. She said it is not uncommon for people to knock on her door and ask if they can take their children down to the river through the vacant lot next door on Riverside Drive so they can see the lights.

"Christmas on the Pecos was originally started so people in Carlsbad would have something to see and enjoy. A lot of families can't afford it anymore," she said.

Defer said that as the popularity of Christmas on the Pecos grew, so did the expenses, that include paid help through contracts and advertising.

He added that all chamber officials are grateful for the role the homeowners play in making the event a success. He said the chamber is diligently working on developing plans to address the issues and concerns of the homeowners.