It was an old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon ride through the Arizona desert, complete with thousands of Christmas lights.
The first Christmas in the Desert event, which kicked off Dec. 18 at the Pantano Riding Stables, featured two 25-passenger wagons and one four-person carriage.
"We've made it affordable for the whole family," said Nuja Show, who owns the stables. "We try to make everyone feel like family," she said. "We tell stories on the wagons, we interact. It's not a commercialized thing, it's a family function."
Tom Elias was at the stables with his family. "It beats the heck out of Winterhaven," he said. "It's authentic - you get the bumps, the hills."
Elias was most impressed with how genuine the cowboy-driven wagon rides were.
"It doesn't get any more real than this," he said.
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The event has been a success with hundreds of people enjoying the rides, Show said. "We get to show our holiday spirit."
Standard wagon rides are $5 per person. Children under 1 can ride free. The holiday event will be back next year at the stables, 4450 S. Houghton Road.
Christmas in the Desert ends tonight but horseback riding is available throughout the year. For more information call 298-8980.
Contact photographer Dean Knuth at dknuth@azstarnet.com or 573-4155.
