Holiday Lights and Gifts
in Jerome

The quaint mile-high town of Jerome will be aglow when the holiday season officially begins on Saturday, December 1. As the sun sets, several hundred luminarias will be placed up and down the streets of Jerome. A tree-lighting ceremony will follow at 7 p.m. in Upper Park.

Jerome’s three-dozen galleries will stay open until 8 p.m. that night so visitors can get a head start on their holiday shopping—with items as varied as ceramic wall vases; acrylic, watercolor or mixed media paintings; photography; handcrafted jewelry; mesquite bowls; woven jackets and metal sculpture. Many will offer refreshments.

Jerome’s shops also offer many options for off-the-beaten-track gifts. How about a kaleidoscope or a music box? Blown-glass pears? A one-of-a-kind gemstone ring or lamp? Or perhaps a meditation landscape, rare coins, a leather handbag or pottery made in Jerome?

To add to the evening’s festivities, Spirits of Jerome Photography will present Spoken Circus, a roving band that will blend poetry with folk music on violin, guitar, saw violin and beat-box harmonica.

Jerome’s young residents get at least one gift

For that perfect holiday ornament, the possibilities are equally impressive—from the silver crane ornaments at Gallery 527 to oversized glass balls at Nelly Bly’s. Mooey Christmas and Udder Things is a yuletide adventure all its own—any time of the year. In addition to many different types of ornaments, including Egyptian glass with 24-carat-gold embellishments, there is a five-foot saguaro Christmas tree ready to set up indoors or out and a variety of figurines, collectibles, dinnerware, stockings and stocking stuffers, including crystal nail files with holiday themes.

Amidst all the hustle and bustle, Jerome merchants never forget the spirit of the season. Since the 1930s, they have made sure that all of Jerome’s young residents (children younger than 13) get at least one gift on their Christmas list. Santa shows up at Spook Hall prior to the town’s Christmas dinner later in the month.  The final holiday event in Jerome is the candlelight mass at Haven Methodist Church at 5:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

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