Don’t miss holiday festivals in High Desert this weekend [Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.]

Nov. 24--Catch a show from co u n t r y s t a r Da r r y l Worley, enjoy a donkey ride or get your picture taken with Santa Claus this weekend, as holiday celebrations kick off with festivals at Calico Ghost Town and Fort Irwin military base.

CALICO GHOST TOWN

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

Calico Ghost Town event planners said they aimed for a Holiday Festival that embraces the new while still honoring tradition and the town's heritage at this year's annual event held Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Holiday Festival combines what used to be two separate holiday events: the Heritage and the Christmas Festival.

Noele Wayne said this year's festival will feature old customs including staged gunfights, p h o t o s w i t h S a n t a , and, of course, the treelighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

But what's new this year is the Calico donkey rides offered for children on Saturday and Sunday.

"We're really branching out with different ideas of ways to entertain the locals, let people know this is a place to be entertained," Wayne said.

T h ro u gh o u t t h e weekend, various musical guests will perform including Billy Erickson, a singing cowboy and Ca l i co G h o s t Tow n regular.

Also performing is Debby Clinkenbeard, an Americana folk artist originally from Yermo.

"She is local to the area and that's really neat," Wayne said.

Other festival activities include caroling, store freebies, cookies and hot cocoa, and a reading of "The Night Before Christmas."

"It's a family friendly experience that's very affordable," Wayne said. "If you're looking for something to do with your family that doesn't cost a lot of money, this is the way to go."

The festival will be held on Ghost Town Road. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 to 15 and free for children 5 or younger.

For more information, visit www.CalicoTown. com.

FORT IRWIN

WINTERFEST 2011

In keeping with the move to make Fort Irwin "a community of choice," the post will be hosting its first ever "Winterfest" celebration at the Fort Irwin Town Center on Friday and Saturday.

T h o u gh t h e p o s t a l way s h ad a h o l i -- day-themed event and Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, event organizers said they wanted to make a bigger deal out of it this year.

Country star Darryl Worley will be performing at 3 p.m. Saturday and will be meeting with fans after the show. Worley has produced 18 singles and three No. 1 hits, "I Miss My Friend," "Have You Forgotten?" and "Awful, Beautiful Life."

The Winterfest will kick off Friday with Christmas tree sales and Town Center shopping. The event will also feature a breakfast with Santa and Santa's workshop on Saturday at Reggie's Restaurant, with a tree-lighting ceremony at 5:15 p.m.

The festival is open t o t h e p u b l i c a n d admission is free. Visitors to Fort Irwin must possess government-issue ID and provide vehicle registration and proof of insurance if driving. For more information, call (760)380-5879 or visit www.FortIrwinFMWR. com.

Katie Lucia may be reached at (760) 256-4123 or KLucia @DesertDispatch.com.

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