Gilbert is in the holiday spirit with lights and donations as Riparian After Dark 2018 begins.
The water park will once again be lit up with luminarias, replete with entertainment, and each night will concentrate on helping one local nonprofit charity with donated items.
A nighttime stroll through the nature preserve will be glowing with festival light displays. Carolers will be serenading people as they stroll along the lighted trail. School choirs will be giving performances, and light refreshment will be available for purchase.
Although the event will be free, each night there will be an opportunity to donate designated items to specific charities. On December 7, everyone is asked to bring canned goods for the Open Arms Food Bank, and on December 8, canned goods will be collected for AZcend. Children’s toys will go to the Gilbert Fire and Rescue on December 14 and Maricopa Animal Rescues will be receiving blankets, dog food, and supplies on December 15.
New sneakers and shoes will be collected for the Gilbert Promotional Corp. Galloping Soles on December 21, and winter hats and gloves for adults and youth will go to Just ServeYouth on the December 22. Local businesses and organizations like to support this project so they can include it as community involvement in their brochure printing.
Riparian After Dark 2018 will open from 5:30 until 9:00 pm on weekends from December 7 through December 22. The preserve is at Water Ranch, 2757 E. Guadalupe Road.
