Spruce Tree House glows during the holiday luminaria festival at Mesa Verde National Park. The celebration this year will take place on December 14. (Courtesy Cristy Brown)
The event is a labor of love, says Cristy Brown of the National Park Service: in 2015 a crew of volunteers and park staff filled more than 4,000 paper bags with seven tons of sand, burning through 30 long-handled lighters. The festival this year is Dec. 14, and admission to the park is free after 4 pm. Brown spoke with Colorado Matters host Nathan Heffel.
Luminarias light the roadway at sunset near Mesa Verde's headquarters during the holiday open house. Courtesy Cristy Brown