One of the highlights of December in snowless Phoenix, Arizona is the annual Las Noches de Las Luminarias held at the Desert Botanical Garden. While many tens of thousands will crowd in at the Zoo Lights Festival, a much smaller and quieter group of people buys early tickets to the nearly always sold-out holiday garden event. The garden staff and volunteers line paths throughout the garden with approximately 6000 candle-lit luminarias. Walking along the chilly trails we are serenaded by musicians, enticed by lubricous hot drinks, loomed over by the towering saguaros as shadows dance on the path from the candlelight of the luminarias.