Socorro will turn into Tinsel Town on Saturday night.

That's tinsel like the shiny icicles that complete your Christmas tree and tinsel like the bright hot glimmer that occurs when the show biz spotlight is trained on you.

"Tinsel Town" is the theme of the annual electric light parade that helps kick off the holiday season in town, at 6 p.m. today (Saturday).

"We decided on 'Tinsel Town' because Socorro has been in the news lately, from Bobby Olguin winning the Bobby Flay cook-off to New Mexico Tech being in the news for all its programs. Socorro has also been a featured destination on the 'Hidden Treasure' program on Saturday mornings on Channel 13," said Deborah Dean, director of the Socorro Heritage and Visitors Center.

Olguin bested Flay, a staple of the Food Network, in making the best green chile cheeseburgers earlier this year. New Mexico Tech was featured in episodes of "Man vs. Cartoon," which aired during the summer on tru-TV.

The "Tinsel Town" idea has definitely sparked creative thinking. The Family Christian Center wrote on its parade application that it will feature a float in which Hollywood stars are worshipping the Baby Jesus.

And the Early Childhood Development Center is thinking along the lines of "the glitz and glamour of Hollywood."

Actors arriving on a red carpet surrounded by paparazzi are in the thought process of the Sage Homeschool.

While those groups are clearly vying for honors on the best presentation of the theme, parade participants can also will awards for the best illuminated (use of lights), friendliest balloon and the People's Choice Award — just like the big one in Hollywood.

The Socorro Electric Co-op is a natural for the illumination category — and is planning its decorations to be lit by energy-efficient bulbs.

The Capitol Bar will once again spotlight its Toys for Tots program, Dean said, and motorcyclists who help out with that program will head the parade. When you see them heading down the street, you'll know that Santa and his crew won't be far behind.

Dean says the event, which begins with a line-up at 5 p.m., at Sedillo Park, and ends at the Plaza is one of the Socorro's most popular events.

"Even if it's freezing cold, it's very well attended," she said.

If it's cold out there, Dean says, there's a perfect solution for warming up – hot drinks offered by the city in the Plaza after the parade and a chance for folks to sample the posole that's been simmering away all afternoon.

Heat is turned on under the Posole Cook-Off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, in the tent on the Plaza. The New Mexico holiday favorite will be judged in two categories — traditional (with pork) and non-traditional (green chile, chicken or other ingredients).

All the posole must be cooked from scratch on-site on the day of the parade. That means spectators can catch a glimpse at Olympic levels of chopping and stirring. Eat your heart out, Bobby Flay!

After the parade, samples of the Southwestern treat can be tasted by the public for $5. And Dean says that includes being able to vote for the People's Choice Award.

Awards of $200 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third will be given in each category.

Will "too many cooks in the kitchen" make for an interesting day, Dean asks. That remains to be seen — and is part of the charm.

After sampling the posole, kids will get a chance to sit on Santa's lap and parents can take their picture as they ask for videogames and MP3 players for Christmas.

If you'd like to make a day of it, a new tortilla making contest will be held at 1 p.m., also on the Plaza, with a $5 entry fee per team. Spectators can cheer on their favorite rolling pin-wielding friends.

Teams will have 30 minutes to make the dough, roll and cook tortillas; every team member must participate. Tortillas will be judged for the quickest time, quality and taste. A table will be set up for kids to try out their tortilla-rolling skills.

The next big event in the holiday season in the traditional lighting of the Plaza luminarias on Saturday, Dec. 4, by the Socorro County Arts program. The Christmas tree will also be lit that night, and everyone is welcome to join in the carol singing.