By nightfall Saturday, a river of people snaked up Canyon Road — tourists mingling with locals, and New Mexicans who had driven from other cities, to take part in Santa Fe's famous Christmas Eve Farolito Walk.

Women in fancy fur coats, men with hats with electronic lights, bored teenagers, toddlers in strollers, the elderly in wheelchairs and dogs on leashes vied for space on the icy sidewalks. People stopped every few yards to step inside an art gallery, linger at a bonfire or sing a Christmas carol.

David Shapiro, and his wife, Lisa Holt, who were visiting from San Francisco, said the event is like being welcomed into a family's warm home for the holidays.

"I think it's amazing. I love the whole Christmas spirit," he said. "Everybody kind of just comes together, and it's just beautiful."

Police reported no trouble early Saturday evening.

The Farolito Walk got started in the late 1970s to showcase Northern New Mexico's traditional natural lighting displays — small bonfires called luminarias and votive candles in paper bags, called farolitos.

As in the past, Arvo Thomson began launching his homemade hot-air balloons, or "flying farolitos," from behind Acequia Madre Elementary School shortly before 6 p.m., astounding viewers who gasped when as the balloons caught fire and disintegrated in the night sky.

Some galleries stayed open late to take advantage of the crowds. Food vendors offered carnitas, kettle corn, baked goods, hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee.

There were more electric farolitos than in past years, and more live music than ever.

Near the front door of Darnell Fine Art, Roark Barron played an antique harp rigged so that it was amplified by an electronic speaker, accompanied by Curtis Hutchison on flute.

For about their 10th year, Paul Wingren and his daughter Emily Wingren performed on Brazilian samba drums, with his son Noah Wingren accompanying them with bells.

Gary Lee Nelson, who calls himself "Geldryk, the world's tallest elf," serenaded the crowd with Christmas carols, accompanied by music from a tiny boombox powered by an iPod. He said he began volunteering at schools and retirement homes soon after moving to Santa Fe a year ago.

"The Waxlander Gallery is sponsoring me this evening," he said. "Last year, I just came and did it on my own, hoping not to get arrested, and I didn't."

Contact Tom Sharpe at 986-3080 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.