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Tree lights up tonight Tent will keep Santa dry during Medford event By SUSAN JAY Santa and his reindeer will stay dry at tonight's Vogel Park Christmas tree lighting, thanks to some last-minute scrambling for tents by the organizers. The choirs and stage also will be under cover in case it rains on the celebration, but organizers Scott and Leesa Henselman also encourage everyone to bring an umbrella, just in case. Except for having to adjust to the weather, "everything is working really well," said a non-frazzled Leesa Henselman the night before the big event. She and her husband are the main volunteers, and are organizing the holiday happening for the second straight year. The first guests tonight will be Santa's reindeer Prancer, Comet, Dasher, Vixen, Dancer and Rudolph. They'll be nestled and cozy under their tent and ready for visitors starting at 2 p.m. in Vogel Park. The reindeer are from a 20-acre ranch in Redmond called Operation Santa Claus, which raises an estimated 100 reindeer a year to appear in parades, events and shows for Christmas, said Todd Gowen. He and his wife, Angelique, are accompanying and caring for the six reindeer, which travel and sleep in a 22-foot horse trailer and are touring the western part of the United States. The ranch has other teams touring in the East. The reindeer, which range in age from 8 months to 7 years, are a distant cousin of the caribou, Gowen said. Their hair shafts are hollow, like a straw, and their soft, fuzzy noses and big round eyes are more like a cow's than a deer's, he said. Santa arrives at 5:40 p.m. and will pass out candy in the alcove of the Tuxedo Junction store at the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. Here is today's schedule: 2 p.m. -- Reindeer arrive. 5 p.m. -- Main Street and Central Avenue will be closed to traffic. Strolling carolers will start to greet visitors. 5:15 p.m -- Free hot chocolate, coffee, apple cider, smoothies, cookies and roasted chestnuts served. 5:30 p.m. -- Welcome from KCNA Radio. 5:40 p.m. -- Santa, Geoffrey (from Toys R Us) and Miss Medford arrive via fire truck. 5:50 p.m. -- Rogue Valley Harmonizers perform. 6 p.m. -- Miss Medford Royalty Court is introduced. 6:10 p.m. -- North Medford High School Choir sings. 6:20 p.m. -- South Medford High School Choir sings 6:30 p.m. -- City dignitaries are introduced. 6:35 p.m. -- Medford Mayor Jerry Lausmann will lead a holiday prayer and lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree. 6:45 p.m. -- Community sing-along. 6:55 p.m -- Closing song: "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." 7 p.m. -- Stores stay open until 9 p.m. 8 p.m. -- Reindeer leave. 9 p.m. Main and Central reopen to traffic. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA