Globetrotting

• COMMEMORATION OF HANDCART PIONEERS. The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument that crosses over I-80 at Kearney, Neb., is marking the 150th anniversary of the handcart pioneers with special activities June 2 and 3, 2006. The Oregon, California and Mormon trails converged at what is now Kearney.

Activities will include educational as well an entertaining events such as handcart treks, handcart demonstrations, 1850s living-history displays, book signings, genealogy presentations, national speakers and candlelight tours of handcart tales.

A National Park Service sign marking the first sighting of buffalo during the Mormon's original 1847 trek will be dedicated.

"During this two-day celebration, we will honor these courageous pioneers," said Phil Kozera, executive director of the Archway. "Once again, the wheels of handcarts will cross the valley of the Platte, as they did 150 years ago."

Kearney's Trails and Rails Museum and historic Fort Kearney will also be hosting activities throughout the weekend. Due to limited space, pre-registration is required for the handcart treks at www.handcarttrek.org. Participants in the handcart treks are encouraged to dress in period clothing. For more information call The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument at 877-511-ARCH (2724) or visit www.archway.org.

The LDS Church introduced handcarts in 1856 as a way for pioneers to make their way to the Salt Lake Valley without draft animals.

The Archway Monument marks the only site in the country where the California, Mormon and Oregon trails converged.

• HOLIDAY, SAN ANTONIO STYLE. The River Walk, one of this city's signature sites, is decorated with holiday lights through New Year's Day. Historic Market Square lights up, too. And the Fiesta de las Luminarias illuminates the River Walk with a candlelight glow through Dec. 14. The River Walk Holiday Arts & Craft Fair, Dec. 10-12, will feature local and regional artists, craftsmen and jewelers on the San Antonio River Walk Extension, while Bazar Sabado, at the San Antonio Museum of Art and Art.I.Copia at the Southwest School of Art and Craft will feature crafts, jewelry, textiles and more. For a free holiday guide and packet of San Antonio visitors' information, call the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau toll free at 1-800-ALAMO-07 or visit the Web site at www.sanantoniovisit.com

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E-mail: kclayton@desnews.com