The producers of the Spring Branch Multicultural Fest are planning a special treat for the community this holiday season: snow.

Their annual Christmas celebration, Wal-Mart Posada & Snow Fantasy 2006, will feature a gentle snowfall.

The free celebration is set for 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 9598 Rowlett, near Interstate 45 at Almeda-Genoa.

The evening will feature free food samples from Wal-Mart vendors, live entertainment, a dramatic presentation and singing, along with the falling "evaporative snow" coming from blowers above the crowd.

What is Posada

Posada commemorates the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph as they searched for shelter in Bethlehem before Mary gave birth to Jesus.

In Mexico, people honor Las Posadas Dec. 16-24 with a midnight mass at a Catholic Church. People continue the celebration by re-enacting Joseph's and Mary's search for shelter and gathering in homes for songs, piñatas and refreshments.

"My mission is to keep the tradition of Posada and to introduce it to the English-speaking crowd," said Spring Branch resident Victor Alvarez, chairman of the Spring Branch Multicultural Fest.

Alvarez developed the Spring Branch Posada celebration in 2003 in cooperation with the Spring Branch Super Neighborhoods to promote community unity.

Earlier this year, the International Festivals & Events Association presented the 2005 Posada with its Bronze Pinnacle Award for events with budgets under $250,000.

The Posada was honored for having the best program within an event to benefit a charity.

During the 2005 celebration, Wal-Mart donated $85,000 to support the Crystal Awards for teaching excellence, which are presented by the Houston Chronicle's Readers Are Leaders Foundation and the Spring Branch Education Foundation. Wal-Mart's gift also supported awards for its "Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year" program.

Wal-Mart plans to repeat the donation at this year's celebration, along with a $5,000 donation to the Spring Branch Family Development Center.

The Multicultural Fest's 2005 Wal-Mart Posada & Laser Show also received five gold marketing awards at the annual Texas Festivals and Events Association Conference in San Antonio in July.

"Once I start doing things, I want to do them professionally," said Alvarez, who recently became a certified professional event manager.

After last year's Posada attracted 10,000 people, Alvarez decided it was time to expand.

"We already filled the (Wal-Mart) parking lot, so we decided it was time to take it to another location," Alvarez said.

"I just like to share the passion to enrich our own roots and traditions by learning from other cultures."

The Posadas definitely help enrich the community, said Brad Coonfield, regional operations manager for Wal-Mart. Alvarez has managed to capture what festival goers want, he said.

"You go back to the roots, back to the culture, and people respond," Coonfield said.

The Posada entertainment this year will include Faustos Baños Baños from Mexico, which will present a marimba performance, and Tejano music by Jimmy Gonzalez.

Somos Todos, which has been working with Alvarez since his first Posada, will present a pastorela skit about the Christmas story. These skits traditionally are narrative, but Somos Todos adds music and dancing to enhance audience appeal.

"We want to relay the message of peace and happiness that Jesus has been born," said Adelina Venegas, the theater group's founder.