At the Winter Holiday Festival, firefighters were on hand with a fire truck to kick off the drive, accepting toys for families in need throughout Southern Nevada.

Visitors enjoyed horse-drawn carriage rides from the Information Gallery to a specially decorated event tent in Nature Discovery Park. Along the way, they viewed the Aliante festival of holiday lights, which includes life-size elves with presents in front of the Aliante Information Gallery and a 40-foot-long sea serpent with waggly tail, on display next to the lake in Nature Discovery Park.

In the event tent, guests were serenaded by strolling carolers and enjoyed a variety of holiday sweets, including hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and a chocolate fountain with a variety of dipping treats.

Dan Naef, senior vice president of North Valley Enterprises LLC, the developer of Aliante, said attendance at the festival surpassed the expectations of its planners.

"The response among people of all ages was phenomenal," Naef said. "I think the success of an event like this demonstrates the high level of community spirit that exists in Aliante, as well as the popularity of this community among people from across the Las Vegas Valley.

"We were very pleased to host this event in conjunction with launching the toy drive and encourage our friends in the Southern Nevada community to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Aliante Information Gallery between now and Dec. 21. We all want to see the firefighters reach their goal of making the season brighter for at least 10,000 children this year," Naef said.

The festival was sponsored by North Valley Enterprises, Aliante's home builders, Aliante Golf Club and the Aliante Master Community Association.

North Valley Enterprises is an affiliate of American Nevada Co. and Pulte Homes. Encompassing more than 1,900 acres, Aliante will collectively have as many as 7,500 homes, with an anticipated population of about 20,000 when it's fully developed.

Home builders at Aliante include Astoria Homes, Del Webb, KB Home, Lennar, Pardee Homes and Pulte Homes. Homes prices range from the mid-200,000s to the low $500,000s. In addition, Del Webb is building the age-qualified Sun City Aliante community.

Aliante is bordered roughly by Grand Teton Drive, Centennial Parkway, Decatur Boulevard and Clayton Street. Interstate 215, the Las Vegas Beltway, intersects Aliante, providing easy access to Interstate 15 and U.S. Highway 95.

About 428 acres in Aliante are designated for recreational and public purposes, including the Aliante Golf Club, the 20-acre Nature Discovery Park, Deer Springs Park, Aviary Park, more than 24 miles of lighted concrete trails and linear parks, and an arroyo.

Proposed plans for Aliante include two elementary schools and a middle school. The community's first school, the Theron H. and Naomi D. Goynes Elementary School, opened in 2005. A new fire station opened in 2004 and the Aliante Library, located adjacent to the Nature Discovery Park, opened in 2006.

About 100 acres in Aliante are allocated for commercial development, including the Aliante Corporate Center office park. Ground was broken earlier this year on the Aliante Station hotel and casino, which is going up on a 40-acre parcel at the northeast corner of I-215 and Aliante Parkway.

Information regarding new homes and neighborhoods can be obtained at the Aliante Information Gallery. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Information can also be obtained at AlianteHomes.com or by calling 866-787-2951.