This Saturday Night, Tallahassee Celebrates the Season!
November 27, 2006
This Saturday, December 2, the area's most popular nighttime event, the Winter Festival's annual Celebration of Lights, will transform downtown Tallahassee into a holiday wonderland. The 20th anniversary of the Celebration of Lights takes place Saturday between 4 and 10 p.m. Tens of thousands of spectators will pack downtown streets for the City-sponsored event welcoming the winter holiday season to the area.
The evening's events include:
- 6:00 p.m. - Lighting Ceremony at parade judges platform; Monroe Street at Park Avenue (sponsored by the City of Tallahassee)
- 6:15 p.m. - Jingle Bell Run (sponsored by the City of Tallahassee Your Own Utilities, in cooperation with Capital Health Plan)
- 7:15 p.m. - Holiday Parade (sponsored by the City of Tallahassee Your Own Utilities)
- Ongoing - Live entertainment from four downtown stages
- Ongoing - Variety of food vendors located throughout downtown
- Ongoing - Various arts and crafts vendors located throughout downtown
- Ongoing - Holiday illumination light display in McCarty Park (on Park Avenue)
Parade Information
The parade will start on Monroe Street at the corner of Tennessee Street and proceed south to Gaines Street, where it turns east to the parade dispersal area at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) building's parking lots. Spectators are urged to find their favorite viewing location on Monroe Street BEFORE the lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Parade staging will occur north on Monroe from Tennessee up to Brevard Street, and along the side streets of Virginia, Carolina, and Georgia.
Parking Information
General festival parking is available for $3 at the City's Kleman Plaza (Bronough Street entrance only) and Eastside (Calhoun and College) parking garages, several state government parking garages and on-street where designated. Parking for handicapped parade spectators will be available in the eastbound lanes of Park Avenue between Calhoun and Monroe streets. Winter Festival officials advise spectators to arrive as early as possible since access will be limited due to event-related street closures.
Ice Skating Returns on December 15!
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Winter Festival, the City will provide public ice skating sessions at Kleman Plaza, beginning Friday, December 15. Public ice skating was a hallmark of the early years of the Winter Festival, and this year it's returning for an extended stay! Ice skating will be available from December 15 to January 28, with one-hour sessions offered at various times throughout the day. Each one-hour session will cost $6, with the fee including skate rental. The rink will also be available for rent during night hours for private parties. Further details on session dates and times will be forthcoming on the City's Talgov.com website.
Contact
Stefanie Long, Department of Communications, 891-8533; or Jan Bubsee, Parks and Recreation, 891-3860
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