Knoxville lights up as holiday fest begins
Horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating part of fun
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The big tree lit up the downtown skyline and Jack Bryan's face Friday night.
The 20-month-old couldn't take his eyes off the giant Christmas tree or the fireworks that boomed around it.
"He didn't know what he was walking into when we got here," said his grandmother, Jane Manners. "It's been the most fantastic feeling watching him watch everything for the first time. As your kids get older, you forget about those looks of wonder. But, once you have grandchildren, you get to see it all again."
Friday night's event kicked off the 30th annual Christmas in the City celebration with the fireworks, a tree-lighting, horse-drawn carriage rides and ice skating on Market Square.
"We say downtown is everybody's neighborhood," Mayor Bill Haslam said. "What's a more appropriate way to kick off Christmas than lighting the tree?"
This year's 38-foot high tree might be the greenest ever. The tree uses environmentally friendly bulbs designed to conserve power, city officials said.
"There's about a 90 percent cost savings compared to incandescent lights," said Alex Neubert, downtown area services manager.
City workers spent the past few weeks stringing about half a million lights around downtown. They hope to begin switching those lights to environmentally friendly bulbs in the years to come.
On Market Square, music lovers gathered for the WDVX Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown concert, and children and adults wobbled, swayed and hung onto their balance as they skated across the ice.
Todd Turrill brought his 9-year-old daughter, Hadley; 5-year-old son, Brandt; and 8-year-old nephew, Conner.
"We've come down for the last couple of years," he said. "This was all they wanted to do today."
Visitors said they'll keep coming back for more.
"Seeing the look on Jack's face tonight made the whole trip worth it," said Manners, the grandmother.
Matt Lakin may be reached at 865-342-6306.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel
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