Photo by Chad Greene // Buy this photo
Audra Wampler holders her niece Madison Northern, 1, to get a better view during the annual Knoxville Christmas Parade on Friday, December 3, 2010.
It's time for jingle bells, hot cocoa, Santa Claus and ice skating. Time for parade floats and lighted trees and heartwarming holiday classics.
It's time for Christmas in the City, Knoxville style.
Christmas in the City is an umbrella name for dozens of holiday-themed events and attractions held by the City of Knoxville, businesses, arts organizations, community groups and churches. Most events happen after Thanksgiving, continue through December and end by welcoming the New Year with the entertainment and music of downtown's First Night Knoxville.
Photo by Saul Young
Christmas trees illuminate the building tops in downtown Knoxville on Tuesday, December 14, 2010.
This year's Christmas in the City kickoff starts the evening of Friday, Nov. 25, at downtown Knoxville's Market Square, Krutch Park and Krutch Park Extension and along Gay Street.
Festivities kick off with music and entertainment at Market Square with the 5 p.m. WDVX Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Hoedown emceed by WDVX personality Freddy Smith and his Christmas Chicken. Musical performers include singer Logan Murrell and band Pistol Creek Catch of the Day. The hoedown continues through 9 p.m.
The Christmas lights in downtown come on during the 6 p.m. Nov. 25 Regal Celebration of Lights. The lights on the 38-foot-tall tree at Krutch Park Extension along Gay Street are turned on. The switches are thrown on the hundreds of tree forms on downtown buildings as well.
The celebration isn't just about lights. Santa Claus will pose for free photos; horse-drawn carriages will give free rides. There's free hot cocoa, free snow cream and free cookies to decorate and eat.
Even before the evening kickoffs, you can get in the winter holiday mood. Nov. 25 also is opening day for the return of the ice rink at Market Square. The Holidays on Ice rink opens at 10 a.m. Nov. 25. It will be up on the square through Jan. 8. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children ages 12 years and younger. Skates are included.
Photo by Chad Greene
Kids on the Knox Dance Worx float wave during the annual Knoxville Christmas Parade on Friday, December 3, 2010.
Nov. 25 kicks off three consecutive Fridays of Christmas in the City events. The traditional WIVK/Fowlers Christmas Parade begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. The parade with floats, marching bands, dancers and of course Santa Claus starts at the Knoxville Coliseum, hangs a left on Hall of Fame Drive before taking a right on Hill Ave and another right onto Gay. The parade then moves down Gay to end at West Depot Avenue.
On Friday, Dec. 9, the holiday festivities move to Chilhowee Park for the annual Comcast Christmas at Chilhowee. The park off Magnolia Avenue and Interstate 40's Exit 392A is the site of lighted trees, including many tree forms that float on the park's lake. Comcast Christmas at Chilhowee starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 9. Santa will visit for more free pictures. There will be more cookies to decorate and more free snow cream plus marshmallows to roast. These horse-drawn carriage rides take in the park lights and lake. Chilhowee remains open, decorated and lighted through New Year's for holiday lovers who visit to drive through and admire the decorations themselves.
There's no post-Christmas letdown. The family-friendly First Night Knoxville marks the end of 2011 and welcomes the start of 2012. The New Year's Eve celebration of arts starts at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31 at various downtown venues. A 3-6:30 p.m. children's festival will be followed by a children's early New Year countdown at 9 p.m. The entertainment continues until a midnight countdown with fireworks. Admission buttons go on sale Dec. 5. Admission buttons in advance are $15; $20 on New Year's Eve. For more information see http://www.firstnightknoxville.com.
© 2011, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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