CITY OF TALLAHASSEE NEWS RELEASE:


It’s the holiday season in Tallahassee, and that signals the imminent arrival of one of the city’s favorite and most enduring events, the Winter Festival! The 23rd annual holiday showcase, with its centerpiece event of the Celebration of Lights, takes place this Saturday, Dec. 19, between 3 and 10 p.m. The Celebration of Lights is free to the public.

As always, the area’s largest nighttime event will transform downtown Tallahassee into a holiday wonderland, with the crowd-pleasing elements of the lighting ceremony, Jingle Bell Run, Holiday Parade and lots more.

This year’s theme is “Magic on Monroe Street.” The festival also includes five stages of local live entertainment, a children’s activity area, food vendors, arts and crafts merchants and holiday illumination displays. The Winter Festival and Celebration of Lights are sponsored by the City of Tallahassee and coordinated by the City’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department.

Songs of the Season – featuring Claus on Kleman!


New to the Winter Festival this year will be a special Friday evening event from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Kleman Plaza. The “Songs of the Season – featuring Claus on Kleman” event will feature choirs, choral and instrumental groups performing seasonal musical selections. In addition, Santa Claus will be on site for photo opportunities and visits with children throughout the event, so parents will want to bring cameras/camcorders! The Kleman Plaza event will include various children’s activities such as crafts, bounce houses, holiday coloring sheets, food vendors and more! This event is also free to the public.


As a reminder, applications for the 2009 Jingle Bell Run remain available online at Talgov.com, at the Sandal Beat kiosk on the lower level of Governor’s Square and at the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department annex at 912 Myers Park Drive.


Other events under the Winter Festival umbrella include:
Through Jan. 7 – Youth Fine Arts Competition Exhibit, weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m., City Hall art gallery (second floor)
Through Jan. 15 – Adult PhotoFest Juried Fine Arts Photography Exhibit, ArtPort at Tallahassee Regional Airport
Thursday, Dec. 17 – Youth Ornament Tree Decorating Contest, judging at 4 p.m.; display Saturday, Dec. 19, 3-10 p.m., McCarty Park (Park Ave. between Adams and Duval streets
Thursday, Dec. 17 – Elf Night event at Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Rd. 5:30-9 p.m.


For more information on the 2009 Winter Festival and Celebration of Lights, please visit the City’s Talgov.com website, or call Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs at 891-3866.