Balloon Santa faces were a big hit at the Regal Celebration of Lights 2014!
So what’s up, Knoxville? Gay Street closes? Families with kids smushed into strollers or perched on daddy’s shoulders move through Krutch Park? And the waiting line for the ice rink in Market Square snakes all the way around the big white tent?
It was the Celebration of Lights sponsored by Regal Cinema — Friday, November 28th — when Mayor Rogero (with the help of Santa, of course) lit the city’s holiday tree kicking off Christmas in the City.
And what a crowd it was! Parking lots at capacity. Restaurants with long wait times. And lines at family-friendly booths confirmed what we suspected — kids love doing as much as seeing. Like writing letters to Santa (sponsored by Visit Knoxville), designing Christmas cards for the troops at the Red Cross booth, or concocting “reindeer” food with the help of Earth Fare employees.
Busy making Santa faces and reindeer hats out of balloons!
Some folks hopped aboard the train snaking its way down Gay Street . . .
Holiday train, Gay Street, Knoxville
while others just tried to stay warm.
Huddled around the fire in front of Urban Outfitters, Knoxville
Strains of holiday sounds from a man playing a saw (yes, really) drew a crowd . . .
This guy played a saw for hours at Knoxville’s Celebration of Lights.
as did the Salvation Army players . . .
Entertaining the crowd at Krutch Park.
and this happy bell ringer.
Ringing the bell for Salvation Army, Knoxville.
A group of exchange students from France and their host families in Oak Ridge loved posing in the midst of the mayhem on Market Square . . .
Students from Oak Ridge High and exchange students from France pose in Market Square
while wobbly skaters packed into the rink on Market Square — some just lucky to be upright!
A popular place — the ice rink on Market Square. (Open ’til January 5th)
Bundled-up fans like this little panda on her daddy’s shoulders . . .
Daddy with a panda on his shoulders listens to EmiSunshine and the Rain performing in Market Square.
listened — amazed — at the grown-up sounds coming from 10-year-old EmiSunshine and the Rain. (She even yodels!)
EmiSunshine and the Rain performing on Market Square at the Regal Celebration of Lights
But the longest lines of all moved cautiously in and around and through Krutch Park beautifully lit with over 100,000 lights as young and old tried to find a place near the stage.
Knoxville’s Krutch Park lit for the season.
We joined the crowd, grabbing a free sample of Cheerwine from the girls of Rowan County, North Carolina, where it’s made, and then . . .
Who can resist a free sample of Cheerwine?
when Santa arrived, we listened as Mayor Madeline Rogero urged everyone to enjoy what the city had to offer — from decorated windows to the parade coming on December 5th. The countdown began — 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 — ’til the tree was lit and fireworks shot up toward the top of The Holston!
And the tree was lit!
Another great Celebration of Lights kicked off Christmas in the City. Knoxville was officially ready for the 2014 holiday season!
For more information about activities all over Knoxville during the month of December, go to the City of Knoxville website.
Articles on the Regal Celebration of Lights:
“Look past Thanksgiving to ‘Christmas in the City'” by Amy McCrary: http://www.knoxnews.com/knoxville/family/look-past-thanksgving-to-christmas-in-the-city_96084918
“Christmas in the City Kicks Off Nov. 28 with Tree Lighting, Market Square Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown, Ice Skating”: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2014/1113.asp
Facebook pages
City of Knoxville Special Events: https://www.facebook.com/CityofKnoxvilleSpecialEvents
EmiSunshine and the Rain: https://www.facebook.com/emisunshinemusic
Mayor Madeline Rogero: https://www.facebook.com/MayorRogero
Visit Knoxville: https://www.facebook.com/visitknoxvilletn
cindy knoke
Magical fun!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks, Cindy. The crowd was so pleasant. Everyone seemed to be happy, not in a big hurry, and accommodating. It’s nice to go to an event that big and come home to say it really was, as you said, magical fun.
Amy
What a fun celebrations! Beautiful Christmas tree.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks, Amy. It really is a pretty tree. We’ll be going downtown again to see it soon. Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful.
Curt Mekemson
Looks cold but fun. Hope the reindeers enjoyed their food. They will need the extra energy. 🙂 –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
Great to hear from you, Curt. I guess reindeer enjoy anything they don’t have to forage for! It was cold, all right. But we bundled up and enjoyed it all — well, not the ice skating. Our old ankles don’t need to be tested! 🙂
Curt Mekemson
I stay as far away from ice skating as humanly possible, for the same reason. 🙂
Pit
Looks pretty up there. Here in Fredericksburg we had a nice ceremony, too, but yours seems to have been more elaborate.
Have a great week,
Pit
Oh, the Places We See
We thought it was fun, and the weather wasn’t as cold as we thought it would be. Makes you feel good about living here, for sure. Aren’t town celebrations the best!!! Thanks for reading!