Christmas in the City

Sunday marks the beginning of Knoxville’s annual Christmas in the City winter festival.

The city-wide celebration, coordinated by the city’s Office of Special Events, will include a host of holiday traditions to entertain residents of Knoxville throughout the winter season.

“(It) keeps downtown going in a great way when the weather turns and people aren’t quite as anxious to be outside in Market Square and walking around in other places,” Bill Lyons, the city’s senior director of Policy and Communications, said.

One of the most recognizable events is the WIVK / Fowlers Christmas Parade. The parade begins Friday, Dec. 4, at 6:30 p.m. on Gay Street downtown, and includes decorative floats, marching bands and dancers and an appearance by Santa Claus.

Another main event is the Regal Celebration of Lights. The occasion, which will be held the day after Thanksgiving at 6 p.m. in Krutch Park and Market Square, includes the lighting of the 38 foot First Tennessee Foundation Tree; performances by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Brass Quartet, the Lenoir City High School Choir and the East Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble; free horse drawn carriage rides; and an exhibition of more than 100,000 lights around the parks.

One of the new events this year will be the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

“We are so excited to announce that the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the world-famous Rockettes, is coming to Knoxville for the very first time ever,” Dorothy Smith, president of the Board of Directors of American Marketing Association, Knoxville chapter, said. “…It’s an incredible family show.”

The Rockettes are coming to Knoxville as part of their 2009 Arena tour. The show will be on Nov. 30 at Thompson-Boling Arena and will begin at 7 p.m.

Other events include Comcast Christmas at Chilhowee Park, featuring lighted Christmas trees floating on the lake; Knoxville’s Holidays on Ice, featuring ice-skating in Market Square; and the Up on the Rooftops Christmas tree displays.

The festivities end with First Night in Knoxville 2010, the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

“We will have a children’s festival in the afternoon from 3 to 6:30 p.m., and then from 7 p.m. up until midnight we’ll have entertainment at ten different venues downtown,” John Craig, president of the Market Square District Association, said.

One admission ticket from any Pilot location gets you into any of the events during First Night, with the countdown and fireworks at midnight.