2006 Festival of Lights Kickoff
November 14, 2006

Twinkling lights atop a 30-foot tree and first-time fireworks will light up the night for the Festival of Lights Kick-off event ushering in Center City’s 2006 holiday celebration this Saturday, Nov. 18.

The Festival of Lights is a six-week celebration featuring a number of no- or low-cost activities for people to enjoy during the holiday season along with a variety of music and theater performances in the spirit of the season.

The kick-off events are open to the public at Jordan Valley Ice Park, Jordan Valley Park and culminating with the first-ever Festival of Lights Kick-off Fireworks at Hammons Field Saturday evening. Saturday’s schedule is:

• 5 p.m.: Holiday Ice Show featuring the Jordan Valley Figure Skating Club at the Ice Park’s West Rink. Admission is free. Call 866-7444 for information.
• 5:30 p.m.: Mayor’s Tree Lighting Celebration at Jordan Valley Park East Plaza. Admission is free. Mayor Tom Carlson will light a new 30-foot evergreen tree with Miss Merrie Christmas, who will be crowned in the annual scholarship pageant at the Gillioz Theatre Friday night. The Springfield Public School first-grade class with the most students participating in the children’s parade will have the opportunity to win a gift certificate for classroom supplies and the school with the highest overall participation at the Kick-off will win other gifts. The parade will lead the crowd over to Hammons Field. Call 864-1010 for information.
• Immediately following Kick-off: The Springfield Cardinals will open the holiday season with Santa Claus’ arrival from the Kick-off events, music, refreshments, shopping at the Team Store and a Fireworks celebration at approximately 6:45 p.m. Admission is free. Call 863-2143 for information.
• 7:15 p.m.: The first in a series of free public skating sessions runs from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at Jordan Valley Ice Park. (Skate rental is $2.50.) For more information, call 866-7444.
• Throughout the Festival of Lights Kick-off activities, the Jordan Valley Advisory Committee will seek citizen input as part of its ascertainment process looking at the future of three areas of Jordan Valley – the Quarry area; the East Meadows and the West Meadows. A display will be set up in the Ice Park’s East Lobby near the Pro Shop where citizens can mark their preferences for future development ideas and concepts.

Also, ushering in the season on Saturday are Candyland at the Footbridge and the Festival of Trees.

The Commercial Club of Springfield will host the third annual Candyland at the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday. Admission is free. For more information, call 880-3435.

The Discovery Center of Springfield will host the 21st Annual Festival of Trees at 6:30 p.m. at the Discovery Center, 438 E. St. Louis St. Admission is $60. For more information, call 862-9910.

For more information on all of the Festival of Lights events, visit: www.itsalldowntown.com or www.festivaloflights.net.

The Downtown Springfield Association is offering a Web-only discount coupon feature kicking off the Festival of Lights celebration on www.itsalldowntown.com. Consumers can download and print coupons for discounts at participating merchants, including: A Perfect Studio; A Valeria Boss Salon; In Bloom; Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts; Moxie Cinema; Ozarks Regional YMCA; Shae Belle; Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau; Springfield Little Theatre and Staxx Apparel.

The Festival of Lights is presented by the Jordan Valley Marketing Council. The Marketing Council appreciates the support of the following primary sponsors: KGBX 105.9 FM; The Springfield Business Journal; The Springfield Cardinals and Springfield Public Schools.

For more information, contact: Louise Whall, Director of Public Information, 864-1010; Bob Nelson, Special Projects Coordinator, 864-1403; Lisa Zimmerman, Jordan Valley Park Marketing Director, 866-7444; or Kirk Elmquist, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Springfield Cardinals, 863-2143.

Festival of Lights Calendar (664k PDF)
Festival of Lights Events List (963k PDF)