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Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Christmas in the City Kickoff
Friday, Nov. 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Downtown Austin
Kickoff Activities
Meet at First Avenue and Main Street at 5:30 p.m. and accompany Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Austinaires, Merry Elf Elfson, and other holiday characters to Town Center stage to light the downtown Christmas displays. • Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus: Bring your camera and take your picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Town Center Building. Free candy cane treats for the kids. • Live Entertainment: On stage performances including the Austinaires, Taylor Bliese and emcee Paul Pruitt. Sound provided by Imagery Sound. Take in free Kaptain Kirby Train Rides, horse-drawn wagon rides and magic by Jim Jayes. • Musical Entertainment in Town Center: Hear the Ecumenical Bell Ensemble, AHS Flute Choir, and Dan Ulland on the keyboard. • Free Face Painting: Provided by Matchbox Children’s Theatre and located in the Austin ArtWorks Center basement (elevator accessible). • Austin Fire Department: The AFD will have a ladder truck on Main Street. Sparky may even make an appearance.
Scarlet Williamson gives Santa Claus a high-five after getting her picture taken with him during Christmas in the Southwest. Herald file photos
Christmas in the City has always provided holiday cheer in Austin By Deb Nicklay newsroom@austindailyherald.com
Christmas in the City, Austin’s premier holiday event, has been in place a long time, even though it looks far different than it did when it was first celebrated. Back then — over 30 years ago — the celebration was held exclusively in the downtown and was established upon the recommendation of the Downtown Association. The names of business owners Gretchen Ramlo, Bonnie Mogen and Jean Hastings pop up in conversation when people speak of the early beginnings, as well as that of the late Larry Haugen, who was the executive director of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce at the time. Ramlo, who operated Gretchen’s, a clothing store, recalled the association was happy with the customer traffic brought in by the newly-created Cedar River Days, a forerunner to Freedom Fest. “Cedar River Days had just taken off,” Ramlo said. “So we thought, ‘We need something for the winter.’” That turned out to be Christmas in the City, established in 1988. There is little question as to the reason for Christmas in the City’s enduring success. Austin merchants
Payton Christianson spreads peanut butter on a pine cone at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, part of Christmas in the East. Christmas in the East is a fairly new addition to the Christmas in the City line-up. dove into the celebration with a sleigh-load of holiday cheer — and a willingness to do lots of work. Memories of the first years are a bit foggy, said Hastings, longtime owner of Hastings Shoe and Repair. “But there has always been a good turn-out, especially by families, I do know that,” Hastings said. “It’s always been a fun night. The music, the kids coming in for treats. I always had doughnut holes, because I knew both the kids and adults would like them.” Meeting Santa was the main event during the first
year, said Ramlo, and he continues to be the centerpiece for the celebration that today encompasses every quadrant of the city and covers four nights. But in its first year, Christmas in the City was held on one night, on the day after Thanksgiving. “There was an alley behind my shop and that’s where we would get Santa ready for the kids,” Ramlo said. As now, the Chamber Ambassadors played a big role in preparations. She said among a host of good Mr. and Mrs. Santa couples, she most fondly
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remembered the late John O’Rourke as being among the best. O’Rourke was the mayor, too, and was one of Austin’s best cheerleaders. “John and his wife just loved playing Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus,” she said. “John would have a ball talking with the kids; he’d pull them right up on his lap and start chatting away. But we had to tell him one year, ‘John, you can’t talk to every child for five minutes — we’ll never get through them all!” “I also remember Santa coming down Main, with all the kids following Santa to the stage where he would light the decorations, and they were all holding light sticks,” Ramlo added. Holding the celebration in changeable Minnesota weather wasn’t without its challenges, Ramlo said. “We have had every kind of weather,” she said. “I remember slush — eight inches deep, in the middle of the street. Trying to get through that — ugh.” But the show always went on, although there was one year when Chamber members decided that holding it on Saturday, instead of the Friday after Thanksgiving, might make it even more successful.
See FESTIVE, Page 2
• Jane Taylor Academy of Dance: The Jane Taylor Academy of Dance will perform scenes from “The Nutcracker” and other holiday dances at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre. Free will donation.
In-Store Activities
• B & J Bar and Grill: Stop by for Christmas treats.
• Bendixen Jewelry: Warm up with hot apple cider and Christmas treats. Twenty percent off all in-stock merchandise. • Coffee House on Main: Check out our flavor of the day. • George’s Pizza: Kids stop in for your red or green glow necklace. • Hastings Shoes: Enjoy treats during the open house. Ten percent discount storewide. • Innovision Eyecare: Stop by for cookies and apple cider. • Lou’s Forever Framing: Stop in for photos with “life-size” elf cutouts, plus ping pong games for children ages 2-13. Receive Christmas mug with treats. • Novedades Cristal: Come in and enjoy a free cup of “Ponche” and tamale. Browse our store for those special Chirstmas items. • Piggy Blues BBQ: Free samples of holiday gelato flavors. Register for prizes. • Rydjor Bike Shop: Stop in to decorate your own Christmas cookie. • Salvation Army: Make a difference by donating to the red kettle. • Salvation Army Canteen: Stop by on Main Street for free hot chocolate. • Spam Museum: Come down and get your letter off to Santa. There will be cookies and face painting by Austin Positive Action Coalition. • Sweet Reads: The Polar Express comes to Sweet Reads. Experience the Polar Express with a visit by the conductor, a craft and a polar treat. • Twice is Nice: Check out three floors of shopping paradise all decorated for the holiday. Twenty percent off all home décor and gifts. • Zonta Club of Austin: “Helping Hands” at the On Track Building. Stop in to place your hand to form a Christmas tree on the wall or window. Treats for kids.