Winter Festival

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Logo of Winter Fest

Mayor John Marks addressing Tallahassee TV audience

Several Live oak trees at dusk with lights

Mayor Marks with the count down for the Jingle Bell Run

Winter Festival - A Celebration of Lights, Music, and the Arts is an event held for over a three week period from mid-November to early December in Tallahassee, Florida, USA.

[edit] History

Operated by the City of Tallahassee's Park's and Recreation Department, Winter Festival began in 1996 and designed to bring together friends, families, and treasured visitors. Winter Festival is honored by the Southeast Tourism Society [1] as one of the top 20 events in the southeastern region of the United States.

[edit] Events

Lighting Ceremony - The ceremony begins the festivities and the decorative lights of Tallahassee are turned on by the mayor John Marks at 6pm.
Jingle Bell Run - This is a 3K race through the downtown streets open to all. With thousands of area runners and walkers entered as well as skaters, rollerbladers, infants, toddlers in strollers, and dogs in Santa hats and jingle bells, Mayor Marks gives the count down to the start.
Holiday Parade - A parade proceeds down Monroe Street with floats and bands.

[2]

Festival Merchandise vendors sell a variety of foods and merchandise.
4 Stages of Entertainment - There are four stages for various forms of entertainment. The Jingle Bell Rock Stage at College Avenue & Duval Street highlights dance teams from throughout the area. The Sounds of the Season Stage at Park Avenue between Duval Street & Adams Street provides visitors with choral groups. The Frosty & Friends Stage at Ponce DeLeon park has a variety of music and entertainment for all ages and the Jammin’ in the Holidays Stage at te Adams Street Commons provides visitors with ballet, chorale, dance and orchestral sounds.

Ice Skating - Skating is provided for all ages at Tallahassee's Kleman Plaza. To help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Winter Festival, the Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department and Friends of Our Parks Foundation purchased a portable outdoor ice skating rink.
Elf Night Dorothy B. Oven Park Hosts Annual Elf Night featuring over 250,000 lights, the public is invited to stroll through the house and grounds to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. The Parks and Recreation Department begins the project in September so that it could be finished by December.