WHAT: Celebrate the jolliest eight weeks in the South with Knoxville’s “Christmas in the City” festival, including city-produced events and displays from different organizations around the city. Highlights include the WDVX Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown, the WIVK/Fowlers Christmas Parade, Comcast Christmas at Chilhowee Park, Regal Festival of Lights and much more.

• Christmas in the City is an annual holiday celebration that began with a handful of activities in 1978 and continues today as the city’s most highly anticipated winter festival.

• The holiday celebration - which gets a little bigger, brighter and better each year - features nearly 100 different events and attractions.

• This year’s festival brings much anticipation with the theme “It’s a Wonderful Life in Knoxville.” 

• Christmas in the City is a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event in 2011.

WHO: For travelers of all ages looking for a place to celebrate the holidays.

WHEN: November 1, 2011- December 31, 2011

WHERE: Knoxville, Tennessee

Festival Highlights:

• Regal Celebration of Lights – Festivities kick-off on Friday, November 25 at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Knoxville at Krutch Park.  This celebration features the lighting of the First Tennessee Foundation’s Christmas Tree and flipping the switch to scores of brightly lit Christmas trees adorning the roofs of buildings across the city. It also includes thousands of lights decorating Krutch Park, the extension and Market Square along with a performance by the Unity Choir.

• WDVX Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown – This celebration begins Friday, November 25 at 5:00 p.m. and continues into the evening on the Market Square stage. WDVX personality Freddy Smith and his Christmas Chicken will emcee the Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown, which will include a performance from Knoxville’s national champion clogging team -The Step Above Dance School. 

• Knoxville's Holidays on Ice – Knoxville comes alive with Holidays on Ice, November 25 through January 8. Enjoy ice skating on Market Square and lots of fun activities for the entire family.

• WIVK-Fowlers Christmas Parade – This Knoxville tradition is set for Friday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m. Thousands will gather along Gay Street in downtown Knoxville to enjoy this annual parade tradition.

• Comcast Christmas at Chilhowee Park - Set for Friday, December 9 at 6:00 p.m., this event features a forest of lighted trees decorating the lake and nightly driving tours from November 25-January 1, 2011.

• First Night Knoxville 2012 at Market Square - This family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration on Market Square begins at 3:00 p.m. and features music, dancing, storytelling, children's activities and more.

For more information about Knoxville’s Christmas in the City and a full list of events, please visit www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/christmas.