Christmas 2008 in Missouri (all cities)

[STLguy1]

WHAT DOES YOUR MISSOURI CITY DO TO START THE HOLIDAY SEASON?

Everyone post!!!

[STLguy1]

ST. LOUIS



Macy’s Festival of Lights
Friday November 21st

http://www.macysbelieve.com/?gclid=CIaz ... DQoddC-UYw

The Christmas season officially kicks off with the Macy's Holiday Festival of Lights at the May Amphitheatre in Kiener Plaza, downtown Saint Louis. The event runs from 4:30 p.m – 6:30 p.m Friday, November 21st. We'll flip the magic switch that will bring Downtown Saint Louis alive with lights, followed by a dazzling fireworks display to light up the night sky. Following the official program, Santa – in a horse-drawn carriage down 7th Street lined with luminaries – will lead a procession from Keiner Plaza to Macy's for photo opportunities, more music and entertainment, cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. Macy's will be unveiling the store's 2008 holiday windows!  Your Master of Ceremonies is 103.3 KLOU Morning Man Smash.

The event will feature:
Clowns & Face Painters
Fred Bird
Snerdlich from Children’s Hospital
Choir and Solo Musical Performances
A reading of ’Twas The Night Before Christmas by KMOV TV's Robin Smith

Article:
http://www.pjstar.com/events/x190023904 ... -the-night


The Parade

2008 AmerenUE St. Louis Thanksgiving Day Parade

The 2008 AmerenUE St. Louis Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 8:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving Morning -Thursday, November 27, 2008

2008 Honorary Grand Marshal
St. Louis native and NASA astronaut, Major Robert Behnken, will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal of this year's Parade. A graduate of Pattonville High School and Washington University, Robert is a Major in the United States Air Force and served as a Mission Specialist on the STS-123 shuttle mission to the International Space Station in March of this year.

Over 200 Floats, bands and entertainers will celebrate the season in the annual St. Louis Thanksgiving Parade.  This year's coverage will be locally on KMOV TV CBS Channel 4.  The end of the parade will be the classic finale of Santa's sleigh and reindeer!  The theme of this year’s parade is “St. Louis Shining Stars” in salute to people whose efforts, prominent and not-so-prominent, make a difference in our great community.  This annual event is hosted by Christmas in St. Louis along with their media partners KMOV-TV Channel 4 and Clear Channel Radio and major sponsors Schnuck’s and US Bank.  Other sponsors include Emerson, AT&T, Partnership for Downtown St. Louis, Gateway Arch Riverfront Association.

Route:  Parade begins at Broadway and Washington, proceeds East on Washington for 1 block before turning South on Broadway.  The Parade will continue South on Broadway, turn West on Market and continue past City Hall to it’s dispersal at 14th Street. 

2008 Giant Helium Balloons:
SPONSOR CHARACTER
AmerenUE Louie the Lightening Bug
US Bank Rudolph
Schnucks St. Nick
Emerson Drummer Boy
AT&T Mistletoes
Partnership for Downtown St. Louis Buzz the Astronaut
Gateway Arch Riverfront Felix the Cat
Clear Channel Radio Blue Angel Airplane
Switch Space Shuttle

[NDTeve]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/DESTINAT ... index.html

I'd say we got you beat 

Smiley face means I am joking STLguy

[STLguy1]

KANSAS CITY



Plaza Lighting Ceremony
Thanksgiving Evening
Thursday, November 27th
6-7 PM

Flip of the Switch at 6:30pm

Live Ceremony and Pre-show on KCTV Channel 5
The program will salute other Kansas City rockers and singers.
Performances include:

• Rock singer Chris Accardo from KC band Sometimes Three
• Vocalist Karla Bennett with KC rock band Project Chameleon
• Pop and jazz singer Monique Daniel
• A cappella group Kychn Synk
• Teenage pop singers and dancers with Radio Disney’s Rockin’ Road Crew
• Modern dancing from the UMKC Conservatory School of Dance
• Kerry Strayer and the Plaza Lights Orchestra

The most magical time of the year, Holidays on the Plaza, is upon Kansas City once again.  The Plaza Lights have been carefully strung, and are ready to illuminate the Country Club Plaza for the 79th year.

The ceremony begins at 6:00 pm and the lights come on at 6:30. A fireworks display above the stage by The Cheesecake Factory and at The InterContinental Hotel immediately follows the flip of the switch.  The show wraps up at 7:00pm.

The Kansas City Power and Light Season of Lights kicks off Thanksgiving evening at the 79th Annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony. This year’s ceremony will feature David Cook, American Idol and Blue Springs native, as he flips the switch to illuminate thousands of lights.  The Lighting Ceremony stage is located just south of 47th and Wyandotte, near the Cheesecake Factory and Restoration Hardware.

Can’t make it to the ceremony?  Tune into KCTV Channel 5, the Plaza Lighting Ceremony’s media partner, and catch all the action live.

Kansas City Power & Light is thrilled to bring this long-standing tradition to Kansas City for the ninth year.  Kansas City Power & Light employees and their families will be collecting donations on Thanksgiving night for Salvation Army.  Listen for that familiar sound of jingling bells.

The magic of the season continues each night when the lights come on at 5pm. The final evening for the lights to shine is Sunday, January 11, 2009.

[STLguy1]

NTDeve wrote:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/DESTINAT ... index.html

I'd say we got you beat

Ummm, this isn't a competition.

Also that article is from 2005. 

I posted the Plaza Lighting Plaza ceremony info above.  Does anyone know if the P&L District or downtown is doing anything too?

[KCPowercat]

City lights downtown was last night:

http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/891147.html

P&L doesn't do anything that I know of, probably trying to avoid stepping on the plaza's toes.

Crown Center has the lighting of the mayor's christmas tree and their lighting the day after thanksgiving....I always enjoy their lighting.



Union Station has a christmas tree display usually.



Collison of the Star has posted this before but the Plaza really is missing out on a captive audience....everybody piles down there and leaves as soon as the lights turn on.....they need more down there....one suggestion has been open the stores for a few hours...I'm sure getting the stores to do that is the big hangup there...making their employees work thanksgiving night.


then random suburban parks have lighting displays I think.

[GRID]

The CC tree looks much more like a christmas tree this year too!

[AllThingsKC]

The CC tree looks much more like a christmas tree this year too!

I have heard that KC doesn't have the tallest Christmas tree this year.  But, I bet we have the tallest mayor...

[STLguy1]

I stole this info off the urbanstl boards.  More info on the STL Holiday events.




MACY’S HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AND WINDOW UNVEILING
Friday, November 21, 2007
Location: Kiener Plaza, Downtown St. Louis & Macy’s Downtown St. Louis – 601 Olive, St. Louis MO
Hours: 5 pm – 8 pm, store open until 10 pm

MACY’S HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AND WINDOW UNVEILING
Macy’s sponsors annual kick-off to the Holiday Season and Unveils Holiday Windows

Who/What: Join Macy’s and Christmas in St. Louis for the kick off of the holiday season Wednesday, November 21 with the Macy’s Holiday Festival of Lights in Kiener Plaza. Enjoy performances by the Winter Muny Kids, the Variety Children’s Chorus, and the Central and Visual Performing Arts High School Jazz Show Choir. The event will include a reading of The Night before Christmas and welcome the arrival of Santa Claus. Mayor Slay, Macy’s executives and other dignitaries will be on hand to light up the night with the lighting of the Salvation Army Tree of Lights and a Fireworks Finale.

Following the celebration at Kiener Plaza, Santa will lead visitors to the downtown St. Louis Macy’s store to unveil the Macy’s animated holiday window displays, featuring “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”. Charlie Brennan from KMOX-Radio will emcee the unveiling ceremony.

After the window unveiling Macy’s will host a holiday open house with floors of fun family activities in the downtown store until 9pm.

Complimentary hot chocolate and treats will be served throughout the evening while supplies last. Free Parking for the event will be available in the Macy’s Parking Garage (see store for details).

When/Where: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007

Macy’s Holiday Festival of Lights
5 pm – 6:30 pm
Kiener Plaza, Downtown St. Louis

Macy’s Holiday Window Unveiling
6:45 pm
Macy’s Downtown St. Louis – On Olive Street near 7th Street

Macy’s Holiday Open House and Shopping Extravaganza
7 pm – 8 pm, store open until 10pm
Macy’s Downtown St. Louis – 601 Olive, St. Louis MO

All events are free and open to the public.

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY EVENT NIGHT:
Macy’s Holiday Open House – 7 pm – 8 pm, store open until 10 pm

On the 1st Floor
• Visit Santa in his sleigh. Children can bring their Christmas wish lists and parents can bring their cameras to create a holiday keepsake
• Performance by the Central and Visual and Performing Arts High School Jazz Show Choir
• View the Macy’s Magical Gingerbread Village (11’ x 12’), created by the pastry chefs from The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

On the 2nd Floor
• Craft Alliance will be on-hand to help children create a special holiday craft
• Performances by Team STAGES and a holiday juggler

On the 3rd Floor
• Meet Fredbird and have your picture taken with Mrs. Claus
• Clown balloon artists

On the 4th Floor• Musical performances by the kids from Radio Disney

On the 5th Floor• Local expert Lana Shepek will share the secrets of making the holidays beautiful
• Children can write their wish list to Santa at our “North Pole Post Office”
• Face painting artists


About Macy’s
Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc.
Macy's Downtown St. Louis offers seven floors of shopping and three restaurant/cafe venues.  The store is located in the central business district in the heart of the city.
Macy's Midwest is based in St. Louis and operates 113 stores in nine states. For additional media materials, please visit our online pressroom at www.macys.com/pressroom


Website: http://www.macys.com/pressroom

Contact : Nathan Shore
Contact Phone: 314-641-2882
Contact Email: nathan.shore@macys.com

[STLguy1]

Photos from Urban St. Louis





See all the photos from Macy's event here:

http://urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?t=2318&start=555

[GRID]

dude, why so many pics?  I think a few would have been fine.

[Downtowner]

Well that was really good in case you've never seen the inside of a Macy's, lol.  I suppose it might be good to show it before they close that downtown location.

[STLguy1]

The pics are not mine so I cut/paste

I changed it to a couple with a link to the entire thread.

I love the comment above... "before they close that downtown location"

What?

Macy's has spent millions of dollars on STL's Downtown store in the past two years... brought back Christmas and Santa last year and had an even bigger event this year.  The store's two restaurants are lunch hour favorites and sales are up by leaps and bounds downtown.  They also reopened the downtown furniture departments on floor 7. 

Why do people have to be so ignorant on these boards?

[shinatoo]

Why do people have to be so ignorant on these boards?

Why is the sky blue?

What is the meaning of life?

Why is Ryan Secrest famous?

Nobody will ever know.

[STLguy1]

Yep

[KCMax]

Parkville's Christmas on the River is a really good time.

[STLguy1]

When is that Max?  Continuous or scheduled date of celebration.

[AllThingsKC]

Zona Rosa turns on their lights tonight.

[Beermo]

Why do people have to be so ignorant on these boards?

btw, you do know that we like the stl so much that we usually give you guys about this much .........rope and then we hang you. 

by the way how does it feel to be from the second city in missouri?


yes, i know, but it was gonna happen sooner or later. i figured we'd get it over sooner than later

[STLguy1]

I really don't get it.  I'm native KCian and enjoy these boards.  I come back to KC once a month and enjoy being home.  But my work has brought me to St. Louis from KC for the past 7 years now. 
and I like it here too.

Did I offend you or downtowner for some reason?