The Pearl Street Mall and Boulder County Courthouse will shine bright this holiday season.
Boulder, Colo. [November 8, 2018]: On Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 5 pm, Downtown Boulder switches on the lights kicking off the holiday season. The countdown to the grand illumination of the downtown district will be lead by Santa Claus, CHIP from the University of Colorado and Downtown Boulder's very own Freezie the Snowman.
The pre-lighting highlight is a Very Vintage Holiday performance featuring Mister Tim and the Denver Dolls. Immediately following, Santa will then take the stage for the countdown and then the Boulder Children’s Chorale will join the Dolls to lead spectators in a holiday sing-along. This year, the downtown district will be adorned with nearly 400,000 LED lights, colorful ornaments & snowflakes. There will also be an opportunity to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center (1301 Pearl Street) until 7 pm. Santa and Mrs. Claus will return downtown for additional visits & photo ops during St. Nick on the Bricks.
Downtown Boulder’s Switch on the Holidays is a free event and open to the public. This annual event is presented by Capital One and produced by the Downtown Boulder Partnership. Supporting sponsors include: Tebo Properties, the Daily Camera and City of Boulder Parking & Access Management.
Switch on the Holidays is Downtown Boulder’s kickoff event for Light Up The Holidays - a busy month of activities that include:
Small Business Saturday (November 24) – More than 75 downtown businesses will be celebrating with in-store specials and other exciting events. Holiday carolers dressed in nostalgic attire will be roaming throughout downtown and Santa (and Mrs. Claus) will be at the Visitor Information Center (1303 Pearl Street) for visits and photo ops from 11 am – 2 pm. There will also be an appearance by Freezie the Snowman. Kids can enjoy free train rides on the Snowflake Express (weather permitting). Free Small Business Saturday canvas bags (courtesy of American Express) will be distributed at the Visitor Information Center starting at 11 am - while supplies last.
St. Nick on the Bricks (Friday, November 23 and Saturdays from November 24– December 22) – Santa and Mrs. Claus will welcome kids of all ages to visit and share wish lists at the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center from 11 am – 2 pm. Cameras are highly encouraged…selfies are welcome! Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus are FREE.
Lights of December Parade (December 1 | 6 pm) – Celebrating its 31st anniversary, enjoy 50 entries - everything from fire trucks to bicycles decked out for the holiday season - not to mention homemade floats from local community groups and non-profits. Throw in a high school marching band, hundreds of girl and boy scouts and top it off with Santa himself! This year’s route starts at 15th and Walnut streets heading west up Walnut to Broadway and north on Broadway around to Spruce. Viewing stands located at 14th & Walnut and Pearl & Broadway.
Freezie Fest (December 8 | 11 am - 4 pm) - A celebration of snowmen and the holiday season! Head to the Pearl Street Mall for Reindeer Games (kids crafts and activities), face painting, train rides on the Snowflake Express, photo booth, free hot chocolate and other drinks courtesy of Capital One Cafe, visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus and a special appearance by Freezie the Snowman.
More than 25 businesses will be participating in Find Freezie. Visitors are encouraged to go on a hunt to find a Freezie (small plush snowman) within participating businesses, take it to the Visitor Information Center (1303 Pearl Street) to receive a prize ($50 gift card). Everyone who finds a Freezie will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a $250 Downtown Boulder Gift Card. List of participating businesses can be found online at FreezieFest.com.
The one-and-only Guerilla Fanfare performs on the 1300 block starting at 2 pm then will perform throughout downtown. At 3:30 pm, the band will lead visitors over to the City of Boulder's Snow Much Fun in Civic Center Park where the festivities continue with free hot chocolate provided by the Dushanbe Teahouse, rides on the Snowflake Express Train, a musical celebration emceed by Jeff and Paige and more!
Information about all of these events can be found online at DowntownBoulderHolidays.com. Details about the City of Boulder's Snow Much Fun, can be found online at SnowMuchFun.org. The public is encouraged to park in one of the City of Boulder’s Parking Garages (every Saturday and Sunday year round, City of Boulder parking garages are free of charge). Information about downtown parking can be found online at BoulderParking.com.
About Downtown Boulder Partnership
The Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of downtown as the heart of the greater Boulder community. As the umbrella organization for the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District (BID) and the Downtown Boulder Foundation (DBF), the Partnership works tirelessly to make our downtown a national model of success. Our 400+ member businesses support the overall vitality of downtown through leadership, community celebrations and political advocacy.
Contact:
Anna Salim | VP of Events and Membership | 303.449.3774 | anna@downtownboulder.org
Terri Takata-Smith | VP of Marketing and Communications | 303.449.3774 | terri@downtownboulder.org
###