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Do IT this week: Layering
City telling Santa Claus he'll be needed Friday
By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009
What's Christmas without a little fun, and what's Christmas without Santa Claus?
Budget cuts in the city have caused downsizing, but the city is not canceling Christmas, thanks to downtown merchants and area businesses.
''The holidays are alive and well in downtown Akron and we want to continue our big holiday presence,'' Kimberlee McKee, president of the Downtown Akron Partnership, said Monday. ''The Holidayfest and Chriskindl Market will both take place at Lock 3, just on a smaller scale.''
In a publicity stunt Monday, McKee filed a missing person's report for Santa Claus, just to make sure he isn't under the impression festivities are canceled and he's not needed for the traditional lighting of the city's Christmas tree at 7
p.m., Friday, as well as the Welcome Santa Parade at noon Saturday in downtown Akron.
''It's become an annual tradition to kick off the holidays in downtown with fireworks and the lighting of our Christmas tree,'' McKee said. ''Unless we find Santa Claus before Friday, the holidays in downtown Akron just won't be the same.''
Akron police Chief Craig Gilbride took the missing person's report, vowing that Santa Claus, aka Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or St. Nick, will be found in time for the holiday events. In fact, the report states he was last seen at Lock 3 in Akron on Dec. 25, 2008, and ''never misses the festivities.''
McKee said the Downtown Akron Partnership contributed $8,000 for Friday night's lighting ceremony and fireworks display. Other donations came from the Knight Foundation, the Akron Community Foundation, FirstMerit Bank, Goodyear, Bridgestone and a dozen other businesses.
Three Chemnitz, Germany, vendors will return to the city on their own, even though the city is not able to support the sister-city exchange. It will be the sixth year at Lock 3 for Mario Hausdorfer (glass ornaments), Frank Kuhnert (wooden items) and Georg Wolfe (ceramics). This year they will be joined at Chriskindl Market by local artisans, artists and craftsmen.
McKee said there will be different local vendors each weekend, so people are encouraged to visit often.
A new feature at this year's market is the Everything Akron store operated by the Akron-Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau, which will sell Akron hats, mugs, shirts, bags and office products.
Skating will still be available at Lock 3 for free. Skate rental is $2. The ice rink will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7:30 to 10 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. It will remain open into January. Times vary and are listed on the city's Web site, along with all other downtown festivities, at http://www.downtownakron.com or http://www.lock3live.com.
''Downtown Akron hosting the holidays in downtown Akron is such a great tradition, we just wanted to continue it,'' McKee said. ''It should be a very fun evening for everyone.''
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.
What's Christmas without a little fun, and what's Christmas without Santa Claus?
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 03:01 AM, 11/24/2009
yay business people to the rescue! Free market wins again!
I'll be down there supporting it like I have been for years. All political stuff aside, it's nice to see some businesses with a sense of civic duty to make this happen
akron, oh
Posted 07:34 AM, 11/24/2009
Good for the downtown merchants. I would have considered it a shame if the city poured money into the seasonal event after laying of employees.
Posted 07:54 AM, 11/24/2009
yay! glad to see it continue!
Posted 09:05 AM, 11/24/2009
This is great news!!! It really gets the Christmas Season going.
Thanks
Akron, , OH
Posted 09:07 AM, 11/24/2009
Want to have a strong economy? Make Christmas about Christ.
hudson, oh
Posted 09:22 AM, 11/24/2009
A Voice : Kudos to you. That says it all !!
Akron, OH
Posted 09:24 AM, 11/24/2009
Wonder in the adult bookstore will be sponsoring Santa's helpers? Perhaps on a float with their own north pole.
Delaware, OH
Posted 09:30 AM, 11/24/2009
Now what in the heck does Jesus have to do with a strong economy? Is he going to change the FED's interest rate? Use some of his daddy's cash to buy some SUV's? Build a textile mill in Connecticut and hire some good Christians at $19 an hour? Repeal NAFTA and CAFTA? Force the Chinese to stop linking their currency to the US Dollar? If so, then I will be the first in line to sing "Hosanna" in the highest
Akron, , OH
Posted 09:49 AM, 11/24/2009
@ coach T
You think small and worldly!!
Canton, OH
Posted 10:57 AM, 11/24/2009
TruthPatrol - funny!
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 10:58 AM, 11/24/2009
i have not believed anything coming out of Akron in years...
uniontown, oh
Posted 12:05 PM, 11/24/2009
Hey Truth, you must have grown up reading Dave Berry in the Beacon. Your always pretty much on target. It was very nice reading IN THE PAPER about a statement from the PRESS and GOVERNMENT which actually used the term "CHRISTMAS" and not "Winter Festival" or other such nonsense. I think I'll head downtown and spend a few precious greenbacks at the Barley House and maybe some other watering hole or two and reminisce about when my entire family went downtown to see the CHRISTMAS displays on Main Street. Great time to grow up. Well anyway have a nice Thanksgiving to all of you and TRUTH......keep it up, I need some humor on this site. Good Luck.
Akron, Oh
Posted 12:12 PM, 11/24/2009
Voice, thank you for putting Christ first,
is how it should be..
Akron, OH
Posted 12:15 PM, 11/24/2009
This is the problem with Akron. Everyone believes everything the Beacon and City Hall says.
Like there are any merchants downtown who would benefit from this other than the Christkindl (city ran) and the Peanut Shop.
Truth be told these few from downtown what few there are maybe kicking in 20% and the city is absorbing the rest.
Just like City Recreation they tell you this program nets the biggest profit but what they don't tell you is "how much the city puts into" and what the REAL profit isn't.
Delaware, OH
Posted 12:18 PM, 11/24/2009
@ A Voice:
Maybe I do, maybe I don't. If so, then is it correct to assume that you think big and otherworldy?
akron, oh
Posted 01:01 PM, 11/24/2009
Christmas shopping; what a friend we have in Jesus...
Newcomerstown, OH
Posted 01:39 PM, 11/24/2009
@ A Voice..... Amen to that!
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:19 PM, 11/24/2009
Coach T--you are my hero! Tell all the Jesus Freaks to stay out of our holidays. The holidays are about family, friends, making strangers into friends, the here and the now! Happy winter solstice everyone where we celebrate the returning of the sun. The holidays didn't always include jesus you know.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:00 PM, 11/24/2009
Nate G......I’m not a big bible thumper but it is called CHRISTmas and it was originally meant to celebrate the birth of Christ, so it would have to involve Christ. If it offends you don’t celebrate it. You don’t have to be a Jesus freak to understand that. You basically want people to call a Ford a Chevy….it is what it is
akron, oh
Posted 03:05 PM, 11/24/2009
@Coach-t: I met Jesus on the internet; at least that's who he said he was. I asked him why his father allowed you to exist. He took a minute to answer back, then he said "Just because".
wadsworth, oh
Posted 03:20 PM, 11/24/2009
A Voice
Akron, , OH
Posted 09:07 AM, 11/24/2009 Want to have a strong economy? Make Christmas about Christ.
people like you disgust me. YOU are the reason people rebel, quit shoving religion down peoples throats.
barberton, oh
Posted 03:30 PM, 11/24/2009
go in a group and don't forget your piece!!
Canton, OH
Posted 03:47 PM, 11/24/2009
Note to all hood rats - A lot of police will be around at the Parade Route Sat. to make sure things are ok - and they will be looking for Santa before then so it is a good time to commit your crimes.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:56 PM, 11/24/2009
Shawn,
That might be the most common sense post I've seen today. Agreed.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:57 PM, 11/24/2009
deidre,
Plus Marco might be walking the parade route again this year. If he's crazy enough to pack in an airport, you know he'll take care of business at a Christmas parade.
akron, oh
Posted 04:12 PM, 11/24/2009
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you all, even nottheusual1. : )
Orrville, Oh
Posted 04:49 PM, 11/24/2009
Representatives of this Representative Republic stunt demanding consumers pay for the more stock dividends (money) Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders (money marketers) market quarterly; in the wholesale and retail price of Christmas; that gets only product or service is defiant of demands of Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
Demanding every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church; markets the cost; in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of every workers, consumers, and taxpayers living (including pension and health care); enabling parents to love, nurse, nurture, discipline, protect, and provide for every child (job) they conceive; and fund schools, infrastructure, national security, government services, and etc.; with money derived from wages or independent business profit.
This defiance of realities demands is needed to measure and maintain the strength and growth of this unaffordable economy and distribute wealth into Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders portfolios!
Clebus, RI
Posted 05:06 PM, 11/24/2009
Loren, PLEASE, get some help. You are clearly certifiably insane. There is more to intelligent thinking than "cut and paste".
Posted 05:32 PM, 11/24/2009
Jesus Christ is the reason for Christmas; it celebrates his birth if no one ever told you.
Norton, Oh
Posted 07:31 PM, 11/24/2009
Seems to me, that Christmas was Jesus' birthday before it was Santa's only day of work each year.
To those on here who want to argue the religious point... do you refuse your Christmas Bonus or paid holiday off work?? If not, shut up!
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:55 PM, 11/24/2009
Here we go again. This stuff doesn't get done for free. Overtime has to be paid for police at the thanksgiving day run, the friday tree lighting and the saturday parade. Also o.t. is paid at lock 3 everyday. Meanwhile the city has laid off countless employees because of a lack of funds. Where does the money come from for the overtime. Has anyone heard that the mayor demanded another 10 hours furlough time from all non bargaining employees on top of the 18 already mandated. Maybe that will pay for the overtime.
akron, Oh
Posted 07:55 PM, 11/24/2009
@loren wtf kind of kool-aid do you drink??? everybody go downtown, eat a meal...have a drink...spend some $$$...and have a good time.
i like seeing the window displays, granted there not as nice as when i was a kid back in the early 70's...but my little ones think there fantastic...as for what shops are helped by this....there is a small convience store where we get coffee and hot coco, then to the peanut shop, then the market. I love the candy coated almonds.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:29 PM, 11/24/2009
peelnstick,
Yep, there's cost and I agree with paying those costs for events like this. The world doesn't revolve around the concerns of city workers and their compensation concerns.
www.ohio.monster.com
clinton, oh
Posted 10:41 PM, 11/24/2009
Atheists stay home
akron, oh
Posted 01:27 AM, 11/25/2009
santa is not real!!!!!!
akron, oh
Posted 01:28 AM, 11/25/2009
i f i was santa id be scared to go downtown akron nothin but bunch of punks hangin out there
Akron, , OH
Posted 06:34 AM, 11/25/2009
@Krystal
Merry Christmas!!!
Posted 09:36 AM, 11/25/2009
I just realized the ABJ actually called it Christmas! About time, I'm sick of Holiday Trees and whatnot. Also, to Krystal and the other atheists ...if you don't believe in Christmas, don't go. Isn't that what you're always telling us? I see this bumper sticker all the time "Against Abortion? Don't have one"
Which brings up another point, why do so many of you plaster your cars with goofy bumper stickers? Nobody gives a F.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:16 AM, 11/25/2009
Wonder if the downtown festivities will be followed by a hoodrat holiday parade down either South Arlington or Brown Street Saturday night? Or probably both?
Lima, OH
Posted 11:33 AM, 11/25/2009
Does this mean that Santa is a union worker and therefore won't be required to take time off?
akron, oh
Posted 01:41 PM, 11/25/2009
City telling Santa Claus he'll be needed Friday.
Once again, the city of Akron has lost its way. There is no Santa Claus. Jobs, working firefighters etc, are more important. I can't believe the city of Akron is still wasting the tax payers money. The citizens of Akron need to do a better job voting!!!!
akron, Oh
Posted 03:31 PM, 11/25/2009
@maryann my 7 yo daughter an 9yo son want a raindeer to run you over. there is a Santa and your a doo doo head.
Canton, OH
Posted 03:36 PM, 11/25/2009
MaryAnn - i agree - The people of Akron need to vote for Santa Claus.
Posted 06:20 PM, 11/27/2009
Well, Xmas was a pagan winter celebration and anyone can google that. I go because it's fun, but like Santa, jesus isn't real. It's cute and all that. Good for Akron businesses for donating. It's all fun. Keep your religion to yourself, a lot of rational people aren't interested.
akron, oh
Posted 11:03 PM, 11/28/2009
Did the Mayor get some cheap fireworks on a trip to China? You can buy them locally. Would save money.
