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It’s an annual tradition: six weeks of holiday events in Springfield, and it all gets underway tomorrow. The lights on a 33-foot Norway spruce, just east of Mediacom Ice Park, will be turned on as well as lights and decorations throughout Jordan Valley Park.
And Cora Scott, spokesperson for the City of Springfield, says there will be live entertainment…
"A local performer named Ali Hutsell, and she's gonna play the guitar and sing some Christmas tunes and maybe even intice the crowd to sing along, a little bit or at least we hope to."
New this year will be a mailbox, provided by the US Postal Service, where young people and the young at heart can mail letters to Santa.
After the tree lighting ceremony, the Springfield Cardinals will host a Cardinals Christmas at Hammons Field…
"Following the tree lighting ceremony we are going to have a jingle bell parade, which is essentially a walk through the newly-lit Jordan Valley Park, over to Hammons Field, and at Hammons we will have a Christmas fireworks show set to Christmas music."
Children will be able to visit with Santa and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.
You can skate for free at Mediacom Ice Park from 6 to 8 tomorrow night. Skate rental is $2.50.
Other Festival of Lights events include Candyland at the Footbridge, the Downtown Springfield Christmas Parade and First Night Springfield 2012.
To view a schedule of events visit www.itsalldowntown.com.
For KSMU News, I’m Michele Skalicky.