The holiday season Downtown begins at 7 p.m. today with the 26th Annual "Christmas on the St. Johns at the Jacksonville Landing."
The 56-foot-tall tree with more than 78,000 LEDs and 200 ornaments will be lit this year by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Aaron Ross and his wife, Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross.
Music for the ceremony will be performed by the Caroling Company and local artists Roz Burrough, Michelle Miller and Steve McDowell. This year's headliner is Grammy and Dove award-winning group The Nelons.
The event is scheduled to conclude just before 8 p.m. with a fireworks show.
The lighting of the tree and fireworks will be broadcast live beginning at 7:30 p.m. on WAWS TV-30.
The holiday tradition continues at 7 p.m. Saturday with the Jacksonville Light Parade.
Hundreds of decorated and illuminated private vessels – and for the first time, the St. Johns River Ferry – have registered to participate.
The parade will cruise along the Northbank from Metropolitan Park to the Fuller Warren Bridge then proceed along the Southbank to the Duval County School Board building.
City officials expect more than 200,000 people will be Downtown this year to view the parade and fireworks.
The Landing's "Holiday on the River Dance & Concert Series" begins Monday and is scheduled through Dec. 22. More than 70 local schools, churches and dance groups will perform midday and evening shows this year.
The annual "Landing Holiday Open House Extravaganza" is scheduled Dec. 8. Merchants will offer sales, restaurants will offer special menus and there will be a drawing for a $500 Landing shopping certificate. Santa Claus will attend for pictures with children.
Also, the 18th annual "Tuba Christmas" is scheduled at 2 p.m. Dec. 8, when more than 100 tubas will perform a holiday music concert.
For the schedule of holiday entertainment, visit jacksonvillelanding.com.
@drmaxdowntown
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