This year has been a difficult time for our budget,” said the mayor.  “While Lock 3 may have a more austere appearance this year, with the help of local businesses and foundations, we will be able to provide our residents with free, wholesome winter-time fun as we have since 2004.”

ICE RINK

We’re again pleased to offer the largest seasonal ice skating rink in Ohio (10,000 square feet), with free admission to everyone,” said the mayor.  Skaters may rent skates for just $2, the same as in previous years.

FirstMerit Bank will again be the presenting sponsor of Holidayfest.  “We have been pleased to present this annual winter event to the Akron community,” said Nick Browning, president & CEO, Akron Region, FirstMerit Bank.  “It allows our employees and customers to share in the fun of the season in a very affordable way.”

With support of the Akron Community Foundation and other local foundations and businesses, most of the costs of the Lock 3 ice rink will be paid from private contributions. Plusquellic also said the city’s ice rink vendors worked hard to reduce their costs this year, understanding the budget crunch that all cities have been in because of the national economic slowdown.

The rink will open Saturday, November 21 and remain in operation through January 31, 2010.  It will be attended Thursdays - Sundays, which represents a reduction in staffing from 2008 when the rink was open every day during December and January except Mondays and the holidays.  At other times, during daylight hours, skaters may use the rink at their own risk.

CHRISKINDL MARKET

Plusquellic said, “We will also offer a Chriskindl Market for the sixth year, but this year we will not be hosting our sister-city vendors from Chemnitz.  Instead, we are looking for local ethnic groups to share the goods and products that represent their special holidays with everyone.”

Akron expects three of its German vendors to return on their own to Lock 3 this year with hand-made items from the Erzgeberge (AIRTS-guh-burg-uh) Mountain area outside Chemnitz,  Yet, the city is still actively seeking groups willing to sell hand-crafted items representing diverse cultures in the Chriskindl cottages, between November 27 and December 31, Thursdays-Sundays.

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

This year’s official lighting ceremony of the city’s Christmas Tree will take place Friday, November 27 at 7:00pm and will be sponsored by the Downtown Akron Partnership.

“With donations from DAP, other downtown businesses, and the city’s fireworks vendor Pyrotechnico, there will be a great light and fireworks show that night for families,” said the mayor.  
The show will be held inside Lock 3 instead of Main Street this year.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRST NIGHT

Also continuing in 2009 is the largest community visual arts display, “Countdown to First Night,” which features 40 hand-painted banners, 5' x 15' from schools, churches, community centers, ethnic and civic groups - each one illustrating an expression of the winter holiday season.

HOLIDAY PARADE

Plusquellic advised City Council this past Monday that the city has eliminated $200,000 from the budget for Lock 3 this winter.  In addition to eliminating support for its sister-city vendors, Lock 3 is eliminating the giant outdoor tent from the footprint this year, reducing marketing expenses, and will not pay for the elaborate light and fireworks show the night after Thanksgiving.

The official media sponsors of Lock 3 are the Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com, which once again will sponsor free ice skating, and Rubber City Radio, owners of WAKR/ WONE/ WQMX.

Each summer, Lock 3's popular “Rock the Lock” concerts are sponsored with WONE. This year, WONE personalities Tim Daugherty and Christi Nichols will host the city’s annual “Welcome Santa” parade on Saturday, November 28 at noon.  

For the past two years, the city has supported the appearance of giant balloons in the parade.  This year, other organizations have been attempting to gain sponsors for the balloons, which cost about $3,000 each to include in the parade.

QUESTIONS?

Inquiries regarding Lock 3 cottage sales should be directed to the Lock 3 staff at 330.375.2877, or lock3@ci.akron.oh.us.  Approved vendors will be required to share some of their sales proceeds with a Akron charities - especially those who are serving the neediest during the holidays.

“Countdown to First Night” inquiries should be directed to Suzie Graham, the mayor’s coordinator of arts & children’s programs at grahasu@ci.akron.oh.us, 330.375.2977.

“Lock 3 will become a destination for those who wish to help the neediest in the community,” said the mayor.

THERE’S MORE!

The downtown venue will be the city’s major collection point for new toys --- which will be delivered to more than 150 needy families supported by Akron’s Victim Assistance Program and Furnace Street Mission--- gently-used winter coats and non-perishable food items for the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank.

“We will have collection points inside the park for our visitors who want to direct their loose change to worthy charities,” said Plusquellic.  

The city has been using old parking meters over the past several years - painted in bright colors and placed downtown - to collect funds for the Haven of Rest Mission and the Salvation Army.  This program will be expanded inside Lock 3 for the winter season.

LOCK 3 POPULARITY GROWS

Plusquellic also reported that for the summer of 2009, attendance reached record levels. Almost 90,000 people attended free Friday night concerts at Lock 3, almost 60,000 at Saturday concerts, and more than 30,000 attended special events.  New records were set for attendance at the Italian Festival (52,000) and the Hamburger Festival (24,000) in 2009.  The mayor said both festivals will be returning in 2010, and the city is planning more free concerts next season, including many on Saturdays.

The attendance at Lock 3 between the first Rock the Lock concert on May 22 and the Breast Cancer Walk on October 10 was 206,364.  In 2008, Lock 3 attendance was 121,482.

SCHEDULE

2009 HOLIDAYFEST & CHRISKINDL MARKET AT LOCK 3

NOVEMBER

Sat., Nov. 21
Ice Rink Only - 11am - 10pm
Sun., Nov. 22
Ice Rink Only - 12pm - 6pm

Fri., Nov. 27
Ice Rink & Chriskindl Market - 11am  - 4pm
Lighting Ceremony & Fireworks - 7pm
Ice Rink & Chriskindl Market - 7:30pm - 10pm

Sat.,Nov.28
Welcome Santa Parade - 12pm
Ice Rink & Chriskindl Market - 11am - 10pm

Sun., Nov. 29
Ice Rink & Chriskindl Market - 12pm - 6pm

DECEMBER

Thursdays, Fridays
Ice Rink & Chriskindl Market - 11am -9pm

Saturdays
Ice Rink & Chriskindl Market - 11am - 10pm

Sundays
Ice Rink & Chriskindl Market - 12pm - 6pm

Dec. 21, 22, 23
Ice Rink - 11am - 9pm
Chriskindl Market - 5pm - 9pm

Dec. 24
Ice Rink & Chriskindl Market - 11am - 6pm

Dec.25
CLOSED

Dec. 28, 29,30
Ice Rink - 11am - 9pm

Dec 31
Ice Rink - 11am - 11pm  

JANUARY

January 1
CLOSED

Thursdays
Ice Rink - 11am – 9pm

Fridays, Saturdays
Ice Rink - 11am – 10pm

Sundays
Ice Rink - 12pm – 6pm

END