The popular entertainment venue will be ablaze with bonfires, and Ohio’s largest seasonal ice rink at Lock 3 will remain open until midnight on Friday and Saturday this weekend only.

"It’s the first weekend of vacation for most schools," says Akron Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth. "Classes are over at the University of Akron, many offices are closed, and it’s a great time for celebration."

There will be special rental offers on ice skates, souped-up chili and chowder, and featured seasonal brews from Akron’s own Thirsty Dog Brewing Company.

For centuries, the "midwinter" celebration of the solstice has been marked with rituals. In Europe, it accounted for the Christmas being on December 25, the date of the solstice under the ancient Roman calendar.

The actual solstice arrives at 12:47pm Monday, December 21, but Lock 3 will celebrate the shortest days of the year and the longest nights of the year with bonfires all around Lock 3 on Friday and Saturday.

"Traditional celebrations of the solstice included evergreens, bright illumination, large fires, feasting, and 'physical exertion' during the evening," said Lieberth. "We have it all at Lock 3 - except we’re replacing traditional dancing with ice skating as the perfect winter therapy."

Because grains and fruits were harvested in the Fall, the process of fermentation of wine and beer made it ready for drinking at such "midwinter" celebrations. For the 6th straight year, Lock 3 is again serving warm gluhwein (mulled wine) - the holiday tradition in Germany, and is featuring the seasonal brews of Akron’s own Thirsty Dog Brewery -"12 Dogs Christmas Ale" and "Labrador Lager."

On Saturday, Scott Wynn, the popular morning show host of WQMX’s "Wynn & Wilson Show" will do live broadcasts on the radio station between 11am and 1pm. Between 11am and 6pm Saturday, skate rental (usually $2) will be free to those bringing a contribution of a non-perishable food item for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Each evening during Holidayfest, a new banner created by local artists and children’s groups goes-up on the State Street parking deck inside Lock 3 - the largest advent-type calendar in the U.S., the "Countdown to First Night" calendar. This weekend, art students at Firestone High School will remember Las Posadas, a Latino winter celebration. Children will be invited to celebrate the diversity of cultures by making Las Posadas angel wings in the Kinderzone arts and crafts area.

The Akron History Exhibit & American Toy and Marble Museum remains open at Lock 3 during Holidayfest, with free admission and sales of Akron’s own "Blue Santa," the first figurine believed created of Father Christmas in the United States.

Kids and parents alike can ride around Lock 3 in style – on the Magical Train, which offers rides 5pm -8pm weekdays, 1pm – 8pm Saturday, and 1pm -6pm Sunday.

This is also the last weekend Lock 3 is seeking donations of new toys for the Furnace Street Mission’s Victim Assistance program, which is assembling baskets for families who are suffering during the season.

The 6th annual Chriskindl Market remains open this weekend at Lock 3, Thursday, 11am - 9pm, Friday and Saturday, 11am - 10pm, and Sunday, noon - 6pm.

Three vendors from Germany have returned to the market this year: Mario Hausdorfer (glass ornaments), Frank Kuhnert (wooden items) and Georg Wolfe (ceramics). They are joined at the 2009 Chriskindl Market by local artisans, artists and craftsmen including: Small Creations; Anatolia Kilim Turkish Textiles; the Highland Baking Company; Homemade Delites; Lit Wick Candles; the MRDD workshop, and "Everything Akron" operated by the Akron-Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau. They offer hats, mugs, shirts, bags, office products, and more, emblazoned with "Akron." Ten percent of all sales at the cottages are donated to charities.

The Lock 3 warming area features signature dishes from Chef Louis Prpich and his Chowder House Café, including German bratwurst, macaroni and cheese, and bowls of authentic red bean chili, white bean chili, and clam chowder.

The annual Holidayfest and Chriskindl Market is open daily beginning Thursday, December 17 through December 31, 11am - 9pm, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday till 10pm (midnight this weekend only). On December 24, Lock 3 closes at 6pm, and on December 31, Akron’s First Night, it remains open until 11pm.

FirstMerit Bank is once again the presenting sponsor of Holidayfest. Media sponsors include WAKR/WONE/and WQMX.

Holidayfest has received foundation support from the John S. And James L. Knight Foundation and the Akron Community Foundation.

Ice rink sponsors include the Downtown Akron Partnership, Akron General Medical Center, Goodyear, the Akron-Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation, Roetzel & Andress, Sterling Jewelers, Bridgestone, FirstCredit Intl/RevCare, Testa Companies, Akron Civic Theatre, Beacon Journal/Ohio.com, HfA - Hitchcock Fleming, RCA Rubber, and Plastic Lumber.

For more information on all Lock 3 activities, go to www.lock3live.com