Downtown for the Holidays

The Olympia Downtown Association produces a downtown extravaganza each year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in downtown Olympia to kick off the holiday season. This event is brought to you through the generous donations of downtown businesses, sponsors, membership dues and volunteers.

THANK YOU 2009 Event Sponsors and Contributors!

Through their support, the following sponsors and contributors have helped the 2009 Downtown for the Holidays event happen. Please show your support the next time you are in need of their products or services.

EVENT SPONSORS: Archibald Sisters, Dana C. Maher, CPA, P.S., Happy Teriyaki – Downtown, Ralph’s & Bayview Thriftways, Scarlet Empress, Selden’s Fine Home Furnishings, Sweet Life Boutique

EVENT CONTRIBUTORS: Bonaventure, Browsers’ Book Shop, Cortney Kelley Photography, Costco, Fireside Bookstore, Graphic Communications, Heritage Bank, Intercity Transit, JinJor Boutique, L&E Bottling, Olympia Farmers Market, Olympia Federal Savings, Painted Plate, Radiance Herbs and Massage, Super Silver, Tea Lady, The Popinjay, The Press Coffeehouse & Lounge, Seldon’s Fine Home Furnishings, Sign Pro, Starbucks Coffee, Urban Onion, Victor Zvirzdys, Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Wagner’s European Bakery & Cafe

SCHEDULE – November 28, 2010

Downtown for the Holidays is a day filled with fun and entertainment. Most activities are centered in and around the Sylvester Park area. Each year for this holiday celebration we coordinate the following:

• Santa visit & photo Noon-2:30 pm and 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Photos with Santa are available Nov. 28 at the Urban Onion Olympian Hotel lobby. Plus, if you miss Santa then you’ll have three other opportunities to visit him on Saturdays Dec. 4, 11 & 18 from noon – 4:00 pm at Studio Four 18 with Cortney Kelley Photography Studio on 418 Washington Street.

• Free Wagon Rides Noon-2:30 pm – Horse drawn wagon rides around two square blocks in downtown. Mrs. Claus will be joining you!

• Free Electric Trolley Rides Noon-4:00 pm  – Downtown Olympia is going Green! Take the Electric Trolley throughout downtown for free.

•  Entertainment Noon-5:00 – Throughout downtown you will be entertained by singers and musicians.

•  Gingerbread Holiday Cottages Competition Noon-5:00 (Saturday & Sunday) – Located at the Urban Onion Ballroom in the Olympian Hotel come view, build your own and vote for your favorite gingerbread cottage. Competition presented by South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity.

• Holiday Parade – Beginning at 3:00 pm the parade goes down Capitol Way from the Farmers Market to Sylvester Park.

• Singing Christmas Tree – At 4:00 pm Capital Playhouse’s  Kids in Koncert will perform on a huge constructed Christmas Tree on Legion Way at Sylvester Park.

• Tree Lighting Ceremony – At 4:30 pm in Sylvester Park all gather for a countdown to the lighting the holiday tree decorated beautifully by the State Dept. of General Administration with lights also provided by the ODA and the PBIA.

December Festivities Schedule*

Every Saturday before Christmas, Noon – 4:00 pm

Downtown for the Holidays schedule has been expanded once again to December to include:

- Visits & photo with Santa at Studio Four 18 with Cortney Kelley, 418 Washington Street

- Free Electric Trolley rides throughout downtown Olympia

- Carolers and musical performances in the downtown core

*December festivities are funded by the Parking Business Improvement Area (PBIA)

If you would like to volunteer for this committee or event, please click on odaevent@tss.net and I’ll add your name to our great volunteer list. You may also use that email address for more information. Thank you!