The Pearl Street Mall and Boulder County Courthouse Lawn will shine bright starting Sunday, November 20 at 5 p.m.
Boulder, Colo. [November 14, 2016]: On Sunday, November 20, 2016 kids of all ages are invited to the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall for a kick-off event celebrating the holiday season during Downtown Boulder’s annual Switch on the Holidays. The Boulder Children’s Chorale joined by members of the Boulder Chorale will usher in the holiday season by performing for holiday revelers. Shortly thereafter, Santa and Mrs. Claus will stop by to flip the switch that will have Downtown Boulder shining bright for the holiday season. Attendees will then be invited to join the Chorale in a rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Immediately following the lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus will host a brief visit & free photo op with kids at the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center (1301 Pearl Street).
This season, Downtown Boulder will decorate trees along the pedestrian mall, throughout the East and West End Districts and the 15th Street Design District with 330,000 LED lights, 300 colorful lighted ornaments and 35 large snowflakes!
Downtown Boulder’s Switch on the Holidays is a free event and open to the public. This annual event is produced by Downtown Boulder, Inc. (DBI). The Presenting Sponsor is Facebook. Supporting sponsors include: Honest Tea, Tebo Properties, Broadway Suites, the Daily Camera and City of Boulder Parking & Access Management.
Switch on the Holidays is Downtown Boulder’s kickoff event for a busy month of activities that include:
Small Business Saturday (November 26) – Well over 50 downtown businesses will be celebrating with in-store specials and other exciting events. Holiday carolers dressed in nostalgic attire will be roaming downtown and Santa (and Mrs. Claus) will be at the Visitor Information Center for visits and photo ops from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. In addition, the town of Estes Park is gifting a live ice sculpture demonstration (by Colorado Ice Sculptures), along with several other interactive sculptures, for Boulder locals and visitors to enjoy. These impressive ice sculptures are a celebration of the “little” things that make our communities so special.
St. Nick on the Bricks (Friday, November 25 and Saturdays from November 26– December 24) – Santa and Mrs. Claus will welcome kids of all ages to visit and share wish lists at the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cameras are highly encouraged…selfies are welcome! Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus are FREE.
Lights of December Parade (December 3) – The best hometown holiday parade in the state – celebrating its 29th anniversary! Enjoy 50+ entries - everything from fire trucks to bicycles decked out for the holiday season - not to mention homemade floats from local community groups and non-profits. Throw in a high school marching band, Boulder County Olympians past and present as Grand Marshals, hundreds of girl and boy scouts and top it off with Santa himself! This year’s route starts at 15th and Walnut streets heading west up Walnut to Broadway and north on Broadway around to Spruce. Viewing stands located at 14th & Walnut and Pearl & Broadway.
Information about all of these events can be found online at DowntownBoulderHolidays.com. The public is encouraged to park in one of the City of Boulder’s Parking Garages (every Saturday and Sunday year round, City of Boulder parking garages are free of charge). Information about downtown parking can be found on line at BoulderParking.com.
About Downtown Boulder, Inc. (DBI)
Downtown Boulder, Incorporated (DBI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to continued preservation and enhancement of Downtown Boulder as the heart of the greater Boulder community. DBI works to maintain downtown as the center of commerce, government, culture, and leisure. DBI members support the overall vitality of downtown through public advocacy, political involvement, and community events that enhance the Boulder experience for residents and visitors. Membership in Downtown Boulder, Incorporated (DBI) is voluntary and open to any interested person or organization.