on November 18, 2010 / by Downtown Dallas Inc. / in Blog Posts, Parks and Public Space, Things To Do

City Lights Blasts off in Downtown Dallas

Thousands expected Downtown for signature holiday event

Downtown Dallas – The holidays begin in Downtown Dallas with City Lights, Saturday, November 20th at 5 p.m. Holiday festivities blast off at Main Street Garden at 1902 Main St. Enjoy the outdoor market, food, music and activities for the whole family, including the lighting of holiday tree.

The one of a kind holiday tree has become a Downtown fixture since its debut last year at the opening of Main Street Garden. Excitement Technologies Group are the masterminds behind the 65-foot metal masterpiece, which was designed by Main Street Garden landscape architect Thomas Balsley and lit by Light Switch, the famed creators of the lights at Millennium Park. The 10,000+ feet of LED lights dance to custom choreographed music, with two new shows launching during the City Lights event.  The light shows will play throughout the holiday season, complemented with sounds of the season emanating from the park sound system so you can hear the music no matter where you are on the grounds.

“We just love our holiday tree”, says Kourtny Garrett, Senior Vice President of Marketing of Downtown Dallas, Inc. ”Over the last decade, Downtown Dallas has truly become a community, a place where people live, gather, and as we see at Main Street Garden – just be.  The tree represents, to us, the spirit of that community, of the people who have made Downtown their home – from residents and employees, to corporations and small businesses, as well as those who just come down on occasion to enjoy the excitement. The holidays have officially begun in Downtown Dallas once the tree is lit.”

Following the lighting of the holiday tree, moonwalk over to Neiman Marcus at the corner of Main and Ervay for the lighting of “Big Encounters of the Little Kind”, a whimsical crawl-tube experience that only Neiman Marcus can create. This is the second year Neiman Marcus has allowed children to experience their holiday windows by crawling through the tubes. But new this year, features activated by adults and their smart phones may lead to virtual window shopping year around.

“These holiday crawl-tubes have completely redefined the ‘window shopping’ experience,” says John Crawford, President and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc. “The windows and the overall Neiman Marcus commitment to launching the holiday season Downtown is yet another demonstration of their corporate citizenship and why they continue to play an important role in Downtown commerce.”

Ignaz Gorischek, Vice President of store development for Neiman Marcus hopes to double the number of children who make it through this year’s crawl-tubes. He says visitors will be able to text a number to control one of six special effects inside the display and they can use camera phones to place themselves in space scenes. This year, displays create an outer space travel experience that is double the size of last year’s tubes. Dallas children involved in Big Brothers and Big Sisters helped decorate 800 stars for the celestial scene, known as “Big Encounters of the Little Kind.”

For the remainder of the evening families are invited to enjoy face painting, balloon animals and other holiday themed activities at Main Street Garden. Grown-ups are invited to stroll down to Pegasus Plaza and enjoy the Iron Cactus Cosmic Cocktail Corner, featuring DJ Billy Biscuits. Take advantage of specials and promotions at restaurants within the Main Street District all night.

Neiman Marcus Downtown is located at 1618 Main Street.  Main Street Garden is located at 1902 Main Street, a full city block bounded by Main, Commerce, St. Paul and Harwood. Pegasus Plaza is located at 1500 Main Street, at the corner of Akard and Main.

City Lights Time-line:

5:00 p.m. City Lights blasts off with family friendly festivities at Main Street Garden

7:00 p.m. Moonwalk to Neiman Marcus Flagship Store – Lighting of the Neiman Marcus Store

7:30 p.m. Iron Cactus Cosmic Cocktail Corner at Pegasus Plaza

8:00 p.m. A Rockin’ Holiday Concert by Mistral at Main Street Garden

 

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About Downtown Dallas, Inc.

Downtown Dallas, Inc. is the principle advocate, champion and steward of Downtown, affecting change by developing strategies, setting targets and mobilizing resources that:

For more information call 214-744-1270 or visit www.yourDspot.com.

 

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