Who: The City of West Palm Beach
When: Thursday, December 11, 2008  6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: 100 – 500 blocks of Clematis Street

On Thursday, December 11, 2008 Clematis by Night will officially kick off the holiday season and light up downtown West Palm Beach with its annual Holiday Lighting.  The City of West Palm Beach has partnered with the Downtown Development Authority to create a special evening filled with lots of holiday wonder and enchantment – all for FREE!  The Holiday Lighting event will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the 100 to 500 blocks of Clematis Street.  Some special features at the Holiday Spot to Chill will include the following:

PARADE at 6:30 PM
This year’s holiday celebrations will include the 3rd annual West Palm Beach Mayor’s Parade presented by Good Samaritan Medical Center.  This magical parade will start at 6:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Clematis Street and will travel east on Clematis Street under a bright canopy of lights to Flagler Drive.  The parade will feature lots of excitement and surprises including floats, dance teams, baton twirlers, gymnasts, and veterans all marching in the parade.  The parade will also include an amusing array of entertainment from the Shriners of Palm Beach County and Sunshine Circus to cheerleaders and marching bands from William T. Dwyer High School and Forest Hill High School, as well as the West Palm Beach Fire and Police Departments.  Other parade participants include Taverna Opa with belly dancers, the Girl Scouts with a hayride, Roxy’s special mini carts, Ballet Florida with characters from The Nutcracker, and Santa’s Trolley filled with elves.

The parade will also feature a number of floats presented by Good Samaritan Medical Center, Catalfumo Construction, and the South Florida Fair.  The parade would not be complete, however, without a visit from everyone’s favorite North Pole resident – SANTA, who’ll be riding on the Good Samaritan Medical Center float at the end of the parade.  Also featured in the parade will be local television personalities from WPTV NewsChannel 5 and radio listeners’ favorite personalities from KOOL 105.5 fm, Wild 95.5 fm, Gater 98.7 fm, Mia 92.1 fm and WJNO Newsradio 1290 am.  The grand marshals for the parade are Mo & Sally from KOOL 105.5 fm and West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel.

TREE LIGHTING at 7:30 PM
Grand marshals Mayor Frankel and Mo & Sally from KOOL 105.5 fm will flip the switch immediately following the parade to officially light up downtown West Palm Beach.  This year they will light up a real 40-foot blue spruce from Beech Mountain, North Carolina, the tallest real tree to be displayed in Palm Beach County, as well as a menorah and a kinara in Centennial Square.

VISIT SANTA’S TROLLEY
After the parade, kids can make their way to Santa’s Trolley in the 200 block of Clematis Street, right across from the fountain, and visit with Santa and his helpers.  Kids will have the opportunity to go over their wish list and take their photo with Santa.  There will also be free holiday cookies for the kids.

CLEMATIS STREET ACTIVITIES
Clematis Street will also become festive with lots of holiday cheer and activities.  After the parade, guests can enjoy lots of FREE holiday activities in the library and in the 200 block of Clematis Street, including:

The legendary Marie Hale from Ballet Florida Academy will read The Nutcracker for children ages 4 to 6 in the West Palm Beach Public Library at 7:00pm for free.  Characters from Ballet Florida’s The Nutcracker will also be in Centennial Square for photo opportunities with guests.

Kids can visit Resource Depot for fun and free holiday activities in the 200 block of Clematis Street.  There will also be a snow globe making station as well as a game master with lots of fun holiday games and crafts in the 200 block of Clematis Street.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! – Kids can enjoy the magic and play in the snow flurries that will fall in the 200 block of Clematis Street.

Guests can also support their local vendors and do some holiday shopping on Clematis Street, and visit various downtown merchants offering holiday specials:

This N’ That Gallery at 216 Clematis Street will have holiday and regular merchandise available – perfect for gift items.

Roxy’s Pub at 309 Clematis Street will collect gifts for “Toys for Tots”.  Guests can stop by Roxy’s throughout the evening and drop off a new, unwrapped toy to make a child’s holiday special this year.

J. C. Harris Co. at 333 Clematis Street will extend their hours until 8pm and offer up to 40% off Ralph Lauren apparel, as well as Cashmere Sweaters for $99 and many more deals – perfect to wrap up your holiday shopping!

O’Shea’s at 531 Clematis Street will have live music and hold an after-party until 3am.

Phat Sandwiches at 540 Clematis Street will offer free hot chocolate to kids!

Clematis Social at 223 Clematis Street will have holiday music and allow kids 12 and under to eat for free during the holiday event!

The Sanctuary Salon and Spa at 120 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 105 will hold a Holiday Open House and have free candy canes and hair products as well as champagne and complimentary consultations for moms and dads!

CLEMATIS BY NIGHT – HOLIDAY LIGHTING
Clematis by Night is the Holiday Spot to Chill this season!  This year’s holiday celebrations in downtown West Palm Beach will include a magical parade down Clematis Street under a canopy of lights that covers five blocks.  Then guests can watch as Mayor Frankel flips the switch and officially lights up a real holiday tree as well as a menorah and a kinara in Centennial Square.  There will be plenty of cool winter fun and excitement with kid’s activities, live entertainment, a visit from Santa’s and many more holiday surprises.

The Clematis by Night Holiday Lighting is produced by the City of West Palm Beach in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority and brought to you by KOOL 105.5 fm, The Palm Beach Post, WPTV NewsChannel 5, Wachovia, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Samuel Adams, Heineken, the West Palm Beach Marriott and many others.  For more information about this event, please contact the City of West Palm Beach, Community Events Division at 561-822-1515 or visit www.clematisbynight.net

When: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 1401 9th Street, WPB

(12/08/08) City of West Palm Beach Mayor Lois J. Frankel will join neighborhood leaders in kicking off a City tree replacement program at a ceremonial tree planting on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1401 9th Street.

Through a new tree planting program, the City will be helping to replace trees lost due to the storms and hurricanes of recent years. In the coming months, the City will give 750 trees to neighborhood groups, which will then have the trees planted. The trees will help increase the City’s tree canopy, continuing the City’s commitment to sustainability.