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Festival of Lights
Name: Festival of LightsDate: December 4, 2021Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM ESTEvent Description:
Santa Claus is Coming to Kent
The KACC is excited to share that the Festival of Lights will be back this year on Saturday, December 4th, so grab your coats, scarves, mittens, and cameras and enjoy the magic of the season in downtown Kent at the Festival of Lights, presented by the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will begin in traditional fashion by the Main Street Bridge and gazebo at the corner of Main Street and Franklin Avenue, before heading to the nearby KSU Hotel & Conference Center and area by Kent Skates, the new downtown outdoor ice rink on Erie Street.
The festive sounds of the Theodore Roosevelt High School ACEs choir will open the festival by the gazebo at 5:30 PM as the children eagerly await Santa’s arrival. Accompanied by Kent’s Mayor Jerry Fiala, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be arriving by train at about 6:00 PM and count down the seconds to light up the area with the festive glow of holiday lights.
Afterwards, the trio will be transported by the Kent Fire Department with an escort by the Kent Police Department and head east on Main Street and south on Depeyster Street before arriving at “Miracle on Erie Street,” aka, the KSU Hotel. This will give families the opportunity to enjoy more of the downtown’s festive feel as they follow Santa on his trek. Upon their arrival, they will be greeted by the Dickens Carolers from The Light Church who will entertain the crowd with their favorite holiday songs while the children line up safely to visit with Santa.
Santa’s elves will be there to help direct kids to Santa, who will be seated inside the hotel where kids will have the opportunity to share their Christmas wishes from a safe distance and have a family member take a photograph. Afterwards, each family will receive a copy of the book, Walking in a Winter Wonderland, courtesy of the Chamber Books for Kids Program. The program is a collaborative effort between the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, the Kent Free Library and Kent State University Libraries. Cookies and hot chocolate will also be provided (while supplies last) courtesy of the chamber and the KSU Hotel, and children can drop their letters off in the North Pole mailbox.
After their visit with Santa, families can enjoy the new outdoor ice rink where skating and skates are free, downtown shops and restaurants. The ice rink will be open until 8:00 PM. Limited road closures will be made for the safety of people attending the Festival of Lights.