This downtown holiday tradition was made possible by the amazing support of our sponsors, downtown businesses, performers and volunteers. We’d like to extend special thanks to Portia Fenton, Keith Blanchard, Bob Eley, Marcella Hill, Rusty and Marie Scholle and Sandra and Hugh Connelly of the Fairbanks Community Museum, Joanna Wallace, Savannah Craft, Emily East, Frank Eagle of Lavelle’s Bistro, Sue Sprinkle of 5th Avenue Design & Graphics, Donna Olesen, Kristen Buley, Isaiah Mangum of 907 Group, Sally Gustafson, all the Downtown Window Decorating Contest judges, Suzuki Strings, 9th Army Band, Angie Tallant of Sommers & Associates, Running Club North, Morris Thompson Center, Pets with Santa, and Conner W., Ryan H., Vinny F., and CJ F. of Boy Scout Troops 42 and 43.

As we wrap up 2009 and usher in 2010, we want you to know we are especially thankful for the commitment and generosity of people like you in our community, and hope your ‘Happy New Year’ may be as blessed as ours. Thank you for supporting downtown!

Congratulations Bill!

Saturday, Dec. 19th

 Window Decorating Contest

All day throughout downtown

 Open House @ Alaska Rag Company

10am – 6pm (6th Ave & Lacey St)

 Live music & treats @ T h e   A l a s k a   H o u s e

11am – 6pm: Guitarist Ron Veliz

2 – 4pm: Meet the artist (10th  Ave  &  Cushman  St)

 Solstice Snowshoe Shuffle along Chena River

11:30am: Sign in @ Morris Thompson Center (Dunkel St); starts at noon in Griffin Park (by River). Extra snow shoes available, hot drinks, food and prizes!

 Family Fun Throughout Downtown

Noon – 4pm:  FREE Santa Photos @ River City Café & Espresso (2nd Ave); Puppies @ Yukon Quest log cabin (1st Ave); Holiday movies and cocoa @ Morris Thompson Center (Dunkel St)

 Warm Up Treat @ The Fudge Pot

Starts at 2pm (1st Ave)

 Live music & delicious food @ l’assiette de Pomegranate

2:30 – 4:30pm:  Clarence and Friends (2nd Ave, near Noble St)

 30th Annual Sing-It-Yourself Messiah @ 1st Presbyterian Church

3 – 5:30pm (7th Ave & Cushman St)

 Live music, food & shopping @ Co-Op Plaza

3 – 6pm:  Frost Fire, Quartermoon, Christmas Quartet (2nd Ave)

 Movies @ Shakespeare Empress Theatre

Noon – 2pm:  Robots; 3 – 5pm:  Night at the Museum (3rd Ave or Co-Op entrance)

Monday, Dec. 21st (Solstice)

Window Decorating Contest

All day throughout downtown (Ends at 8pm)

Movies @ Shakespeare Empress Theatre (3rd Ave or Co-Op entrance)

Noon – 2pm:  Miracle on 34th Street; 3pm – 5pm:  The Princess Bride 

 Family Fun Throughout Downtown

4 – 8pm:  Mrs. Claus and tasty treats @ Fairbanks Community Museum (Cushman St & 5th Ave); Relay for Life Luminary Ceremony in Golden Heart Plaza, a scavenger hunt and shopping galore throughout downtown! Deals, giveaways and refreshments at Arctic Travelers Gift Shop and If Only…a fine store (Cushman St);  refreshments @ Morris Thompson Center (Dunkel St); guessing game @ Beads ‘n Things (2nd Ave); Puppies @ Yukon Quest log cabin (1st Ave);

 Live music, food & shopping @ Co-Op Plaza

4 – 8pm:  Tetrafiddles, Frostfire, Celtic Confusion, QuasiPseudo (2nd Ave)

 Live music & FREE Santa Photos @ Sadler’s Home Furnishings

4 – 8pm:  9th Army Band,, Clarence & Friends, Suzuki Strings, North Star Strings (Cushman St)

 Live music & delicious food @ l’assiette de Pomegranate (2nd Ave, near Noble St)

6 – 7:30pm:  Pantheon Steel Band

 Fireworks @ Griffin Park (by River)

7:45 – 8pm: Displayed over the Chena River

 Golden Gala  @ Morris Thompson Center (Dunkel St)

8pm: Dancing, gourmet food, lovely drinks and gorgeous décor; tickets available downtown; more information at www.goldengala.com

The seemingly endless nights of winter are tempered by the seemingly endless list of things that bring warmth and light and joy. The warmth of family and friends joining together for the exchange of gifts and food – or just the (oh so sweet) comfort that closeness brings. The light and joy that emanates from that circle of friends and family is simply unparalleled.

December 21^st, Winter Solstice, is the longest night of the year and we invite you and your friends and family to come downtown and join in the celebration of this brilliant day. Take pleasure in the simple beauty of our little river city…..the many delightfully decorated windows of our downtown shops, the radiant snowflakes adorning our lamp posts, the luminaries shining like little diamonds in the rough……

Listen to Eight Live Bands playing everything from steel drums to cool jazz to traditional holiday tunes. Get your picture taken with Santa, say “Hi” to Mrs. Claus, taste scrumptious cookies and cocoa, take part in the downtown scavenger hunt, finish up your holiday shopping, and top it all off with a wintry stroll over to the banks of the Chena for a spectacular fireworks display.

This solstice, together with friends and family, indulge in the many holiday traditions a trip downtown provides, and Rejoice in the Night.

“Golden Gala”

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Thursday, December 17th

Sign in will begin at 11:30 am at Morris Thompson Center. Extra snowshoes will be available for public use.

Race will begin at Noon in Griffin Park, behind the Morris Thompson Center.  A 1 mile trail will be laid, and snowshoers from all over Faribanks will race for some fabulous downtown prizes, graciously donated by downtown businesses.

Enjoy some warm treats after the race and go on you way to some of the other Solstice events happening this Saturday.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Thursday, December 10th 2009

Check these out hanging all over Fairbanks! We ave added a little more detail and a lot more events!

Santa made his first appearance downtown this Saturday, December 5th as he posed for pictures with pets of all kinds in Sadler’s Home Furnishings. On Saturday, December 12th and Saturday, December 19th Good Ole Saint Nick will come back downtown and be available for free Santa photos at River City Cafe & Espresso from Noon to 4:00pm. Santa’s big finale will be on Monday, December 21st at Sadler’s Home Furnishings again as he celebrates Winter Solstice! After visiting with Santa, you can see Mrs. Claus, travel around downtown, listen to live music and end on the river to watch the Fireworks display!