Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. joins holiday season spirit TraditionsFamiliar events build sense of community in December
BY BRYAN DEAN
Published: November 23, 2008
Downtown in December is no longer a new idea.
Six years after Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. launched the concept, activities such as ice skating in front of the Civic Center have become part of the city’s holiday traditions, organizers said.
Advertisement
Kim Searls, spokeswoman for Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., said the focus for the monthlong event has shifted to improving the activities that people enjoy the most, such as the ice rink and snow tubing at the AT&TBricktown Ballpark.
Events will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday when Mayor Mick Cornett will light the SandRidge Christmas Tree.
Sponsored this year by Devon, the ice rink will look much different in the evening, Searls said. "We are going to do an expanded lighting program,” Searls said of this year’s event. "It is going to be a wonderful winter wonderland at night.”
Another idea that has taken off is free museum Sundays, Searls said. The idea started last year with the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum offering free admission on Sundays.
Searls said the memorial museum will participate again this year, along with the Gaylord Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Drive.
Organizers haven’t given up on new ideas for Downtown in December, but Searls said improving the events, putting up more lights and enhancing the holiday feel is becoming a bigger focus as residential developments continue to pop up and the area becomes more and more like a neighborhood.
"We’ve tried different events, and I think we’ve found what people like,” Searls said. "We’ve always said what Downtown in December is all about is making memories.”
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on local crime or fatality stories.
Wow. Jennifer you do realize Mayor Mick has nothing to do with these events. It's commonly known and the article states, this is Downtown OKC Inc's events aka DOKC. They are a private entity that puts on these events. Mick is just invited to the the "star" by lighting off the city's tree.
Nov. 28
• 5:30 p.m.: Lighting of the SandRidge Christmas Tree, Bricktown.
• 6 p.m.: Devon Energy River Parade, Oklahoma River.
Nov. 28-Dec. 28
• 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.: American Fidelity pays admission to the Gaylord Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum and Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum on Sundays.
→6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.:
Rides on Bricktown Water Taxi, sponsored by The
Oklahoman.
Nov. 28-Jan. 4
• Noon to 10 p.m.: Ice skating, Civic Center, 201 N Walker, $8 or $5 if you bring skates.
• Hours vary: Snow Tubing at the Bricktown Ballpark, sponsored by Chesapeake. $10 for 90 minutes.
Nov. 30-Dec. 28
→6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: OG&E Garden Lights will decorate the Myriad Botanical Gardens.
Dec. 6
• 9 a.m.: The SandRidge Santa Runs begin, Leadership Square, 211 N Robinson.
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a commentEditor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on local crime or fatality stories.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).