Holidayfest

Stay tuned for updated information for 2012.

Holiday Shuttle

November 23-December 31
Fridays, 6-10 p.m.
Saturdays, 12-10 p.m.
Sundays, 12-5 p.m.
December 24: 12-6 p.m.
December 25: Closed
December 31, 12-midnight

Window Displays

Beginning in the 1950s, Akron area families would flock to the animated holiday window displays in the O’Neil’s and Polsky’s building windows downtown. By the end of the 1980s both O'Neil's and Polsky's stores were gone, leaving a void in local holiday family traditions. Downtown Akron Partnership brought the vintage displays back to the Akron community in 1999. These holiday displays can be found in the University of Akron Polsky's Building from Thanksgiving to New Year's.

Lock 3 Winter Schedule

November 23, 2012 - January 27, 2013
Thursdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving)
Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
December 24, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
December 25, closed
December 26, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
December 31, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
January 1, closed
January 21 (MLK Day) 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Ohio's Largest Outdoor, Seasonal, FREE Ice Skating Rink at Lock 3

Lock 3’s most popular winter feature is their 10,000-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink, the largest seasonal skating venue in Ohio! The Lock 3 ice rink opens on Friday, November 23 for skating through the end of January. Admission to the rink is free; skate rental is $3 and strap-on skates are free for toddlers based on availability. Skate rental is free on Thursdays and Fridays from 1-5 p.m. with a DoDowntown card. www.lock3live.com

Reindeer Run Sledding Hill

The 150-foot “Reindeer Run,” a sledding hill constructed inside Lock 3. It’s an all-season slide designed to provide a fun ride for younger children. Adults may accompany children on the slide. Only toboggans and tubes provided by Lock 3 may be used. Sleds are rented for $3 for 33 minutes, and the number of sleds available each half-hour will be limited to ensure maximum fun.

Thursdays, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Fridays, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Saturdays, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Sundays, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
December 24, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
December 26, 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
January 2, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Archie, The Talking Snowman

Akron's beloved Archie, the 17-foot-tall talking snowman, is back by popular demand! Archie is remembered by thousands of local residents who visited him at Chapel Hill Mall as a child, and his fans have made a powerful appeal for his return, including a Facebook page titled "Bring Back Archie the Snowman." The people have been heard! Come celebrate Archie's big comeback at the Holiday Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 23.

November 23, 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
Fridays, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturdays, 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
Sundays, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
December 26 & 28, 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

The Kinderzone at Lock 3 sponsored by Hattie's Cafe

Located in the Lock 3 Commons, children of all ages can decorate gingerbread cookies to eat, hang as ornaments or give as gifts. The cookies are made by The Bakery at Hattie's Cafe at 209 S. Main Street. Gingerbread cookies to decorate are $2, 3 cookies for $5. The Kinderzone will also have Santa Claus during select hours. Bring your camera. Visit www.lock3live.com for Kinderzone and Santa Claus hours.

Akron History Exhibit and Toy Marble Museum at Lock 3
Sponsored by Summit County Historical Society

Visitors can celebrate Akron’s industrial history from canal boat building to cereal manufacturing, from rubber and tires to Lighter-than-Air and engage Akron’s whimsical past at the Akron Toy Marble Museum. Lock 3 was where the American Toy Marble & Toy Manufacturing Co made marbles in the 19th century. New this year will be a kinetic sculpture with toy marbles moving through a traditional marble “railway.”

Holiday Market at Lock 3

Find unique, handmade gift ideas featuring local, independent product and interesting products from Germany and Akron. There is something for everyone at the Holiday Market. Vendors include Lit Wick Candle Company, Pushing Tin Studio, Highland Baking, Homemade Delites, Tindercraft Ceramice and kre8ivLizard. Mario Hausdorfer, from Germany, sells a variety of German-made products including hand-blown glass.

Weekends (November 23 – December 23.): Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.;
December 24, Monday, 11 a.m. –4 p.m.;
December 31, Monday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Holiday Tree Festival at the John S. Knight Center (November 17-25, 2012)

More than 100 carefully decorated trees are on display each year attracting more than 200,000 visitors! Admission to the tree festival is FREE and donations of trees from local sponsors as well as the purchase of the trees on display raised $216,000 in 2010 for Akron Children's Hospital. https://www.akronchildrens.org/cms/holiday_tree_festival/

Countdown to First Night (November 23-December 31, 2012)

The largest-scale advent-type calendar in the U.S. is our “Countdown to First Night,” at Lock 3, featuring thirty-six individual panels of original artwork, created by our community to emphasize Akron’s wealth of talent and diversity. Panels are unveiled between November 23 and First Night on December 31.

Holiday Lighting Ceremony, Friday, November 23, 2012, 7 p.m. at Lock 3

Welcome Santa Parade, Saturday, November 24, 2012, 11 a.m. on Main Street

WONE’s Tim Daugherty and Kristi Nichols host this annual event, featuring over 100 marching units. It’s the 25th anniversary of this popular Downtown event.

Indoor Winter Farmers Market, Dec. 15-16, 2012

For the 6th year, a Winter Farmers Market will be held Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16, opening at 11 a.m. each day, with local hand-crafted food items and baskets for sale. The indoor market in the basement of the O'Neil's Building is set for Saturday, December 15 (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and Sunday, December 16 (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.).

First Night Akron 2013 (Monday, December 31, 2012)

Make plans for New Year’s Eve and join the fun in Downtown Akron! Now in its 17th year, First Night Akron is a New Year’s Eve celebration unlike any other. This family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration of the arts brings the community together to experience a brief moment in time while creating lasting memories. Come in out of the cold and celebrate the New Year! On Monday, December 31, 6 p.m.-midnight, enjoy indoor entertainment and fun for all ages throughout Downtown Akron featuring the region's best in music, dance, theater, visual and interactive arts! Entertainment and fun will delight the whole family! www.firstnightakron.org