Winter Solstice
AMAZE YOURSELF
Amaze yourself at the Ice Park! Then consider the ice park’s contribution to our international tourist economy, the artisans themselves and our quality of life – and click here to save the ice park.
In the natural evolutions of cities, railroads tend to withdraw from the downtowns the railroads helped build. It’s not an act of ingratitude that the railroad is asked to move south - just that our city has outgrown the need for railyards downtown and has better uses for the land. Vision Fairbanks recognizes the railroad’s withdrawal as a probably inevitable, gradual long-term process. But we need to begin moving in that direction today, for the good of the ice park and our winter economy.
Downtown Winter Solstice Celebration ’twas a “wonderful winter wonderland”
The Downtown Association of Fairbanks is grateful to those who made the 2009 Downtown Winter Solstice Celebration of December 5th, 12th, 19th, and 21st a wonderful winter wonderland for the whole community.
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!
Solstice Storytellers
We are all storytellers.
We at the Downtown Association would like to ask that one of the stories you tell this holiday season be about all of the wonderful things to see and do downtown this December! Spread the word….. Downtown is a great place to shop, eat, drink, listen to live music, get your photo taken with Santa, get your pets photo taken with Santa, go to a Golden Gala Ball, participate in celebratory events, see holiday movies, get your presents wrapped, let your children participate in fun crafts, enjoy Fireworks and so much more! And if that isn’t enough…. you can do all of these great seasonal activities while enjoying the enchanting downtown decorations. Window displays, ice art, colorful lights, lanterns and luminaries will all bring joy and beauty to our humble Downtown streets. So tell me a story and embrace the joy of the season downtown this December.
Solstice Saturdays fall on December 5th, 12th and 19th and the celebratory fun culminates on the actual Winter Solstice, Monday, December 21, from 4-8 PM.
downtownwintersolstice.com Check out the site, pick out a few of your favorite things and tell your friends and family. Not only will we generate interest in the Winter Solstice events, but also we will generate interest in our downtown.
Lanterns on Two Street
by Amy Geiger · 1 Comment
There’s this beautiful black & white photograph ….. with dazzling white Chinese lanterns and long rows of pennants twisting in the wind. The lanterns are draped festively, lazily, happily, haphazardly across a vibrant downtown street. The pennants, each one more interesting than the last, bear a resemblance to national flags, geometric shapes, celestial bodies….
Where, might you ask, is this intriguing mix of white lanterns and colorful pennants? And you might be surprised to hear the answer. The year is 1942, the street is number Two, and the vibrant town is our own.
This year we aim to recreate that brilliant scene from 1942. One hundred white lanterns are in the mail, and we are throwing a pennant making party next Wednesday, December 2nd, from 5 until 7 PM at the Downtown Association office on 410 Cushman Street. If you are artistically inclined, come join us as we recreate a particularly radiant bit of history.
The photograph is from Candy Waugaman’s amazing collections.
Downtown Winter Solstice
The season of light and joy is right around the corner, and downtown is gearing up for a December filled with festive Saturdays! This year we are looking forward to even more celebratory fun culminating on December 21st, Winter Solstice.
We will be reporting on how the event is taking shape on downtownwintersolstice.com. If you can be involved, whether through activities, sponsorships, or volunteer support, please go to the website and let us know what you’d like to do. With your help we can pack downtown this December with celebrations, decorations, and a festive fun time.
December 5th: Like always the month of December will start off with a Window Decorating Competition. If you do not have a window in the downtown core and would like to participate in the Window Decorating Competition, we may be able to locate a window for your use. We are proud to have the involvement of Pets for Santa in the downtown area on the 5th and 6th of December in the Sadler’s Home Furnishings building. The Interior Freight Dog Association will also have an event on the first Saturday of the month with a Weight Pull in Big Ray’s parking lot.
December 12th: We will celebrate the ice and snow all Saturday, December 12th. All creative snow and ice activities and events, are welcome! Ice sculptures, ice bowling, luminaries, and street vendors are all part of the plan for the second Saturday in December.
December 19th: On the third Saturday of December we will be focusing on Fairbank’s wide spectrum of winter sports. We want to encourage a variety of individuals and teams, to participate in our Winter Sports Festival. Dog sleds, skiing, skating, snow machining, curling, snow shoeing all in the same place and day would be an incredible experience to have in our downtown arena. We will invite many different Fairbanks groups to participate in this festival.
December 21st: A Winter Solstice tradition. Live music, reindeer, Santa photos, a welcoming downtown atmosphere and a fabulous fireworks display to finish the downtown December Winter Solstice. From 4PM until 8PM.
We will be promoting December downtown on Solstice Saturdays through TV, radio and newspaper advertisements, guides, posters and on the website.
Please email or call Kara Nash, or go to our website if you can be involved. Let’s make this a Solstice to remember!
