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ice_skating_1Plans are in place for the fourth annual Helena Holiday Festival, December 1st – 8th, featuring the lighting of downtown Court Square Park, ice skating, Christmas carols and of course the annual Christmas parade.

Activities on Sunday, December 1st will kick off the festival, which includes events throughout the first week of December. Thanks to the Helena-West Helena Advertising and Promotion Commission, a free synthetic 50 x 60 foot ice skating rink, complete with skates, will open that night from 5-8pm. The rink will be available to the public Monday and Tuesday, December 1st and 2nd from 4-6pm. During school hours, the rink will be used for school field trips. At 6pm, the community will celebrate the start of the holiday season with the ceremony to light Court Square Park. A group of Central High School students will perform The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, followed by choir performances by First Baptist Church, the Central High School Gospel Club and Wofford Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. After the performances, Santa will light Court Square Park, followed by Christmas caroling.

For the full schedule of events, see the listing below. For more information contact Julia Malinowksi, Helena Advertising & Promotion Commission, at 870-714-2844 or [email protected].

Sunday, December 1, Court Square Park, 5-8 p.m.

  • 5 p.m.: Opening of the acrylic ice-skating rink. Free public skating.
  • 6 p.m.: Lighting of the Christmas tree and Court Square Park featuring church choir performances, a Christmas sing-along, and a guest appearance by Santa.

Monday, December 2

  • 4-6 p.m.: Free public skating at the acrylic ice-skating rink, Court Square Park.
  • 5:30 p.m.: Lighting of the Tree of Lights, Helena Regional Medical Center (1801 MLK Dr.).

Tuesday, December 3

  • 4-6p.m.: Free public skating at the acrylic ice-skating rink, Court Square Park.

Friday, December 6

  • 6 p.m.: Helena Christmas Parade, starting at the Plaza District and ending on Sebastian Street. (Line-up starts at 5p.m.).

Saturday, Dec. 7, Biscuit Row (330 Phillips St.)

  • 6 p.m.: Delta Ink, a live showcase for writers to share their stories of Delta living (Free).

Sunday, Dec. 8, Lily Peter Auditorium (1000 Campus Drive)

  • 2:30 & 7 p.m.: Warfield Concert: Happy Holidays, A Helena Little Theater/PCCUA Production (Free).