CITY OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

OFFICE OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

SUITE 304, CITY HALL
245 WASHINGTON STREET
WATERTOWN, NEW YORK 13601-3362
TEL. (315) 785-7740
FAX (315) 785-7829

KENNETH A. MIX
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 17, 2015

CHRISTMAS PARADE
& DOWNTOWN TREE LIGHTING
CEREMONY TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY
DECEMBER 4, 2015 STARTING AT 6:30 P.M.
On Friday, December 4, 2015 at 6:30 p.m., Downtown Watertown will be
full of holiday cheer and bustling with activity as Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham and members
of the Watertown City Council host the annual Christmas Parade and Downtown Tree
Lighting Ceremony on Public Square.
The holiday festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the north side of Public Square
with a musical performance by the General Brown 6th Grade Chorus. A musical
performance by the award winning Northern Blend Chorus will follow at 6:45 p.m.
At 7:00 p.m., the annual Christmas Parade, featuring over 35 entries, including a
special guest from the North Pole, will travel through Public Square. The parade route
will start on Black River Parkway, enter Public Square at Mill Street, travel through the
north side of Public Square and down Court Street before ending in the Court Street
Parking Lot.
Following the parade at approximately 7:45 p.m., Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham and
members of the City Council will officially kick off the holiday season with a countdown
to turn on the Citys holiday music and light display.
After the parade and tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting children
in the Public Square Gazebo until 8:45 p.m. Mulled cider, hot cocoa and coffee will be
served free of charge during the event courtesy of the Downtown Business Association
(DBA). For a full schedule of events, please visit http://www.publicsquare.com/.

New this year is a holiday decorating contest sponsored by the Downtown

Business Association. The theme of the contest is Let Freedom Ring with the Bells of
Christmas: A Salute to Our Military and the 10th Mountain Division. The DBA is
encouraging business and property owners to decorate their storefronts and buildings
for the holiday season. The DBA Board will be judging all of the participating storefronts
on December 1, 2015 and will announce the winners just prior to the parade. The
winning business will receive a 2016 DBA membership and a pizza party. For contest
rules and to register your business, go to http://www.publicsquare.com/.
Entries for the Christmas Parade will be accepted up until the start of the parade.
Any late entries will be placed in the line of march ahead of Santa Claus. Contact
Parade Chairman Stanley Zaremba at (315) 416-1087 for more information.
Preparations for the holiday season and this event are already underway as City
DPW crews are getting ready to install over 100 pole mounted decorations throughout
the Downtown area. On Wednesday, November 18, 2015, DPW crews will erect a 30
cut Christmas tree in the center of Public Square. The tree, donated to the City by the
DBA, will be the centerpiece of the light and music display.
The music and light display features thousands of LED lights that are
synchronized to a variety of holiday songs. The music and light display will run every
30 minutes each night from 4:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. from December 5, 2015 through
January 5, 2016.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m. on the day of the event, all travel lanes on the north side
of Public Square will be closed to traffic and on-street parking will be restricted. In
addition, Black River Parkway, Court Street and portions of Mill Street will be closed to
traffic for the parade, beginning at approximately 5:45 p.m.
Temporary barricades, traffic cones and signage will be placed, and a detour
route will be established for the event. Parking will be available at one of the many City
parking lots in the downtown area and at the Jefferson County Human Services Building
North and South Parking Lots after 5:00 p.m.
Tree Lighting Contact: Michael Lumbis, Planner, City of Watertown
(315) 785-7740
Downtown Business Association Contact: David Winters, President
(315) 405-0142
Parade Contact: Stanley Zaremba, Parade Chairman
(315) 416-1087

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