Enhancing community connections and engagement opportunities, Wittenberg University is proud to announce that it will join in sponsoring this year’s Holiday in the City, one of the premier holiday events in Springfield.

Five weeks of celebration, Holiday in the City runs from Nov. 25 to Jan. 7, is open to the public, and presented by the Greater Springfield Partnership. The event will kick off with the Grand Illumination of downtown at 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25. This event features Santa’s arrival, the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree, live music, concessions, and outdoor ice skating. The Speedway rink on City Hall Plaza will open immediately following the Grand Illumination of downtown with skating demonstrations. This is the second year for the downtown ice rink.

“This event has quickly become a hallmark of the holiday season in our hometown,” said Wittenberg President Michael L. Frandsen. “We are delighted to be a sponsor and encourage everyone to join our community in kicking off the season right here in Springfield.”

According to the Holiday in the City Facebook page, Santa’s entrance parade begins at 5:45 p.m. on Fountain Avenue and runs from Columbia Street south. Santa will then lead the countdown to the lighting of the blue spruce tree donated by a Northridge family, cut by C&S Tree Service, delivered by Kapp Construction, and recently placed by Springfield’s Service Department. The rest of the downtown will also be illuminated following the lighting of the tree.

The Speedway Ice Rink features 4,000 square feet of ice surface and plexiglass dasher boards. It is open from Nov. 25 to Jan. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Cost is $5 with an additional $2 skate rental available.

For additional holiday events and Santa appearances, check out the Holiday in the City Facebook page here.