Talk about your festive holiday spirit! Friday’s Xfinity Christmas at Chilhowee Park boasts everything from 98 lighted trees to a 440-foot-long lighted tunnel to train rides, hayrides, roasted marshmallows and, of course, Old St. Nick.

 

Xfinity Christmas at Chilhowee Park – from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, at Knoxville’s oldest park, 3301 E. Magnolia Ave. – also includes a traditional lighting of a tree on the park’s bandstand.

 

The park’s holiday display includes a total of 78 lighted trees, plus 20 lighted trees floating on the park’s lake. Motorists touring the park through Jan. 1 can drive through the lighted tunnel.

 

On Friday, enjoy live music provided by church choirs, and build a gingerbread house with Austin-East Magnet High School’s Culinary Arts Department.

 

The event also features hot cocoa from the Salvation Army, face painting and balloon animals. Be sure to stop by The Muse Knoxville tent for a special activity.

 

Sponsors are Xfinity, WVLT-TV Channel 8, 93.1 WNOX, Krispy Kreme, Cheerwine, The Muse Knoxville and the Knoxville News Sentinel.

For a complete listing of all Christmas in the City events, visit the City of Knoxville’s website: www.cityofknoxville.org/christmas.

 

There’s also a new Christmas in the City app that can be downloaded onto many smartphones and other mobile devices now that makes it quick and easy to get details on events. Apple product apps will be available soon.

 

People can use the app to vote for their favorite Window Wonderland display. Participating merchants and restaurants have turned their downtown storefront windows into festive holiday displays, coinciding with “The Twelve Days of Christmas” or their own creative decor. Votes can also be cast on the City’s Office of Special Events Facebook page – www.facebook.com/cityofknoxvillespecialevents.

 

If you’re in the mood to share your holiday photos, the Special Events Office can help spread your holiday greetings and good cheer through social media. See the perfect store window decoration? Admiring a rooftop tree? Capture a magical family moment? Email your photos to specialevents@cityofknoxville.org, and City staffers can distribute many of them through Twitter and Facebook.

Or if you’re Tweeting your own photos, please use the hashtag #christmasinthecity.