Santa & the horsedrawn carriage rides- Celebrate the Season! this Saturday

Join us for Celebrate the Season, Saturday December 4, 10am- 5pm in downtown Iowa City. This event was extremely popular last year and offered many ways for families to enjoy the holiday season together. Twenty-four businesses in the central Downtown and near Northside host open house events. Santa arrives via horse-drawn wagon at Old Capitol Mall from 12-2pm. Horse-drawn wagon rides from 12-3pm were a big hit last year. Just before that, at the 11:45am Countdown to Santa's arrival, hear Carolers from the UI School of Music. Also at Old Capitol Town Center from 11-3pm: activities for kids hosted by the Iowa Children's Museum, Penny Bear, Gingerbread House displays (vote for your favorite), cookie decorating, and refreshments.

Musical events include Tom Nothnagle at Old Capitol Town Center from 1-3pm, and the Nutcracker at the Englert, 2pm & 7pm. All events except the Nutcracker are free. Nutcracker tickets are available at the Englert Theatre box office.   

Downtown businesses hosting holiday open houses from 10am-5pm include Austin-Burke, AKAR, Bella Joli, Catherine's, Chait Galleries, Cheap 'n Chic, Discerning Eye, Domby, Dulcinea, Glassando, Hands, Herteen & Stocker, Home Ec Workshop, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Lorenz 2a, Lyla's Boutique, MC Ginsberg, Modela, Raygun, Revival, r.s.v.p., Textiles, Velvet Coat and Zender's Salon. Hothouse Yoga offers yoga for kids 11:30-12.

Stop by and enjoy the fun!

Small Business Saturday, Free Movie & --someone's gonna make out well!

 Join us for Small Business Saturday, THIS Saturday, after Thanksgiving. This interesting concept champions the small businesses that are the drivers of local economic support, jobs and all those fundraiser coupons needed for your schools. Other goodies? Parking in City Ramps will be free on Friday, and public transportation will be free both Friday and Saturday. Register to win a mega-value gift basket, worth $1500 in sizable downtown coupons! Enter to win at the businesses listed below; drawing will take place during Celebrate The Season festivities on December 4.

Wondering what to do with the kids this Saturday, after all the Thanksgiving activities? Check out the FREE movie, The Neverending Story, 3pm at the Englert! A perennial favorite with children and adults alike, this film is sponsored by twenty downtown businesses, including Discerning Eye, r.s.v.p., Textiles, Chait Galleries, Catherine’s, Cheap and Chic, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Domby, Revival, MC Ginsberg, Lyla’s Boutique, Bo James, AKAR, Dulcinea, Austin Burke, Velvet Coat, Hands Jewelers, Zenders Salon, Raygun and Home Ec Workshop.(Sorry, child care will not be available at the event.)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!