Light Up the Village, Rodney Square Tree Lighting Ceremony, and Downtown Holiday Village on Market Street are among the festive offerings coming soon

The Holiday Tree in Rodney Square

Mayor Mike Purzycki today joined with Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz to invite residents and visitors to continue enjoying the holidays in Wilmington with the return of several popular traditions in the coming days.  The Mayor and Cultural Affairs Director extend an invitation for you to enjoy the following family-friendly holiday events:

• Light Up the Village will take place on Wednesday, December 8 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Brandywine Mills Plaza, 19^th and Market Streets. Your invited to enjoy a FREE evening of caroling accompanied by The Gerald Chavis Big Band and a special visit from Santa Claus!
• The annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony returns to Rodney Square on Tuesday, December 7 beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be a featured performance by cast members from Candlelight Dinner Theater’s “A Christmas Carol by Candlelight.” This is a FREE event.
• Downtown Visions continues to transform the 500 block of North Market Street into a Winter Wonderland with its Downtown Holiday Village on Saturday, December 11 and Saturday, December 18 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Enjoy FREE holiday-themed entertainment and activities complete with decorations, carols, special guests, and more all while supporting local small businesses.
• The Wilmington Children's Chorus will again celebrate the magic of the season through musical expressions of Joy, Hope, and Wonder with their Annual Holiday Concerts on Friday, December 10 and Sunday, 12 at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 809 South Broom Street. At the WCC’s first major concerts since the beginning of the pandemic, the group is thrilled to welcome audiences back for this holiday tradition with a special focus on exploring the musical cultures of our community. The concerts will feature classic holiday favorites, Christmas carols from Puerto Rico, and music from the Black tradition. The December 10 concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the December 12 performance begins at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $10-$20 and can be purchased here.  

“This is a special time of year for people of different faiths, cultures and communities,” said Mayor Purzycki. “After canceling last year’s festivities due to the pandemic, we are eager to again welcome our families, neighbors, and friends from around the City and across the region to safely gather in person for a fun, joyful time.” The Mayor continued to urge everyone to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as holiday festivities continue, most importantly by getting vaccinated and tested as well as by following all other CDC guidelines until the virus threat is behind us.
 
Mayor Purzycki and Department of Finance Director Brett Taylor also remind residents and visitors that the City of Wilmington’s holiday season parking meter policy is in effect now and continues through Monday, January 3, 2022. To support holiday shopping during this period, from Noon to 6:00 p.m. each weekday, the City will not require payment at parking meters in the Downtown Business District (defined as the area bounded by 2^nd Street to 12^th Street, and by French Street to Washington Street) and in the Riverfront Business District. Official holidays such as Christmas Day (December 25) remain FREE all day. A two-hour parking limit will remain in effect, however.

Exceptions to this temporary parking policy involve streets designated as “tow-away zones,” where no stopping is allowed at those meters at the times posted. All applicable traffic regulations, other than those requiring payment at parking meters, will be enforced, including time-limited parking (two-hour or one-hour parking as designated by signage) or overtime parking, bus stops, fire hydrants, double-parking and parking too close to pedestrian crosswalks, etc.

COMMUNITY AND MEDIA INQUIRIES: 

John Rago
Deputy Chief of Staff
City of Wilmington, Office of the Mayor
Mobile: (302) 420-7928
Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov