News - Local/State

Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008

ChristmasVille packs new fun for 3rd year

A doggie costume parade, a chili and Brunswick stew cook-off and an outdoor movie highlight the new attractions at ChristmasVille, the annual holiday festival that starts Thursday in Rock Hill.

Now in its third year, ChristmasVille transforms downtown into a holiday village celebrating the work of the late artist Vernon Grant.

The bleak economy poses a risk because families are spending less on travel and entertainment. But organizers hope an abundance of free events will lure budget-conscious crowds. More than 90 events are planned between Thursday and Sunday.

"So much of our stuff is free," said Candy Randall, the city's downtown development manager. "You can come down and spend all day long and be entertained. It's like Charles Dickens on a dime; you can get in there and get in the Christmas spirit."

At least 10 tour groups, mostly from the Charlotte area, have made inquiries about attending the festival, the county's tourism bureau reports.

An estimated 30,000 people attended at least one event last year, more than double from ChristmasVille's inaugural year. Randall expects another increase, but she didn't want to make a prediction.

The common belief in the tourism industry is that festivals need three years to get established.

"People are starting to know what it is," Randall said. "At first, they weren't really sure."

Revelers will notice one major change at the kickoff event. A giant projection screen will be mounted above the stage during the "Lighting of the Village" ceremony on Main Street, allowing attendees of all heights to see the action.

On Friday night, the movie "Elf" starring Will Ferrell will air in the amphitheater outside City Hall. Another new feature generating early buzz is a dog costume parade planned for Sunday afternoon.

Randall hopes to get a little more sleep this year after working herself to near-exhaustion the first two seasons.

"We just kind of know what to do and what to expect," she said. "It still takes a whole village of gnomes to get it all done, but at least now there's a blueprint. Not quite so many unexpected surprises."