Description
This event was originally scheduled Dec. 6 but postponed to Dec.13 due to the winter storm. Info below is from the original Dec. 6 event. Plans may be altered slightly depending on availability and weather.
Downtown d'Lights is back! Join us from 5pm to 8 pm as we turn on the holiday lights in Perry Square and Downtown Erie with snacks, games, skating, live performances, horse drawn carriage rides, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and much more! See below for more info and a schedule of activities for the evening. Downtown d'Lights is presented by UPMC Health Plan and UPMC Hamot.
Schedule:
5:00 – Event begins! Enjoy free hot cocoa, free holiday children’s books, holiday music, and ice skating. Take a picture in a snow globe! Toy Drive, Hat & Coat Drive, Holiday Village shops open & more.
6:00 – 6:30 – Holiday Tree and Park Lighting Countdown
6:30 – Santa Experience on the Perry Square Stage (free souvenir photos), FREE horse carriage rides around Perry Square until 8:30 pm.
Trolley:
Catch an EMTA trolley to the event! EMTA will run a trolley from Gridley Park on the West Side and from Parade and 6th on the East Side starting at 4:45 PM on Friday. The trolley is free to ride and the last trolley ride returning to the neighborhoods will depart Perry Square at 8:00 PM. Thanks to EMTA for providing transportation for our neighbors!
Holiday Village Shops & Giveaways:
•Sundae Vegan Desserts
•Erie Ale Works
•Glass Growers Gallery (official commemorative Downtown d’Lights 2024 ornament)
•Luminary Distilling
•FREE Hot Cocoa with the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
•FREE children’s holiday books from Werner Books
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides:
Horse-drawn carriage rides from John May Farms will begin as soon as the park is lit around 6:20 PM. Rides are free and will circle Perry Square, picking up and dropping off at the corner of South Park Row and State on the East Side of Perry Square. Thank you John May Farms!
Toy Drive with Carmeuse:
Carmeuse America's Erie Sand & Gravel Company is pleased to partner with Toys for Tots in support of the Downtown D'Lights Fill the Bucket Campaign on December 6, 2024 at Perry Square. We will position a CAT 980 Wheel Loader on the east side of Perry Square, near the fountain and ice-skating rink. This is a great opportunity to spread Christmas joy to Erie’s children and we would love to fill our 10 cubic yard bucket with as many new gifts as possible for them (unwrapped please.) We invite everyone to join us in embracing Christmas Spirit in the heart of the City of Erie.
Hat, Coat, & Glove Drive with EUMA
EUMA is once again accepting donations at Downtown d'Lights to serve the Our Neighbors Place Seasonal Overflow Shelter. Please bring items to the EUMA box truck on the corner of South Park Row and State Street during the event. your donations are greatly appreciated and will help keep our neighbors experiencing homelessness warm this holiday season
Who
All welcome!
