DJDC Prepares To Host ‘Toyland Christmas’ In Jamestown

By Kristen Johnson, kajohnson@post-journal.com POSTED: November 3, 2008 This year, Christmas in Toyland is coming to Jamestown. The theme for this year's Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration will be ''A Jamestown Toyland Christmas,'' according to a recent announcement made by the Downtown Jamestown Development Corp. ''There are a variety of toy-related activities and events that are held in Jamestown during the holiday season - Toys for Tots, Santa's Family Workshop and The Nutcracker performances,'' Tiffani Reynolds, DJDC special projects manager, said. ''The theme name was just a natural fit.'' CHRISTMAS PARADE Every year, thousands of people line the streets in downtown Jamestown to watch the Christmas parade. This year, the parade is set for Dec. 5. Last year, an estimated 18,000 people came out to watch a parade that included 250 organizations from Jamestown and Chautauqua County. This year, parade lineup will begin promptly at 5 p.m. along the Third Street Bridge, Porter Avenue and on Third Street from Porter Avenue to Hallock Street. Participants should be at the lineup area early. The parade will step off at 6:30 p.m. and will travel east on Third Street to Tracy Plaza for the traditional tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks extravaganza. Those who wish to participate in the parade should register with the DJDC. Registration forms are available online at the DJDC's Web site, http://www.discoverjamestown.com/. In the upper right hand corner of the page, click the ''2008 Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration'' link, then scroll down. Hard copies of the parade registration forms are being automatically mailed to last year's parade participants. Registration forms are also available by calling 664-2477. Parade participants may represent toys of all kinds that are both traditionally and currently given at Christmas. ''It is always exciting to see how each unit interprets the theme differently each year,'' Ms. Reynolds said. ''This really adds to the aesthetics value of the parade.'' As a fundraiser for this year's parade, the DJDC will sell tickets to any individual who wants to ride with Santa Claus during the Christmas Parade. Tickets will be $5 each or 3 for $10. Ticket locations will be released by the DJDC at a later date. The drawing will be held at the Lost Neighborhood tree-lighting ceremony and the Light Up Downtown events held on Nov. 28 in Brooklyn Square. SNOWBALL DROP The DJDC has invited all area businesses and organizations to participate in the Jamestown Snowball Drop, which takes place in conjunction with post-parade activities. In 2007, 400 white ping-pong balls, donated by the Jamestown Cycle Shop, were distributed to local businesses. Business owners were encouraged to decorate the balls with special promotions. The decorated ''snowballs'' were dropped from a Jamestown Fire Department ladder truck after the parade. Those lucky enough to catch a ball were able to redeem it at the business where the ball had been decorated. ''We're aiming for 2,000 to 3,000 ping-pong balls this year,'' Ms. Reynolds said. ''Four hundred was great, but thousands would be even better. Businesses interested in participating should contact the DJDC at 664-2477. OTHER EVENTS The DJDC will kick-off the holiday season with its second communitywide light display in conjunction with the Lost Neighborhood Tree Lighting ceremony on Nov. 28. All businesses and residents in downtown Jamestown are encouraged to decorate their storefronts, windows, buildings and doors for this event. Also this year, as a fundraiser for the Christmas parade, the DJDC will sell $1 holiday window decals. The decals will soon be available at a number of businesses throughout Jamestown. Additional holiday celebration events will include the Jamestown YWCA MistleToe Mart, a Christmas Parade Pre-Show, Christmas Tree Give-A-Way, Free Downtown Parking in December, Toys for Tots, Santa's Family Workshop, various holiday productions at the Reg Lenna Civic Center, and a Christmas parade fundraiser. The DJDC will also put on a free Christmas movie on Dec. 6. This year, the movie will be Babes in Toyland or March of the Wooden Soldiers. The location for this year's movie has not yet been determined, though DJDC officials are searching for a venue somewhat larger than last year's. For more infromation on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com