KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The city of Knoxville isn't holding many of its traditional holiday events because of COVID-19, but you can still spend Christmas with the Griswolds.
The city and partner the Knox County Public Library system announced Monday the showing of two Christmas-related movies during the holiday season -- "Elf" will be screened on Friday, Nov. 20, and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" will be screened Friday, Dec. 4.
The 7 p.m. drive-in showings are free at Chilhowee Park off Magnolia Avenue. But you must register ahead of time at the library system's website here.
The holiday series is sponsored by Pilot Co.
The movies will be shown on a 40-by-22-foot screen.
Attendees will get a reserved space that includes an adjacent parking space for blankets and lawn chairs. You'll need an FM radio to hear the soundtrack.
Everyone will be expected to practice social distancing and wear a mask when they move around the grounds.
OTHER EVENTS PLANNED
Other city holiday plans include lighting downtown streets including the tree at Krutch Park Extension. The city will turn on downtown lights Monday, Nov. 23. Extra lights have been installed in various spots.
Also, Holidays on Ice kicks off Dec. 11 at the Civic Coliseum.
The city also is encouraging neighborhoods to decorate for the holidays -- and to show those decorations off.
The Office of Neighborhood Empowerment is touting the inaugural Knoxville’s Neighborhood Holiday Trails beginning Nov. 30.
Participating neighborhoods will be identified on a Neighborhood Holiday Trails map posted on the city’s website and shared through the Neighborhood Advisory email newsletter and social media.
To get on the map, the city advises to pick one or two streets or intersections that will be the center of the decorated area and to identify the highlights or landmarks of the neighborhood decor. The landmarks will be included in a scavenger hunt game available for residents to play as they visit decorated neighborhoods
Lastly, contact Eden Slater with Neighborhood Empowerment to register your neighborhood. You need to do it before Nov. 13 by emailing her at eslater@knoxvilletn.gov.
PREVIOUS STORY: Christmas in the City isn't going to be the same this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Celebration of Lights, Christmas at Chilhowee Park and the WIVK Christmas Parade will not be held this year due to the large crowds they typically see.
This news, while not unexpected, is sure to be a big lump of coal in many people's stockings. However, the city is taking an approach similar to the one it took for the Fourth of July to try and spread Christmas cheer as much as possible in a socially distant way.
“Even though celebrations won’t be the same as our normally planned events, our office is so excited about Christmas in the City this year,” said Judith Foltz, Director of the Office of Special Events.
For 2020, the city will be working to challenge Knoxville neighborhoods to put on even larger light and decoration shows this year for people to enjoy.
The city will be holding its first-ever Knoxville Neighborhood Holiday Trails. People wanting to participate should contact Eden Slater in the Office of Neighborhoods at eslater@knoxvilletn.gov to register by November 13.
The city will create a map of neighborhoods participating in the event for people who'd like to drive around and enjoy their festive work, and will also include a scavenger hunt game for people to play as they admire the lights.
“With COVID-19 very much present our community, we all have to look at different ways to celebrate the holidays with our neighbors,” Slater said. “We know decorating for the holidays is a spirited, sometimes competitive, seasonal pursuit, and we want to encourage neighborhoods to best themselves and help area residents enjoy the results in a safe way.”
Another new event this year will be special free drive-in showings of holiday movies at Chilhowee Park on November 20 and December 4. The city has not announced the movies yet.
Space will be limited to people who reserve a spot in advance.
Other holiday events have been modified. The ice skating rink in Market Square won't be set up this year. Instead, the city said it will be moving the Holidays on Ice event to the Knoxville Civic Coliseum where there is more room for people to spread out while skating.
Holidays on Ice will kick off Friday, December 11 and will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday with extended hours during Knox County Schools' winter break. The city said it will post the rink schedule soon.
Starting Monday, November 23, downtown Knoxville will be filled with lights, including the 42-foot Christmas tree in the Krutch Park Extension along Gay Street. Market Square will also have new peppermint-themed lighting displays with the help of the Downtown Knoxville Alliance.
"Downtown visitors should look out for Window Wonderland decorations and special holiday treats on the menus and shelves of businesses participating in the Peppermint Trail," the city said.