Ninth Year for Hampton Roads’ Most Unique Holiday Event: Hollydazzle

Friday, November 30, 2012; 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
City Center at Oyster Point

NEW: Additional Satellite Parking at Todd Stadium

See here for a map showing parking areas, shuttle routes, and road closures

See here for the 2012 Hollydazzle Program including the event site map.

For live updates during the event, see: www.twitter.com/newportnewstour

Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism will present Hollydazzle, Hampton Roads’ most unique holiday event, on Friday, November, 30, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at City Center at Oyster Point. Hollydazzle is a free family event with activities and entertainment leading up to the spectacular BayPort Credit Union “Fountains of Light Show” at 8:45 p.m. with fireworks and special effects by Pyrotecnico and the lighting of the 45’ BayPort Credit Union Tree on the Fountain Plaza. New for 2012 is an additional satellite parking lot with free shuttles to/from the event from Todd Stadium (12465 Warwick Blvd.).

The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with free “make and take” holiday crafts and holiday entertainment at locations throughout City Center at Oyster Point. The Wells Fargo Children’s Area will include five “make and take crafts” (holiday ornaments, snowman gift bags, color your own holiday mugs, snowman necklaces), dance performances by the City Arts Dance Company and the Academy of Dance, and street performer Wacky Chad. The CSX Stage will feature musical performances by the Warwick Assembly of God Christmas Choir and the Harmonica Cats. Christopher Newport University A Capella Groups Expansion and the Newport Pearls will perform on the Fountain Stage. Strolling performers will include stilt walkers, a mime, and a juggler.

At 8:30 p.m., crowds will gather around the fountain for a helicopter fly-over by WAVY Chopper 10. The BayPort Credit Union “Fountains of Light Show” (at 8:45 p.m.) will be shot from floating islands within the fountain and the lower perimeter edge of the fountain.

This “one of a kind” show will combine fireworks, theatrical lighting, ground-based pyrotechnics, and special effects all choreographed to festive music. The show will transform City Center into a kaleidoscope of color reflecting on the fountains’ five-acre water surface. The finale of the BayPort Credit Union “Fountains of Light Show” is the illumination of the BayPort Credit Union Tree which combines the latest technology in LED light animation to create its own continuous “light show.” The tree fades from color to color, shimmers, chases lights, and creates unique patterned effects. The tree’s lights are synchronized with recorded holiday music and the “sights and sounds” of the tree can be enjoyed on the Fountain Plaza through January 1, 2013.

Food vendors will sell dinner items, snacks, and holiday treats (kettle corn, popcorn, hot chocolate, German roasted nuts, funnel cakes, hamburgers, turkey legs, hot dogs, corn dogs, seafood, and gyros) ($).  Some City Center at Oyster Point merchants and restaurants will offer special discounts or give-a-ways during Hollydazzle.

Admission to Hollydazzle is free. For more information call (757) 926-1400. For live updates during the event, see www.twitter.com/newportnewstour. The rain date for the Hollydazzle fireworks, if needed, will be at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1. For your pet’s safety, and the safety of the crowds of people attending the event, please leave your pets at home. Only service animals permitted on HRT shuttle buses. A designated viewing area for handicapped guests is available on the Fountain Plaza for the BayPort Credit Union “Fountains of Light Show” (see program map for location).

PARKING INFORMATION:
Free parking will be available at the City Center Merchants Walk Parking Garage, the Fountain Way Parking Garage, at a satellite lot at Canon Virginia, Inc. (free, continuous shuttle bus service provided to and from the event area from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., the last shuttle bus from the satellite parking lot leaves at 8:15 p.m.), and at Todd Stadium (free, continuous shuttle bus service provided to and from the event area from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. , the last shuttle bus from the satellite parking lot leaves at 8:15 p.m.). Attention: Private business parking lots in Oyster Point may enforce towing. Handicapped parking is available in designated spaces on the 3rd Floor of the Merchants Walk Parking Garage (enter from Thimble Shoals Blvd. onto Town Center Drive), at the Canon Virginia, Inc. Satellite Lot (shuttle buses are handicapped accessible), and at Todd Stadium Satellite Lot (shuttle buses are handicapped accessible). For live updates about the status of the parking areas during the event, see www.twitter.com/newportnewstour.

DIRECTIONS:
From I-64 Exit 256A – To Canon Satellite Parking: Exit onto Oyster Point Rd., turn left onto Canon Blvd., turn left on Old Oyster Point Rd., turn right into Canon Virginia, Inc. (satellite parking). The event site shuttle drop-off/pick up for the Canon Satellite Parking Lot is on the corner of Canon Blvd. and Town Center Dr.

From I-64 Exit 258A- To Todd Stadium Satellite Parking: Exit onto J. Clyde Morris Blvd., turn right onto Warwick Blvd., turn left into the Todd Stadium parking lot. The event site shuttle drop-off/pick up for the Todd Stadium Satellite Parking Lot is on Thimble Shoals Blvd. between the Fountain Way Parking Garage and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill.

From J. Clyde Morris Blvd. into the City Center Parking Garages: From J. Clyde Morris Blvd., turn onto Thimble Shoals Blvd, then right onto Fountain Way to access the Fountain Way Parking Garage;. or turn right onto Town Center Dr. and left on Merchant’s Walk to access the Merchant’s Walk Parking Garage (includes Handicapped Parking on the 3rd Floor).

NO PARKING INFORMATION:
NO PARKING from 8am Wednesday, November 28 to 10am Saturday, December 1:
1) Public parking lot off of Town Center Dr.

NO PARKING from 7pm Thursday, November 29 to 10am Saturday, December 1:
1) Town Center Dr. from Thimble Shoals Blvd. to Canon Blvd.
2) Merchants Walk from Thimble Shoals Blvd. to Lakefront Commons
3) Lakefront Commons from Merchants Walk to Canon Blvd.
4) Canon Blvd. from Lakefront Commons to Mariners Row
5) Canon Blvd. across from Town Center Dr.
6) Mariners Row from Canon Blvd. to Fountain Way
7) Sun Way from Thimble Shoals Blvd. to Mariners Row
8) Fountain Way from Thimble Shoals Blvd. to Town Center Dr.

NO PARKING from 8am Friday, November 30 to 12am Saturday, December 1:
1) Mariners Row from Merchants Walk to Fountain Way (Shopping District)
2) Thimble Shoals Blvd. at Sun Way to Merchant’s Walk

ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION:
ROAD CLOSURE from 8am Wednesday, November 28 to 10am Saturday, December 1:
1) The EDA surface parking lot off of Town Center Dr., across from Pearl Way

ROAD CLOSURE from 7pm Thursday, November 29 to 10am Saturday, December
1) Town Center Dr. from Pearl Way to the Merchant’s Walk Parking Garage Exit
2) Fountain Way from Mariners Row to Town Center Dr.

ROAD CLOSURE from 8am Friday, November 30 to 8am Saturday, December 1:
1) Town Center Dr. from Pearl Way to Canon
2) Town Center Dr. from Merchant’s Walk Garage Exit to Merchant’s Walk
3) Merchant’s Walk from Town Center Dr. to Mariners Row
4) Mariners Row from Merchant’s Walk to Sun Way
5) Fountain Way from Mariners Row to the Fountain Way Parking Garage Entrance

ROAD CLOSURE from 5pm to 10pm Friday, November 30:
1) Merchant’s Walk from Mariners Row to Thimble Shoals Blvd.
2) Omni Blvd. from Rock Landing Dr. to Canon Blvd.
3) Thimble Shoals Round-About- coming from Jefferson Avenue on Thimble Shoals Blvd. no left turns onto Town Center Dr., Merchants Walk, or Fountain Way
4) Canon Blvd. from Middle Ground Blvd. to Thimble Shoals Blvd.