December 6 Saturday

December 12, 13 & 14 Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Our downtown really SHINES this time of year with businesses bedecked in glowing lights and cheerful displays, offering special one-of-a-kind gifts and stress free shopping days.

Main Street Holidays encompasses the first two weekends in December. There will be two night time parades – a boat parade and a street parade, presented by the Holiday Rotary Club and the West Pasco Chamber. The festival incorporates the annual “Light Up Downtown” contest, the downtown merchants “Shop ‘n Stroll”, Arts and Crafts Village, kid’s activities, carnival & midway, pony rides, boat and kayak tours on the Cotee River, and plenty of festive food, live music, and exhibits.

SATURDAY evening December 1 brings the much anticipated eighth annual RIVERLIGHTS BOAT PARADE! Enjoy the magic when thousands line the banks of the Pithlachascotee (Cotee River) to view the brightly lit and beautifully decorated boats in this wondrous night time parade. Sing along to your favorite holiday tunes with John and Dane from Downtown DJ’s.
Boaters spend the day decorating their boats with the most festive and outrageous creations to compete for awards and prizes! Observers line the banks of the Cotee River at Sim’s Park and can enjoy some light entertainment, hot cocoa & coffee to help keep them warm while they wait for the fabulous displays to cruise on by!

The following weekend come back downtown on Friday evening December 12th when you can enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride and tractor-pulled hay rides from the Historic District, around Orange Lake, past Sims Park and into the Palm District across the river. Be sure to stop in Sims Park later that evening for our annual Holiday Movie in the Park, along with festive food vendors and a magical carnival and midway. Saturday, December 13th continues the fun in Sims Park with a complete Christmas celebration including an Arts and Crafts Village, live music on the main stage, Boat and Kayak tours of the Cotee River, festive foods. Enjoy a full day of music and singing. Visit Holiday Card Lane around Orange Lake; enjoy pictures with Santa at the Chamber office from 4:30 – 6pm on Saturday. Stay for the 32nd Annual Downtown New Port Richey Holiday Parade, hosted by the Holiday Rotary Club and the West Pasco Chamber at 7pm, then come back into the park to a FREE concert with DIXIE HIGHWAY BAND featuring JOHN WAYNE WILKINSON. Be sure and visit the Carnival and midway all weekend as well!

Sunday morning have breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9 to 11 am in Sims Park; continue the fun with Arts and Craft Village, Boat and Kayak Tours on the River, kid’s activities, festive food, and live Holiday music on stage.

Don't forget the Downtown Shop N' Stroll happening December 13th with special hours & sales at many of our area merchant locations. There will be free gift wrapping available Friday and Saturday from 9 to 4 at the Life Point Church on River Road.

And let us make sure to remember our troops this Holiday Season. We will have a drop off for Operation Shoebox at Life Point Church. So bring comfort items to the Church to be shipped to our brave soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ADDMISSION IS FREE!!
SUGGESTED $2 DONATION ACCEPTED AT WELCOME CENTER


Event Applications...

River Lights Boat Parade Application
&
Information for boat Captains
T.E.A.M. Main Street
EVENT VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
Food Vendor Application

  MAIN STREET HOLIDAYS 2008

SATURDAY, December 6  and continuing FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY
December 12th ,13th & 14th, 2008

SATURDAY. December 6
SIMS PARK
9am – 2:30 pm       HOLIDAY JOY – enjoy entertainment put on by children from local area schools
10:30 am-2:30pm                   Pictures with Santa; Hayrides; children’s art Show from grades K-12
                                New Port Richey Parks and Rec Department & Cultural Affairs committee
                                For more information please call 727.841.4560

6:00pm                    8th annual River Lights Boat Parade
                                Beginning at the north end of the River at the Crab Shack Restaurant, the boats meander
                                down to the judging stands at the bridge on Main Street in Sims Park.
                                DOWNTOWN DJ’s Dane and John entertain the audience with holiday music and
                                descriptions of the boat participants.  

Immediately after the boat parade
                 GOTTA DANCE, dance troupe entertaining on stage
                Announcement of winners of the River Lights Boat parade

6:00- 9:00pm          Festival Food for sale by Boy Scout Troop #46
 
FRIDAY, December 12

6:00 pm – 9pm         Progress Energy Art Gallery  
                                 Holiday sale specials through December
6:00 pm – 9pm        *Holiday Shop ‘n Stroll – come and explore the downtown; shop, dine and discover that Perfect holiday gift for that special someone!   
Enjoy strolling musicians, horse & carriage rides, tractor pulled hay ride; lots of merchant specials with night hours till 9pm
6pm - 8:00 pm        Santa and Mrs. Claus available for photos at Halina’s Interiors, 5346 Main Street
                                Free gift for first 100 children; outdoor cartoons while you wait!
                                  
5:00 pm – 11pm     Carnival & midway at Sims Park

TWO SHOWINGS: Dark and again at 8:30 pm  Holiday movie in Sims Park 


 
SATURDAY, December 13

10 am -5pm            Arts & Crafts Village
                                River Boat Tours aboard Miss Daisy
                                Makai Kayak & Canoe rentals
                                Pony rides, children’s activities, festival food, commercial vendors
10am -11pm           Carnival and midway
11am – 1pm           Live music on stage
1 pm – 2pm            “The True Christmas Story” as told in music and singing, presented by Pastors for Pasco 
3pm                         Genesis School Play “An All-American Holiday Spectacular” with a visit by Santa at
                                the end of the play

 4:30 – 6pm            Photos with Santa at the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, 5443 Main Street
(continued)
 
4 pm -5:30pm         Gypsy Star Band performing live on the main Stage    

7pm                         31st annual Downtown New Port Richey Holiday Street Parade – special thanks to the Rotary Club of Holiday for organizing and coordinating the parade
Please check with the WP Chamber or the Rotary Club of Holiday for time of street closings, etc. Parade begins at 7pm from Gulf Drive north on Grand
Immediately after the Street Parade in SIMS PARK
LIVE CONCERT with DIXIE HIGHWAY BAND featuring JOHN WAYNE WILKINSON

 

SUNDAY
9 -11AM                BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AND MRS CLAUS
                                Breakfast served in Sims Park
                                Free gift for first 100 children
10 am -5pm            Arts & Crafts Village
                                River Boat Tours aboard Miss Daisy
                                Makai Kayak & Canoe rentals
                                Pony rides, children’s activities, festival food, commercial vendors
Noon – 9pm          Carnival and midway
1:00 – 5pm             LIVE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT on Main Stage   
Noon – 9pm          Carnival and Midway         

*Holiday Shop ‘n Stroll – Friday evening in the downtown – many merchants will have specials  


 
 

Our 2008 Sponsors...


Coastal Cadillac
Progress Energy
Great Western Inn
Pasco Blue Print | Waste Services of Florida | Thomas Home Inspection Services | Juan’s Black Bean Café

BAY CITY CABINETS | Gold’s GYM | Affordable Golf Carts | Road Runner Business Class | Port O Potty