THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411150154
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
With the flick of a switch Saturday, Norfolk's skyline will glow with 10 miles of white holiday lights strung across at least 35 different buildings.
Yes, it's Grand Illumination time in the city.
The big flick happens at 6:30 p.m., after a countdown led by disc jockeys from local radio stations. The event signals the beginning of the holiday season for downtown merchants.
After the illumination, a lighted parade with 107 marching units will work its way through downtown to the tune of ``Here Comes Santa Claus.'' The parade will start on Waterside Drive and proceed onto Main Street, Bank Street, City Hall Avenue, Boush Street and end on Bute Street.
Included among the participants will be one of Norfolk's most infamous residents, Kris Kringle of Norview. Known during the Christmas season as Santa Claus, Kringle will be dressed in the jolly old elf's traditional garb of red velvet jacket, pants and hat, and black belt and boots.
His new float, commissioned by Be-Lo, will be decorated by nationally known designers and fabricators, Mike and Janet Bell.
Marching alongside Santa on the parade route, Norfolk mail carriers and students from the ``Wee Deliver'' program throughout the city will collect letters for Santa from children watching the festivities.
After the parade, Norfolk's home-grown Santa will be available to talk with children and listen to their Christmas wish list inside Waterside. He will continue to visit Waterside throughout the rest of the holiday season.
Also, the night of the parade, on the second floor of Waterside, the public is invited to sign 15 oversized cards that will go to units of deployed military men and women.
For those who don't want to brave the weather, the whole affair will be broadcast live by WTKR-TV (Channel 3) from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Grand Illumination and parade are sponsored by the Downtown Norfolk Council. by CNB