Media Release

                         Friday, Dec 4, 2009

                      ______________________________

        Holiday at the Hall festival arrives Saturday in Lewisville

The seventh annual Holiday at the Hall festival will be held this Saturday, Dec. 5, in Old Town Lewisville, featuring a wide range of free family events from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m.

This year’s festival schedule of events will include Breakfast with Santa, Motorcycle Toy Run, Sam Pack’s Ford Country of Lewisville Christmas Parade and the Polar Ice Village.

Since its inception, this award-winning festival has grown into a fascinating winter wonderland of holiday ambiance and spirit of the season.

More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the celebration, which was named best special event in the country by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association in 2004.

The Polar Ice Village features some of the nation's top ice sculpture artists competing in a live competition to transform towers of ice blocks into amazing 12-foot-tall art sculptures made of solid ice. The competition, sanctioned by the National Ice Carving Association, is the only one of its kind in the southwest.

Festival activities will include two festival stages of live entertainment, strolling artists, visits with Santa Claus, and shopping in the Artists Alcove Holiday Market for hand-crafted items and specialized gifts.

“I hope everyone is able to join us in Old Town Lewisville for this year’s festival and kick off the holiday season with a great family event,” said Mayor Dean Ueckert.

Saturday’s slate of events and activities will begin with the popular Breakfast with Santa from 7 to 11 a.m., as the Kiwanis Club will prepare a holiday feast of pancakes and sausage. Breakfast with Santa activities will engage children in caroling and holiday art projects.

The 11th annual Motorcycle Toy Run will bring hundreds of bikers downtown to spread the holiday spirit by collecting toys for local charities. Riders will depart from Old Town at noon. For information, please call 972.219.3560.  Participants are asked to donate a new unwrapped toy as their entry fee. The toys will be collected and distributed to Child Protective Services of Denton County, Christian Community Action and Friends of the Family.

Live entertainment will begin at 10 a.m., with two stages presenting local and regional acts while strolling performers add to the festive scene with an abundance of festival food, arts and crafts and specialty booths on display. Free carriage rides also will be available.

At 10:30 a.m., the Polar Ice Carving Village opens to the public. Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite ice artist in the collection of ice-sculpting displays while enjoying a sight rarely found in the Sun Belt – towering works of carved ice lining the street.

The popular Tailwaggers Ranch will make its return to the event. Pet contests, agility rally, cake walk and other activities are slated for 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Nearly 20 animal rescue groups will be at the event.

A pet parade will start at 1:30 p.m., which includes a pet costume contest.

The first 100 people registering for the event will receive a free t-shirt.

The 2009 Sam Pack’s Ford Country Christmas Parade will go through the heart of Old Town Lewisville, beginning at the intersection of Cowan and Main streets at 3 p.m. and heading east on Main and then south on Mill before ending at Delay Middle School. Participants will assemble that morning on Cowan Street between Main and Purnell, with a festive atmosphere of music and fun. Past parade entries have included local favorites such as Lewisville High School band and drill team, local dance and martial arts academies, businesses, civic organizations, school groups, Scouts, equestrians, decorated vehicles, parade floats and more.

Trophies will be awarded during the Old Town Lights event later that day in three categories: Babes in Toyland, Santa’s Sleigh, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Elves Workshop. After the parade, Santa Claus will meet with children in the Wayne Ferguson Plaza at Poydras and Main. Photo buttons will be available for children to commemorate their visit.

At 5:45 p.m., Mayor Dean Ueckert and Santa Claus will join forces for Holiday Lights! Old Town Lighting ceremony, flipping the switch to turn on the city’s Christmas tree and thousands of lights in Old Town Lewisville.

At 8 p.m., the Greater Lewisville Community Theatre, located on the south side of Main Street, will present “A Tuna Christmas.” Tickets are available by calling the Greater Lewisville Community Theater, 972.221.7469.

Holiday at the Hall is being sponsored by the City of Lewisville and the Lewisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sam Pack’s Ford Country of Lewisville, Vista Ridge Village Shopping Center and Waste Management.

Free park and ride shuttles, including a shuttle for those with pets, will be running from Vista Ridge Village Shopping Center, FM 3040 and MacArthur, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For event information, call 972.219.3401 or visit www.cityoflewisville.com or www.visitlewisville.com.

Media contact: Marketing and Tourism Manager Jennifer Galante, 972.219.3710

  Teen Role Playing and Teen Writers Workshop at the Library in December

The Lewisville Public Library, 1197 W. Main, hosts Teen Role Playing sessions every Monday of the month. Those in attendance can lose themselves in another world on Dec. 21 playing “Warlords of Aros” and Dec. 14 and Dec.

28 with “Dungeons and Dragons.” Sessions run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Teen Point on the second floor for teens age 12-18.

On Thursday, Dec. 17, the library’s Teen Writers Workshop will be held.

Those attending should provide an idea book to brainstorm writing ideas.

The club meets the third Thursday of each month at Lewisville Public Library’s Teen Point (second floor of the library) at 6:30 p.m.

Media contact: Youth Services Supervisor Pat Peters, 972.219.3691

                 LLELA Homestead Christmas set for Dec. 12

Visitors to Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) will host a Homestead Christmas from on Saturday, Dec. 12, from noon to 3 p.m. Those attending will be able to enjoy a tour of the historic Minor-Porter Log House, help trim an edible tree for wildlife, make an ornament to take, enjoy seasonal music and snacks and more.

Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to guide visitors through the structures. Visitors are welcome to arrive at any time during the open hours and join in at their own pace. There is no additional fee for this activity beyond regular admission to LLELA ($5/person; children age 5 years and under free).

A winter bird walk will be held the same day at 7:30 a.m. Bird watchers of all skill levels are welcome to join Keith Lockhart as he guides visitors to locations for viewing of wintering sparrows, ducks, and more. Some of the best birding spots are not normally available to the public, outside of a scheduled tour. Ages 10 and up. There is a $2 program fee for the bird walk, in addition to the regular gate fee ($5/person). Reservations are required; call 972.219.3930. Those attending should supply sunscreen, binoculars, a hat and drinking water.

The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area is 2,000-acre wilderness of prairies, forests and wetlands managed as a wildlife preserve by a group of agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the University of North Texas, the City of Lewisville, Lewisville ISD and Texas A & M University. Its mission is to preserve and restore native ecosystems and to provide and promote environmental education and scientific research.

LLELA is open to the public every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for fishing, hiking, camping, bird watching, kayaking/canoeing, picnicking and other outdoor activities. For information, visit www.ias.unt.edu/llela or call 972.219.3930.

Media contact: LLELA Publicist Lisa Cole, 972.219.3930

               Holiday Yard of the Month nominations sought

Keep Lewisville Beautiful is looking for Holiday Yard of the Month nominations. Nominees should be identified by address only.  The person’s name and phone number making the nomination is optional. All nominations must be in by Dec. 15.

Photos of each property will be displayed on www.keeplewisvillebeautiful.org by Dec. 23.

Keep Lewisville Beautiful recognizes one residence, one business and one apartment complex each month from April through October for “Yard of the Month.” The October resident Yard of the Month winner is the yard located at 522 Monty.  The October business Yard of the Month winner is The Villas at Waterchase, located at 165 N. Old Orchard Lane.

Media contact: KLB Executive Director Cora Lennert, 972.436.5100

                 Tree recycling available through January

Keep Lewisville Beautiful is encouraging everyone this year to recycle their live Christmas tree. Trees stripped of all decoration can be taken to the drop-off near the soccer field parking lot at Lake Park & Mill Street from Dec. 14-Jan. 14.

The trees will be chipped up to be used as mulch, which also saves landfill space.  Any mulch left on site is available to the public free of charge starting Dec. 29.

Media contact: KLB Executive Director Cora Lennert, 972.436.5100

                Lewisville Lake trout stocking dates slated

Texas Parks & Wildlife, in conjunction with the City of Lewisville and the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, will stock the Elm Fork of the Trinity River with more than 4,000 rainbow trout on four dates this winter as part of an ongoing program to boost the fish population and encourage recreational use of the river.

The state will release more than 3,700 fingerlings on three dates – Dec.

14, Jan. 12 and Feb. 23 – below the Lewisville Dam spillway into the river.

In addition, the city has arranged for 250 one-pound trout to be placed in the river on Dec. 8. The fish were raised at Crystal Lake Fisheries in Ava, Montana, and are being transported from the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center near Athens, Texas. Actual stocking dates are dependent on weather, so anglers should call the hatchery at 903.676.2277 to verify.

Anglers should note that LLELA is open Friday through Sunday during the winter, so access to the river will not be possible until the first Friday after each stocking date. (Dec. 11, Dec. 18, Jan. 15 and Feb. 26).

Trout anglers will need to purchase a $5 Freshwater Fishing Stamp for their valid Texas fishing license in order to catch the trout. Anglers under 17 years of age are not required to have a license or stamp. There is no minimum length limit for trout, but there is a daily bag limit of five.

Media contact: Parks and Leisure Services Director Bob Monaghan,

972.219.3552

               HUD-approved homebuyer course offered Dec. 12

The City of Lewisville’s First Time Homebuyer Assistance Program will hold a HUD-approved homebuyer education course Saturday, Dec. 12, from 8:30 a.m.

to 4:30 p.m. at Central Elementary School, 400 High School Drive.

Presenters include local professionals in the mortgage loan, real estate and homeowners insurance fields. The class is free, and lunch is provided.

Those completing the course receive a HUD Homebuyer Certificate.

Parents are asked to please not bring their children to the class. Advance registration is required by calling 972.219.3455.

The workshop is held quarterly by the City of Lewisville Grants Division.

Media contact: Grant Specialist Sheena Jackson, 972.219.3455

            Senior Center to recognize Pearl Harbor with event

Pearl Harbor will be remembered Monday, Dec. 7, at the Lewisville Senior Center. The center will host a breakfast at 9 a.m. that day, which is the last day to view the Wall of Veterans display. The wall shows photos of veterans, family members, friends and others who have served or are serving in the military.

The cost of the breakfast is $2. The center is at 1950 S. Valley Parkway, near Memorial Park. Call 972.219.5050.

Media contact: Senior Center Supervisor Teresa Milam, 972.219.5051

               “A Ceremony of Carols” on tap for Dec. 12-13

The Musical Feast Choral Society of Greater Lewisville will present Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols and Other Holiday Selections”

Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m., at The Episcopal of the Annunciation, 602 N. Old Orchard Lane.

Admission is $15 general, $12 student and seniors, $7 children, $30 family of four, $10 per person for groups of 10 or more. A reception will follow the concert.

Musical Feast Choral Society is one of six local groups receiving funding from the Greater Lewisville Arts Alliance through a City of Lewisville grant program designed to foster cultural and fine arts in the community.

For more information, please visit www.musicalfeast.org.

Media contact: Musical Feast Choral Society Publicity Chair Toby Rotman,

214.513.8971

                    DCTA “Ride for a Can” starts Dec. 7

The Denton County Transportation Authority is conducting its annual “Ride for a Can” drive on Commuter Express, Connect routes in Lewisville and Denton and Connect RSVP in Highland Village/North Lewisville. DCTA will be collecting canned goods in lieu of a fare Dec. 7-12.

Passengers can ride free by donating a non-perishable food item to benefit Christian Community Action in Lewisville and Friends of the Family in Denton. Holiday-wrapped boxes will be on every DCTA Connect bus to collect donations.

Media contact: Vice President, Communications and Planning Dee Leggett, 972.221.4600