Chamber members throughout the community invite you and your family to join them for an old fashioned celebration of the holiday season, Christmas in the City.

Now entering its 23rd year, Christmas in the City has grown from a single event in downtown Austin to three major events and dozens of others throughout the holiday season.

More than 70 Chamber member businesses and organizations will participate in the major events — downtown Kickoff, Christmas in the NW and Christmas in the SW — while dozens more are featured individually in the 2011 Christmas in the City calendar of events.

The calendar, published and promoted by the Chamber, covers a series of holiday events and activities from the day after Thanksgiving through December.

Events begin in the area that started it all, downtown Austin, with the Christmas in the City Kickoff, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Children are invited to join Santa Claus, the Austinaires and a host of holiday characters for a Christmas parade followed by the holiday lighting ceremony. Sleigh rides, train rides, musical entertainment and, of course, free photos with Santa Claus will be provided throughout the evening. Holiday treats, prizes and in-store specials will be offered at 25 participating businesses. The Austin Jaycees will host a “Chili Challenge” during the Kickoff and the Paramount Theatre will feature the Jane Taylor Academy of Dance Christmas Show, following events downtown.

Retailers in the 18th Avenue NW area will celebrate Christmas in the NW, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29. Twenty-three stores will participate, this year. Activities include sleigh and train rides, visits with Santa, fishing with the Austin Bruins, holiday crafts and decorating, animal displays (including Santa’s reindeer in training), and more. Register for prizes throughout the area, and stop by Oak Park Mall at 7:45 p.m. for the holiday drawing.

Christmas in the SW features 25 businesses located along Oakland and First Avenue, near the Sterling Shopping Center, 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. Stores from Walgreens to Berg’s Nursery feature holiday decorating, sleigh rides, a petting zoo, visits with Santa, wine and cheese tasting, and more. Stop by Sterling State Bank for live performances by Austin’s Big Band and the Just for Kix Dancers, as well as Cornerstone Church for live music by Denny Charnecki, Amanda Corey and other local musicians.

Twenty-nine other holiday events are featured on the Christmas in the City calendar, including Christmas in the County, organized by the Mower County Historical Society, and the 13th annual Holiday Open House and Indoor Used Care Sale at Holiday Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep. A complete list of all events is posted on the Chamber’s website at www.austincoc.com.

Happy holidays to all, and thanks for supporting those who support our community, Chamber member businesses. Buy Mower, Grow Mower!