FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2008

MAYOR HASLAM AIMS TO INCREASE HOLIDAY BUSINESS WITH CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam today asked business leaders to add lighted trees to building rooftops as part of a plan to enhance civic pride and attract visitors to our city over the holiday season.

The mayor addressed business leaders during a Christmas in the City breakfast Tuesday morning at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Mayor Bill Haslam rallies business leaders to add lighted trees to Knoxville rooftops during a Christmas in the City breakfast at the Knoxville Convention Center on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The Christmas in the City campaign is intended to help make Knoxville a tourist destination during the holiday season.

Business leaders and property owners were encouraged to light up the rooftops on buildings downtown and along the city’s interstate corridors. The effort is designed to make Knoxville a holiday destination, increasing tourism and retail traffic.

“This is the most visible part of the Christmas in the City celebration,” said Mayor Haslam. “We want rooftops downtown and across the city adorned with a forest of brightly lit Christmas trees. We want to develop this to the point that it becomes a tourist destination, so that folks from all over want to come and see this.”

The idea for the holiday rooftop display was initiated in 1995. Sue Clancy, special events director at that time, spoke at the gathering today. “We started with a dozen trees that first year,” Clancy said. “And even that made a terrific statement. It was designed to promote enthusiasm for all our Christmas in the City events, and it has done just that.” Clancy issued a challenge to create a record-setting forest of lighted trees atop Knoxville rooftops this season.

The city of Knoxville special events office recognized the companies already participating in the project and offered attendees information on purchasing trees of their own.

“Though the display has grown to nearly 390 trees atop more than 50 local businesses, there are still many empty rooftops,” said Mickey Mallonee, the city’s director of special events. “We would like to double the number of trees by ‘lights on,’ which will be November 28 at 6:15 p.m. This is about more than lighting up our rooftops. It is about lighting up holiday business in Knoxville.”

For information on adding a rooftop tree to your business, call the city of Knoxville special events office at 215-4248.

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