This is a celebration everyone on this forum should mark on the calendar and plan on attending. At the same time, make sure to visit the Braums Ice Rink in front of the Civic Center, the Myraid Gardens Lights sponsored by OG&E (by the way, if it works the same way it did the past few years, the Crystal Bridge will be free on Sunday evenings...and they have all sorts of decor and entertainment inside the Crystal Bridge on these nights), the Bricktown canal lights, etc. Downtown is always a fun time for the holidays. This year, the new Oklahoma River celebration will only add to that.
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"Boat lights to highlight river events


By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

Boating enthusiasts are invited to join what promoters of the Oklahoma River hope will be a new holiday tradition.
The seven-mile waterway, one of Oklahoma City's Metropolitan Area Projects, is scheduled to open Dec. 11. Celebrations will include a free outdoor family festival, food, entertainment and fireworks shows.

Ron Norick, chairman of the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority, said he expects visitors will see a river illuminated by a fireworks show and boats adorned in holiday lights.

The night will be capped with "A Magical Nautical Night" holiday boat parade, which will include a contest for the most festive vessel. Boating enthusiasts are invited to participate in the competition.

"We invite everyone to celebrate completion of the entire MAPS vision," Norick said. "The redeveloped Oklahoma River with trails and parks on both shores unites all areas of the city by bringing leisure activity and water sports to downtown."

Boats will be judged in three classifications and three categories: 18- to 24-foot boats, 24-foot and above platform boats, and 24-foot and above cruiser classifications in corporate sponsored, nonprofit or private/individual categories.

Participants will decorate boats in Regatta Park, on the south shore of the Oklahoma River at Byers Avenue.

Entry forms for boats are available at www.okcevents. com or at Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., 210 Park Ave., Suite 230. "