This weekend is going to be special in downtown Akron, as the City kicks off its annual Winterblast celebration, Friday, November 28th.

Festivities run from 11am-11pm with a full day of ice skating. 

From 5-9pm, the Holiday Market opens up offering a great opportunity to support local artists while you get a jump start on your holiday shopping. Keep an eye out for Archie the Snowman, back from the North Pole and eager to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. 

Don’t miss the return of the O’Neil’s holiday displays featuring classics like the Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan. Then head over to Main St. at 6pm for the Welcome Santa Illuminated Parade (starting at Cedar and S. Main and making its way north down S. Main to W. Bowery). The parade will showcase vibrant floats, costumed characters and of course Santa himself! 

Immediately following the parade, the evening culminates with fireworks, and the lighting up of Lock 3.

This Winterblast kickoff marks the 1-year anniversary of the reopening of the city’s redesigned Lock 3 park. The Lock 3 corridor saw incredible turnout this year — over 175,000 attendees in total, with more than 100,000 joining for Lock 3–hosted events! Lock 3 has generated a $10 million direct economic impact through ticket sales, concessions, and local business spending and up to $25 million total economic impact when accounting for indirect effects such as job creation, and tourism. 

For a complete list of activities,pricing details, and operating hours, go to lock3live.com.