Ahead of the holiday festivities, the City of Gainesville has unveiled the new chicken — or chickens — that will REPLACE WHAT YOU SEE HERE WITH WHAT YOU SEE BELOW and will be lit during the annual Jingle Mingle and Lighting of the Chicken event. The new lights display … a chicken “Santa” led by seven chick “reindeer” … replaces the familiar metal chicken that sat atop Main Street Market for many years.
“While Gainesville’s official kickoff to the holiday season may look a little different this year, City staff have been hard at work since summertime to ensure Jingle Mingle and the Lighting of the Chicken is even bigger and better than years past,” said Gainesville Public Relations Director Christina Santee-Moss.
With the change in Main Street Market ownership came the desire to carry out various building repairs and upgrades, which included the roof — where the original chicken sat. Now dismantled, the old chicken was also often in need of cosmetic enhancements, plus costly repairs to preserve its structural integrity.
“We want to thank past and present owners of Main Street Market for allowing us to keep the tradition of the Lighting of the Chicken alive and well all these years,” Santee-Moss said. “We’re looking forward to building on our beloved tradition by moving the chicken to a City building where we can access it as needed without inconveniencing our downtown small businesses.”
While the lighting will move to Roosevelt, the following activities will remain situated on the square: free photos with Santa, carriage rides, Christmas carolers, open houses and live music. Posada, a Hispanic tradition celebrating the Christmas story, will offer warm and inviting activities at Crossroads Plaza — the alleyway between Main and Bradford streets at the Gainesville North Parking Deck.
With the new chicken, the City will be able to dismantle the display after the New Year and store it indoors until the following holiday season – minimizing wear and tear, exposure to the elements and potential damage during severe storms.
“Additionally, it’s the City’s hope that relocating the chicken to Roosevelt Square will enable those in attendance a clearer, unobstructed view of the chicken and ability to better hear those speaking and performing during the lighting ceremony,” Santee-Moss said. “We’ve received feedback over the years that the trees and acoustics on the square make seeing and hearing the ceremony quite difficult. We’re hopeful this shift in location will improve that.”
Jingle Mingle and the Lighting of the Chicken is slated for 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, in and around the historic square in downtown Gainesville. The lighting, however, will be held in Roosevelt Square at the Gainesville Administration Building, located at 300 Henry Ward Way.
“Just look for the chickens – you can’t miss them!” Santee-Moss said.
Additional details about Jingle Mingle, as well as the Festival of Trees companion event, will be forthcoming.