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Volume 8, Issue 12 December 2012 |
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Greetings!
Between the incredible weather and all of Jefferson City's annual Holiday traditions, this is shaping up to be quite a fabulous month. Jefferson City is a swell place to celebrate Christmas! Happy Holidays to You and Yours,
Ryan Winkler-Burns |
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Upcoming Meetings
December 4
Discover Jefferson City
December 7
Jefferson City Outdoors
December 11
Hotel/Motel Council
December 12
Diplomat Meeting
December 19
Athletic Events Committee |
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It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
With weather in the 60s and 70s it's hard to believe December is upon us and therefore so is Christmas. One need look no further than our incredible Downtown skyline to see signs of the holiday season on every corner. The lightpoles are adorned with beautifully crafted & decorated planters from River City Florist, all around the Capitol red bows sit atop the light posts, and the downtown businesses shimmer with the radiance of thousands of twinkling lights. Downtown Jefferson City's annual Christmas events are traditions guaranteed to put you in the spirit and can be enjoyed by kids from one to 92. Here are three (free) events you won't want to miss:
**THIS WEEKEND**
Friday 11/30 6:00-9:00pm --- LIVING WINDOWS --- A Jefferson City tradition for almost 20 years, Living Windows takes place downtown. Storefronts and windows come alive with dancers, singers, religious and holiday themes. Hayrides wind their way through the streets and Santa Claus makes his yearly visit to Hawthorn Bank. More than 50 groups are participating this year and will fill the windows along High Street from Jefferson to Adams with three blocks of entertainment. For more details go here.
Friday 11/30 6:30-9:30pm & Saturday 12/1 2:00-4:00pm -- CANDLELIGHT TOURS --- Each holiday season the Governor's Mansion is beautifully decorated and during this annual special event Governor Nixon and his wife, Georganne, will light up the 25-foot tall outdoor Christmas Tree at 6pm on Friday night and personally greet all who come to tour the Mansion. The Governor's Mansion is always a sight to behold in its nighttime elegance, but never more than when decorated for the holiday season.
Saturday 12/1 4:30pm --- JEFFERSON CITY CHRISTMAS PARADE --- Join Jefferson City in celebrating the holiday season with this year's Rock n' Roll Christmas parade, sponsored by the Jefferson City Jaycees. See dozens of floats decorated in holiday themes, bands playing Christmas carols and more. |
Diane Gillespie named CVB Executive Director
The Jefferson City Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to welcome Diane Gillespie as the new Executive Director.
Diane Gillespie, a native of Springfield who has lived in Jefferson City with her family for the past 14 years, has an incredibly solid CVB background with nearly 20 years of experience working for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. Serving first as the Director of Sales and most recently as Senior Sales Manager responsible for the Jefferson City market, Gillespie has cultivated relationships with local hoteliers and others within the community. A member of the Missouri Hotel and Lodging Association, Missouri Travel Council and the Missouri Association of Executives, she also belongs to the Jefferson City Public School PTA and is a member of the Jefferson City High School Jay Band Booster club. In the past, Gillespie also worked as the Director of Sales for the Springfield University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center and as the Operations Manager for Kirkwood Hospitality in Branson.
"The Board of Directors worked diligently to select the next Executive Director for the Jefferson City Convention & Visitors Bureau," said CVB Board President Kevin Zumwalt. "We strongly believe that the skills and background Diane Gillespie brings to the table will ensure the CVB is in good hands and we are confident she will enable the CVB to continue to enhance the experience tourists have when visiting our city."
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MSP Serves as Backdrop for Suspense-Thriller
The Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) is no stranger to the flash of cameras or film crews. Photographers aspiring to catch the perfect shot of the eerie facade come through regularly; the prison was recently featured in an episode of the hit television show Ghost Hunters and last spring, C-SPAN highlighted MSP in its visit to Jefferson City. This week, the historical site has served as the backdrop to a new type of production: a fictional suspense-thriller from Los Angeles-based Picture Palace Films, directed by Andrew P. Jones.
Andrew P. Jones is a Director/Producer/Writer who aspired to direct films ever since he was a small child. When searching for the perfect place to shoot his new project Apparitional, Jones browsed several online film location
 | | Photo Courtesy Julie Smith - Jefferson City News Tribune |
sites and came up with three promising locations.
"We looked into every old, closed prison in the country," Jones said. "MSP not only had the esthetics I wanted for the movie, but the level of cooperation we've received from the CVB and the community in general has been extraordinary."
In addition to filming at MSP, Apparitional will film at multiple locations throughout the Jefferson City area. Film students from the region have been recruited to work on-set and several Jefferson City locals will play roles in the film. The cast and crew will spend 2-3 weeks in Jefferson City and are planning a wrap-up celebration when work is complete.
"We have had so much fun working with Picture Palace Films on this project," said Jefferson City CVB Sports/Film Sales Manager Chris Wilson. "In the short term, this will bring spending into our local hotels and restaurants via the cast and crew. In the long term, this movie could bring even more national exposure to the Missouri State Penitentiary and increase awareness of what an incredibly unique attraction we have right here in Jefferson City."
The Jefferson City News Tribune ran a story about the movie project on its front page as well. To read the story go here.
To learn more about Picture Palace Films, visit www.PicturePalaceFilms.com. Stay tuned to the Jefferson City Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/VisitJeffersonCity) and website (www.VisitJeffersonCity.com) for future information on the Apparitional release date. |
** Landowners Needed**
In an effort to bring future, on-foot adventure races to the Jefferson City area, we are in search of a landowner with 350+ continuous acres of open farmland, preferably with a hilly terrain, who would be willing to partner with the CVB and event promoters. If you are interested, please contact Chris Wilson at (573)632-2820 or chris@visitjeffersoncity.com. |
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2012 Cross Country Championships
The Jefferson City Convention & Visitors Bureau would like to give a big shout out to the community groups and volunteers who made this year's Cross Country Championships such a huge success. The event had a great turnout and participants and spectators enjoyed gorgeous Fall weather.
Thank you Jefferson City Parks & Recreation for everything you do!
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December Events
Habitat "A Home for the Holidays" Christmas Choir Event
December 2
Time: 3:00-4:30pm
Location: 1st United Methodist Church, 201 Monroe St.
Description: Come enjoy the 2nd annual choir concert which will feature beautiful holiday music from area choirs in honor of Habitat's 80th Local Build. Event sponsored by the Home Builder's Association of Central Missouri.
Contact Information: Kelly Smith (573) 635-8439,
Cost: Free, free-will offering taken during the concert.
A Christmas Tea at Capital Arts Gallery
December 2
Time: 1 pm - 4 pm Location: Capital Arts Gallery, 1203 Missouri Blvd. Description: Holiday entertainment featuring B.J. Davis. Teas and delicious holiday delights will be served. Tea reservations required. Contact Information: (573) 635-8355, artsadmin@capitalarts.org Cost: $15 for adults - Tea reservations required. $1 per child for Christmas crafts and ornaments in Imagination Station. A Cantorum ChristmasDecember 8
Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Location: Miller Performing Arts Center Description: The Jefferson City Cantorum will present its 2012 Christmas Program at 7pm on Saturday, December 8th at the Miller Performing Arts Center. Join us and hear a wonderful mixture of Christmas and holiday tunes. For more information on obtaining tickets, visit our new website: www.JeffersonCityCantorum.com. You can also download a poster to share with co-workers and friends. Contact Information: www.JeffersonCityCantorum.com, (573) 230-2715 Cost: $10 adults, $8 senior citizens (65+), $5 students (18 and under) and a family ticket for $25 (3-5 people). Tickets are $1 more at the door. Also get tickets from Cantorum members or from these sponsors: Samuels Tuxedos, Hawthorn Bank East or Central Bank West.
75th Annual Capitol Caroling
December 11
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Missouri State Capitol Rotunda
Description: Few traditions are as joyous as the Jefferson City Public Schools Capitol Caroling event held each year at the Missouri Capitol Rotunda. This year marks the 74th annual presentation of Capitol Caroling in the Missouri State Capitol Rotunda by the Fine Arts departments at Jefferson City High School and Simonsen 9th Grade Center. Performances will include traditional holiday numbers and special selections. Seating in the rotunda is limited. Everyone attending should enter and exit through the south carriage doors only. The program will include performances by the Jefferson City High School Symphonic Band; High School Orchestra; Chorale; Simonsen Choirs and the JCHS Concert Choir. Media broadcasts of Capitol Caroling will be provided at a later date. This is a fragrance free event.
Contact Information: (573) 632-2820
Cost: Free
Annual Holiday Open House "Holidays for the Birds" at Runge Nature Center
December 27, 28 and 29
Time: December 27 10am-3pm/5pm-7pm, December 28 10am-3pm, December 29 10am-3pm
Location: Runge Conservation Nature Center, 330 Commerce Drive
Description: Mark your calendar for our annual open house event. This year it is Holidays for the Birds. Visit Runge during the December holidays for special bird activities inside and outside. There will be games, stories, refreshments, music, walks, special guests and more. It's tradition!
Contact Information: Call Kathy Cavender or Robin Grumm at (573) 526-5544
Cost: Free |
Tell us about it...
Are you submitting your events for inclusion in the CVB's Calendar of Events? The Calendar of Events is one of the most popular pages on the website! To enter an event, click here.
This is a completely free service the CVB offers, so get out there and enter in your information! Submissions are not guaranteed. Call Ryan at 573-632-2820 with questions. |
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Monthly Statistics
Marketing Report
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Visitor Requests |
November |
1,633 | |
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YTD |
13,788 | |
Website Unique Visitors |
November |
6,579 | |
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YTD |
79,529 | |
Website Visitors (Total) |
November |
7,955 | |
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YTD |
97,480 |
Diplomat Volunteer Hours
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Volunteer Hours |
November |
16.5 | |
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YTD |
430 |
STR (Smith Travel Research) Report
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October 2012 |
% Change 2011 | |
Occupancy |
59.3% |
7.2% | |
Room Rate |
$71.57 |
3.7% | |
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Year-to-Date |
% Change 2011 | |
Occupancy |
51.9% |
2.8% | |
Room Rate |
$67.73 |
-0.9% |
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Thank you for your interest in Jefferson City. We look forward to sharing more about our wonderful community in the future. Feel free to contact the Bureau with any questions you may have! | |
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