A big ‘THANK YOU’ to everyone who came out and joined us for HollyDazzle 2008 at Oyster Point in Newport News. What an incredible night for everyone!! If you missed it, the event was Friday, December 5th and this blog will give you a quick snapshot of what the evening was like!I was asked to emcee the event this year and it turned into one of the biggest events I have hosted in quite some time. Last year the head count was 15-thousand; this year, it’s estimated at well over 20-thousand. The Oyster Point area is one of the retail and restaurant hot spots in Newport News. Police blocked off streets and the center of Oyster Point was turned into a Holiday Wonderland. There was more food than you could possibly sample and the entertainment wasn’t just for the kids.

Hollydazzle was a free family event with activities and entertainment leading up to a spectacular “Fountains of Light Show” with fireworks and special effects and the lighting of the 45′ Tree on the Fountain Plaza. And that fireworks show truely was one of the best ‘holiday’ displays I have ever seen. Take a look at a few of the pictures below. The five acre fountain at the center of Oyster Point was turned into a stage after crews mounted a 15 minute fireworks show on giant ‘islands’ floating in the water. At 8:30pm sharp, I welcomed everyone back to the square and we got the big show underway. As I looked across the crowd it was so great to see so many people who had come out to enjoy the beginning of what is turning out to be an incredible holiday season. Working in the news business isn’t always easy, when day after day we have to bring viewers the news of tough economic times — but this Hollydazzle event was a night when everyone was able to put aside those worries, even if only for a few hours. Here are a few pictures of the night, including the fireworks show and the grand finale ‘tree lighting’.

Fireworks!Holiday Spidrit Even In the ArtMore Fireworks!

The Face of Fox 43 Kelly Gaita was at Hollydazzle doing an incredible job promoting the station and actually helped me emcee the event. One of the greatest things about Hollydazzle was that it was absolutely FREE! I spoke with on person who told me he thought Hollydazzle was the most underestimated event in Hampton Roads. And from the looks of things as I looked around, I’d have to agree.

The Hollydazzle Holiday Tree Lighting

Face of Fox Kelly Gaita

I you missed the event, watch for it next year. Word is they are already planning for a bigger and better Hollydazzle event next December. Come see me next time. And to all of you who joined me this year — a very special thank you and I hope all your Holiday adventures are a success. See ya around.

Eric