By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

Goodyear Civic Square will be the center of holiday celebrations this season, with a series of community events scheduled at 1900 N. Civic Square all through December.

The festivities began at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, with a Holiday Marketplace. The event featured local artisans and vendors offering handcrafted goods for early holiday shopping.

Following the marketplace, the Rinq, Goodyear’s synthetic ice skating rink, will open from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, and will remain open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 29. Skating is free and so are the skate rentals. Each skating session lasts 30 minutes, and participants can sign up on-site without pre-registration.

The Holidays on the Square event will also kick off 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and will run on three consecutive Fridays: Dec. 6, 13, and 20. The event will feature different themes and performances each week:

• Dec. 6: A musical performance by musicians from Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers, a nonprofit organization that provides teens with opportunities to develop skills in music, dance, and other creative fields
• Dec. 13: A show by AZ Dueling Pianos, offering a mix of holiday music and popular tunes.
•  Dec. 20: A live performance of “Elf the Musical”, presented by the Creative Arts and Production Academy.

On Dec. 6, Holidays on the Square started with a sing-along with Santa and Mayor Joe Pizzillo and the goodyear city council and city manager lighting the Christmas tree on GSQ’s lawn.

“This is our third annual holiday tree lighting and it's just beautiful,” Pizzillo said. “It’s a great time to be in the city of goodyear. I am so proud of our progress.”

The attendees helped their Goodyear representatives light the tree with a countdown and cheers as the bulbs flickered on in a short lightshow.

The night continued with Mesa based pop rock band Wildflower Mind singing classic Christmas carols, fan favorite pop songs and celebrating the release of their own new holiday song, “New December.” The piece is a catchy up beat song about mourning a relationship during the, “most wonderful time of year.”

The events are free and open to the public, providing a range of activities for residents and visitors to enjoy during the holiday season. Goodyear Civic Square, which includes Goodyear City Hall, the Georgia T. Lord Public Library, and other municipal services, serves as the city’s civic and cultural center. GSQ has become an increasingly important gathering place for the growing population of Goodyear, as the city continues to develop its downtown area.

In addition to the seasonal events, Goodyear Civic Square features open green spaces, walkable areas, and is home to community events year-round. The city has plans for further development to transform the area into a mixed-use downtown district with more shops, restaurants, and entertainment options in the future.

Visit goodyearaz.gov for more information.