The city's Rail District Advisory Board will consider a special event grant for the fourth annual Main Street Tree Lighting when it meets at noon Monday, Nov. 2, at the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center.
The request comes from Frisco Old Town Community. Its application describes a free event on Saturday, Nov. 28, from 3 to 6 p.m. on the lawn of Randy's Steakhouse at the corner of Main and Fifth streets, with the tree lit at 5:45 p.m.
Organizers list live music, tree decorating, ornament-making crafts and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with a chance for downtown businesses to promote themselves. The application pitches the evening as a kickoff to the holiday season and a boost for Small Business Saturday.
The group expects no revenue from the event. Its budget worksheet lists $3,000 in costs, including $700 for the tree, ornaments and snacks, $950 for entertainment and $990 for advertising, and shows $1,500 under sponsorships from the Rail District Advisory Board. Under the city's process, the board can recommend approving the request up to the amount sought, subject to available money, or recommend denial.
The application sets an attendance goal of 250 people, counted at least every 30 minutes, and aims for 10 participating businesses. Organizers also plan a survey asking how the event went over and what other events people would like to see downtown.
Also on the agenda
Board members are scheduled to review the grant application process for special events, follow up on the Boxcar Shuttle program and approve their annual report to the City Council.
The draft report says the board spent the past year advising on how to keep the new 4th Street Plaza busy through the year with Parks and Recreation, and handling grant requests from groups including Melody of Hope, the Frisco Rotary Club, Frisco Old Town Community's tree lighting, Field Day and scarecrow program, the Heritage Board's 125th anniversary book and the KTCHN28 Art Moment Festival.
