Akron’s holiday festivities are going downhill.The city is adding a 150-foot-long sledding hill to its holiday offerings at downtown’s Lock 3 this year.The wooden frame for the hill, which is being dubbed “Reindeer Run,” has been built, but a special polymer coating will be installed on top of the frame this weekend. Children and adults will be able to slide down the hill on toboggans or tubes that can be rented for $3 each.The city wanted to add a fun activity that would appeal to younger children who might only want to ice skate for 15 to 20 minutes and then ask, “What do we do now?” Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth said.The hill, which has three lanes — two for toboggans and one for tubes — that follow Lock 3’s grassy slope is targeted to children under 12. Children younger than 5 must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling.“It’s not the kind of hill a 17-year-old would prefer,” Lieberth said. “We wanted something so 6- to 12-year-olds could really have a fun ride and be safe.”The sledding hill is the biggest new attraction for the city’s holiday lineup this year. Many of the other popular attractions are returning, including the ice rink, holiday market and several special events that will begin with a lighting ceremony and parade during Thanksgiving weekend.Akron’s holiday activities were again helped by donations of money, services and materials by local companies that totaled about $91,000. This included a $15,000 contribution by FirstMerit Bank. “With the difficult economy, families still need the wholesome winter-time fun we have sponsored since 2004,” Mayor Don Plusquellic said in a news release. “We’re pleased that so many local businesses and foundations have joined us again to bring Greater Akron the holiday entertainment Lock 3 has become famous for.”The city will chip in about $30,000 for marketing, down from an investment of about $100,000 before 2009 when the recession hit home and the holiday events were among the activities that were scaled back. Concession sales and rentals will help cover the city’s expenses, Lieberth said.The sledding hill will cost about $9,000, but will be reusable. The city may put the hill, which can be used under any weather conditions, at a park during warmer weather, Lieberth said.“We wanted a surface we could count on when we didn’t have snow,” he said.Adults may accompany children on the sleds. Only toboggans and tubes provided by Lock 3 may be used. Sleds will be rented for $3 for 30 minutes and the number of sleds available each half hour will be limited.The hill will be open weekend evenings starting the Nov. 18 weekend until 9 p.m. when the ice rink is attended and weekend afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m.Other plans include:• Ice skating: The rink — the largest in Ohio at 10,000 square feet — will be open from Nov. 18 through January. It will be staffed with city recreation employees Thursdays through Sundays. Hours vary. At other times during daylight, skaters may use the rink at their own risk. Admission is free; skate rental is $3, with free, strapless skates available for toddlers. Preschool-age skaters must be accompanied by an adult. • Tree lighting: 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at Lock 3. It will include a fireworks display, paid for by the Downtown Akron Partnership, and a performance by Civic Theatre artists Helen Welch and Ryan Humbert. Skater Zachariah Szabo will perform a skating demonstration. Akron’s Thirsty Dog Brewery will tap the first keg of its 12 Dog Days of Christmas ale.• Welcome Santa Parade: 11 a.m. Nov. 26 on Main Street, featuring more than 100 units.• Winter Farmer’s Market: Dec. 10 and 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday in the basement of the former O’Neil’s building.• A “Three Dog Weekend”: Dec. 19 and 20. Will include appearances by Scooby Doo and demonstrations by Shannon Miller’s sled dogs and the Akron Police Department’s K-9 unit.For more information about Akron’s holiday plans, go to www.lock3live.com, call 330-375-2877 or email lock3@ci.akron.oh.us.Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.