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The city is about to unwrap its annual holiday season gift to downtown drivers.

The city parking program gives one free pass from Dec. 1 to 24 to each motorist who fails to feed a parking meter. Instead of the standard ticket, first-timers will find a holiday greeting on their windshields.

City Manager John Mezera, in a memo to city leaders, said the 35-year-old program is intended to attract shoppers to the downtown, which features the Rialto Square Theatre and other entertainment venues.

Mezera said Joliet lost $4,740 in downtown parking revenues during the 2005 shopping period.