Christmas in the Park (San Jose)

Christmas in the Park is a winter event that takes place each year in downtown San José, California, roughly from the last week of November to January 1. During this time, more than five hundred Christmas trees decorated by local schools and other groups are displayed in Plaza de César Chávez Park, usually with more than 50 Christmas-related musical and animated exhibits,[1] a 55-foot high Community Giving Tree, and many souvenir and treats shops.[2]

Exhibit of Christmas trees
A display with downtown buildings in background

The event is attended by more than 700,000 visitors each year, and has been taking place in Plaza de César Chávez for more than 30 years. It is described as "San Jose's biggest production."[3] The event brings an estimated $13 million in visitor spending to the city.[4] It is free to the public, although donations to help offset its costs are suggested.[5]

Next to the park there is an ice rink and about a dozen rides for children during this time, which include a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and train ride.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Christmas in the Park pivoted to a drive-through event at San José's History Park, from November 27, 2020 - January 3, 2021, open from 4-10 PM, with advance tickets required. Over 160,000 new lights in the form of lighted tunnels, snowflake arches, pixel light forests and other displays have been added to the traditional displays and decorated trees.

History

The Christmas in the Park event traces its origin to the Nativity display built by Don Lima in the 1950s in front of his Lima Family Mortuary in Willow Glen. The exhibit attracted attention and he began adding more displays, and as they grew, there were more and more visitors.

In the 1970s, after the exhibits grew quite big he donated them to the City of San José. For a while they were set up on the lawn of where San José's original City Hall used to be, at the intersection of First and Mission Streets. The City of San José and a non-profit (Christmas in the Park Inc) worked together to put on this 2.5 acre holiday celebration.

The event was moved to Plaza de César Chávez in the early 1980s.[6]

In 2011 the City could no longer afford to manage or raise funds for the event and it was scheduled to be closed. The non-profit stood up and took over the event and have increased attendance each year since – reaching over 700,000 in 2017.

  • Community Giving Tree
  • Miniature train on display in the park
  • Ferris wheel ride
  • A view of the event
  • Santa exhibit
  • An exhibit of a historical costume shop

References
  1. "Sprucing up for Celebration: Christmas in the Park volunteers put final touches on displays". San Jose Mercury News. November 30, 1997. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  2. What is Christmas in the Park? Archived 2012-12-04 at the Wayback Machine Christmas in the Park website
  3. "S.J.'s Cherished Tradition: Christmas in the Park, a time to see through a child's eyes". San Jose Mercury News. December 24, 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  4. "Christmas in the Park Struggles: Rain, Low Turnout", NBC Bay Area, December 28, 2012
  5. Christmas in the Park FAQ Archived 2012-12-27 at the Wayback Machine
  6. History of Christmas in the Park Archived 2012-12-01 at the Wayback Machine
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