December 2, 2005

26th annual Christmas in the Park opens with the mayor’s tree lighting

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Fewer than 25 days are left until Christmas as you read this. One thing on the to-do list for many San Jose families is a visit to Christmas in the Park, which opened the day after Thanksgiving.

After their Downtown Ice performance, skaters from American Ice Theater gathered to escort the crowd to the opening of Christmas in the Park across the street.

“We’re in the 26th year of celebrating our own winter wonderland,” said Mayor Ron Gonzales to the numerous families who attended the annual tree lighting and opening. “Christmas in the Park is a strong San Jose tradition and for families, a valuable celebration of the holiday season and it gives us the opportunity to help other children.”

The Christmas in the Park tradition began in 1950 as a small holiday display in front of Lima’s Mortuary on Willow Street in San Jose. The animated characters drew more spectators and grew in size every year. In 1970, Don Lima donated his displays to the city of San Jose, where for several years the holiday animation was set up at City Hall.

In the early 1980s, a group of community leaders requested that the city move the display to the downtown park now known as Plaza de Cesar Chavez. And Christmas in the Park was born.

Each year, the 2-acre park is transformed into a holiday fantasy with over a half million visitors enjoying the 60 displays and hundreds of trees decorated by schools, businesses, scout troupes and nonprofits.

The snow machine was fun for kids of all ages.

Some of the original displays are still housed in the Lima Train—including a melting snowman, caroling mice and elf woodcrafters. But there’s much more to see: a Victorian village, a 25-foot growing Christmas tree surrounded by the animated Nutcracker Suite exhibit and of course, Santa’s house. And don’t forget the snow-blowing machine for kids of all ages.

And though Christmas in the Park is nostalgic it has entered the 21st century. Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez said that with PG&E’s $50,000 donation there are energy-efficient lights throughout the park. And there are a lot of lights.

“I had no idea you had so much going on in San Jose,” said Sonoma resident Brett Newman staying at the Fairmont with his wife Jeanette and son Ky. “We just came down for the weekend on a lark and found all this—it’s wonderful.”

Newlyweds Ron and Marilyn Kruger of San Diego came to Christmas in the Park with family they were visiting in San Jose.

“This is really great,” said Ron. “It’s like a small town feel in a big city. We’re thinking of moving here.”

But it wasn’t all families having fun. There was business to attend to as the park needed to be officially opened for the Christmas season. So NBC Channel 11 meteorologist John Farley asked Mayor Gonzales if he would turn on the lights of the large tree. “No!” the mayor jokingly replied as he flipped a switch and officially opening this year’s Christmas in the Park.

Christmas in the Park is open until Jan. 1, 2006 from 9 a.m. to midnight at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park between San Carlos and San Fernando streets. For more information on this free event, call (408) 995-6635 or log on to www.christmasinthepark.com.

“Welcome to our own winter wonderland,” announced Mayor Ron Gonzales at the official opening of Christmas in the Park, with the board of directors and volunteers in the background.	The gingerbread house is one of the favorite displays. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis