Military Families to be Honored at 2013 IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park at St. Paul's Phalen Park

All Cars with a valid Military ID will be given free admission on Dec. 3 to the Twin Cities’ largest nightly holiday celebration

ST. PAUL, MINN. – November 11, 2013 –Military families are invited to visit IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park free of charge on Tuesday, December 3, as organizers honor those who have served our country. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and King of Kings Lutheran Church of Woodbury are proud to be communications partners with the Minnesota Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the Minnesota American Legion to get the word out that admission is free to all military and veteran families.

This year’s event is special as it features, for the first time, a salute to the troops section. “We are proud to open our event for free to those men and women and their families who have given of themselves to defend and honor this country,” said Vicki Sandberg, co-chair of Holiday Lights in the Park. “While we can never truly pay back our military members in full for their service, sacrifice and dedication, we want them to know how much their work is appreciated.”

All military families that arrive with a valid military ID at the park entrance will be allowed to explore the numerous holiday displays in the largest nightly Holiday celebration in the Twin Cities for free.

For six years running, Holiday Lights in the Park has been produced to raise money for local charities. St. Paul’s Phalen Park will be illuminated nightly from Nov. 26, 2013 through New Year’s Day. Visitors will experience a program of more than 60 larger-than-life holiday light sculptures and animated displays from the comfort of their vehicles as they cruise through the park in the evening hours.

The display was developed with the sole purpose of creating a fun and affordable holiday event that raises funds to help meet basic life needs of children and adults in the Twin Cities metro area. All of the net proceeds from the Holiday Lights event will be distributed to local nonprofit organizations including Second Harvest Heartland, Union Gospel Mission, Saint Paul Parks Conservancy, Saint Paul Police Foundation, and UnderConstruction. To date, $250,000 has been generated to support these organizations.

The 2013 light show is a one-of-a-kind must see Twin Cities holiday experience. Holiday Lights is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and is run by volunteers from both IBEW and King of Kings Lutheran Church of Woodbury. Admission is $8.00 per car Sunday – Thursday and $10 per car on Friday, Saturday and Holidays.

“This year’s display will be our best one yet,” said Sandberg. “It is extremely important to us that all military families get the chance to see this tribute and to enjoy one of the only nightly holiday events in the area.”

2013 IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park Military Appreciation Night:

• When: Tuesday, December 3, from 5:30p.m -10p.m.

• Where: Phalen Park- 1615 Phalen Drive East, St. Paul, MN.

About Holiday Lights:

IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park was developed in association with King of Kings Lutheran Church of Woodbury with the sole purpose of creating fun and affordable holiday events that raise funds to help meet basic life needs for children and adults in the Twin Cities metro area. All of the net proceeds of the CD and Holiday Lights events will be distributed to Second Harvest Heartland, Union Gospel Mission, Saint Paul Parks Conservancy, St. Paul Police Foundation, and UnderConstruction. The Holiday Lights project involves two unique holiday experiences in 2013: The IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park Light Tour at Phalen Park in St. Paul which is open nightly from November 26-January 1, 2014; and “Holiday Lights LIVE!” concert event on Sunday, December 8 at the Historic Pantages Theatre. For more information please visit our website: http://www.lightsinthepark.org, find us on Facebook: facebook.com/HolidayLightsMN"or follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/HolidayLightsMN.