Celebrate Two St. Paul Traditions on One Night when Holiday Lights in the Park Hosts Winter Carnival Night on Dec. 17

Vehicles with a 2015 St. Paul Winter Carnival button receive a $5 discount toward admission to Holiday Lights in the Park at St. Paul’s Phalen Park

Saint Paul, MN (December 10, 2014) – The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) of Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Police Foundation are proud to announce today the first ever St. Paul Winter Carnival Night on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Holiday Lights in the Park at the city’s Phalen Park.

This collaboration bring two beloved St. Paul traditions together for an evening of celebrating the season and giving back to others. Vehicles displaying a 2015 Winter Carnival button will receive $5 off their admission to Holiday Lights in the Park.

The Winter Carnival Royal Family, the Royal Guards and Klondike Kate will be on hand during the early evening to meet and greet guests. This provides an opportune time for media outlets to promote both Holiday Lights and the Winter Carnival which runs from Jan, 22 to Feb. 1, 2015.

“We are extremely excited to welcome our guests from the Winter Carnival to Holiday Lights,” said Kate Kelly, executive director of the Saint Paul Police Foundation. “Like the Winter Carnival, Holiday Lights aims to bring the community together through festive events that build relationships between residents and give back to the greater community.”

Holiday Lights, held at St. Paul's Phalen Park, will illuminate the park nightly through New Year's Day. Visitors can 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 includes a special salute to the troops section, in tribute to military service members past and present.

This year's Holiday Lights in the Park will host several different theme nights, which will offer visitors special discounts. Theme nights include:

Saturday, December 20, – Minnesota Wild Night: All visitors with a ticket stub or proof of attendance via the Wild’s seat locator app from that evening’s Minnesota Wild game will receive a $5 discount on their Holiday Lights in the Park admission for any night the park is open.

Sunday, December 21 – St Paul Police and Families Appreciation Night: All active or retired SPPD will get free admission with a valid badge or ID.

Tuesday, December 30 – Light up Lake Phalen Neighborhood Night: Contest winners will be announced and prizes presented.

Holiday Lights in the Park was created to raise funds for local non-profit organizations, and for its seven year run it has donated its proceeds to groups including Second Harvest Heartland, Union Gospel Mission, Saint Paul Parks Conservancy, and the Saint Paul Police Foundation. To date, the holiday event has raised over $336,000 for charity.

About Holiday Lights:

Holiday Lights in the Park is a joint venture of the St. Paul Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the St. Paul Police Foundation 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 event will be distributed to Union Gospel Mission, the Saint Paul Police Foundation, and the Saint Paul Parks Conservancy. To date, Holiday Lights in the Park has raised more than $336,000 to support local non-profit organizations that support the residents of the Twin Cities. Holiday Lights in the Park is open nightly from November 25 - January 1, 2015 at St. Paul’s Phalen Park. For the cost of $10 per vehicle, 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. To purchase tickets you can visit our website: http://www.saintpaulpolicefoundation.com/, or for more information you can find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulpolicefoundation or follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StPaulPoliceFdn