Holiday Lights in the Park will Brighten the Holiday Season for Guests and Raise Money for those who Protect and Serve St. Paul

ST. PAUL, MINN. – September 23, 2015 – The Saint Paul Police Foundation announced today that Holiday Lights in the Park, the Midwest’s largest outdoor holiday light display will illuminate St. Paul’s Phalen Park for an eighth straight year. The lights are set to go on Tuesday, November 24 and brighten the season until January 1, 2016.

For 39 evenings Phalen Park will be lit up with a wide variety of holiday-themed displays. Visitors tour the displays in the warm confines of their vehicle. More than 20,000 cars have visited Holiday Lights in the Park in each of its seven previous seasons, making it the area’s largest nightly holiday celebration.

On top of treating visitors to some the best light displays around, the Saint Paul Police Foundation raises funds at the event to make the St. Paul area safer for citizens and law enforcement officials.

“An event like Holiday Lights in the Park provides us with an opportunity to step up and support the St. Paul Police Department with enhancements in training and safety,” said Nancy Haas, Chair of the Saint Paul Police Foundation Board. “Last year was a great success and we look forward to an even better event this time around.”

The Holiday Lights in the Park Event Coordinator, Susan Jones, along with volunteers from the Saint Paul Police Department including the Reserves,

Explorers, Band, Mounted Police and Motors Unit will be offering their time to make sure the event runs smoothly. Additional volunteers include members of the Saint Paul Police Historical Society, retired SPPD officers, and representatives of the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agency.

“Without our volunteers and the generosity of our visitors this event would never be as impactful as it has become,” said Susan Jones, Holiday Lights in the Park Event Coordinator and a retired St. Paul Police Officer. “An event like this brings everyone together and does something for the greater good of the community.”

In the past seven years, Holiday Lights has raised nearly $400,000 for a variety of St. Paul and East Metro nonprofits. This year, proceeds from the event will go to support the work of the Saint Paul Police Foundation. Since its inception in 2005, the Foundation has raised nearly $5 million to help support numerous SPPD initiatives including providing lifesaving equipment, Shop with Cops, the Safe City Camera program, Cops and Kids program and a variety of resources for crime victims.

The dual-purpose of Holiday Lights is not lost on St. Paul’s highest ranking leader.

“Phalen Park is the perfect backdrop for this annual family tradition that brings people into our city, creates a sense of vibrancy and supports the Saint Paul Police Foundation striving to make a difference.” said Mayor Chris Coleman.

Holiday Lights will open a half hour earlier this season at 5 p.m. to allow even more visitors to see the impressive displays. In addition, guests can purchase tickets online this year at a $2 discount from the $10 per vehicle charge at Phalen Park.

“This is about more than raising donations and lights. We aim to connect the community with the department,” said Haas. “We want to inspire the community through events like Holiday Lights in the Park to help them understand all of the work the department does. We continue to make this an event everyone can be proud of and to generate monetary support for those endeavors.”

2015 Holiday Lights in the Park at a glance:

What: More than 60 holiday-themed light displays located on a driving path

When: From 5:00 to 10 p.m. nightly from November 24th to January 1st, 2016.

Where: Phalen Park, 1615 Phalen Drive East, in St. Paul

Who: Saint Paul Police Foundation, along with volunteers from St. Paul Police Department and NECA.

Cost: Tickets $10 dollars per vehicle nightly at the park’s main gate. Discounted tickets can also be purchased in advanced by visiting http://www.saintpaulpolicefoundation.com/.

Holiday Lights 2015 Promotional Calendar:

Tuesday, November 24th

Opening Night –switch is flipped to start the run of Holiday Lights in Park

Tuesday, December 1st

Military Night - Service men and women and Veterans receive free park admission with Military ID

Tuesday, December 29th

Winter Carnival Button Night - $5.00 off cost of a ticket purchased at the gate with a 2016 button.

Friday, Nov 27th /Monday, Dec 7th / Tuesday, Dec 27th

Minnesota Wild Nights – Fans that can present a Wild Ticket Stub from games on the above days to receive half price admission on any night Holiday Lights is open.

Monday, December 21st

St Paul Police & their Families Appreciation Night –free admission with ID

New Year’s Day – January 1, 2016

Last Day of HLIP season 8 – Park closes

About Holiday Lights:

Holiday Lights in the Park is a venture of the Saint Paul Police Foundation with the sole purpose of creating a fun and affordable holiday event that raises funds to help support the men and women who protect the residents of St. Paul. All of the net proceeds of the event will be distributed through the Saint Paul Police Foundation to the St. Paul Police Department to provide enhanced safety and training to officers. Holiday Lights in the Park is open nightly from November 24th -January 1, 2016 at St. Paul’s Phalen Park. To purchase tickets you can visit our website: http://www.saintpaulpolicefoundation.com/, or for more information follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StPaulPoliceFdn