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Holiday Lights in the Park to Open on Nov. 24 for its Eighth Year of Holiday Cheer and Giving Back to the St. Paul Community

Early morning hours offered on opening day to provide media with a sneak peek of the many new displays set for their 2015 debut

ST. PAUL, MINN. – November 10, 2015 – The Saint Paul Police Foundation announced today its plans for opening day of the eighth annual Holiday Lights in the Park event on Tuesday, November 24 at St. Paul’s Phalen Park. The day will include early morning opportunities for media to get an up-closelook at the display and an official kick-off ceremony, complete with dignitaries and the St. Paul Police Band at 5 p.m.

Holiday Lights in the Park, the Midwest’s largest outdoor holiday light display has illuminated Phalen Park since 2008. The lights will burn nightly for 39 evenings until January 1, 2016.

Visitors tour the 60-plus displays in the warm confines of their vehicle, making weather a non-factor. 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. This year’s theme is “Winter Wonderland” and features a large number of never-seen-before displays.

“This event continues to remain fresh and popular with the thousands who visit each holiday season,” said Susan Jones, Co-Coordinator of Holiday Lights in the Park. “Ninety-five percent of the displays are new to the event, which will provide visitors with a fresh take. Whether it’s your first time or if you’ve come every year, you will see something brand new.”

Jones and her fellow co-coordinator Kevin Moore, are both retired St. Paul police officers and agree that opening day is a day full of anticipation and energy.

“We are ready. Thanks to countless volunteers we are able to produce an event that makes memories that last a lifetime,” said Moore. “The people of St. Paul and the surrounding communities have embraced this celebration. That’s why it gets bigger and better each year. Not only is it a great way to get in the spirit of the holidays, it’s a great way for all of us to give back.”

Through Holiday Lights the Saint Paul Police Foundation raises funds to make the St. Paul area safer for citizens and law enforcement officials. Funds support community engagement efforts, safety equipment and department outreach.

“Not everything the men and women of the department need to do their job can be funded through the budget,” said Nancy Haas, Chair of the Saint Paul Police Foundation Board. “It takes events like Holiday Lights, the commitment of volunteers, and the generosity of visitors to help us enhance the capabilities of those who protect and serve us in St. Paul.”

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 and the Union Gospel Mission Child Development Center. 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.

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.

2015 Holiday Lights in the Park Opening Day at a glance:

What: Special media only access to opening day of Holiday Lights in the Park

When: Tuesday, Nov. 25th, 2013 –Displays will be turned on beginning at 4:30 a.m.

Where: Phalen Park- 1615 Phalen Drive East, St. Paul, MN. Media is asked to enter via main gate to

Who: Event organizers, select dignitaries and the St. Paul Police Band will be on hand to conduct interviews for early morning news broadcasts.

Cost: Tickets $10 dollars per vehicle nightly – and available online or at the park’s main gate. $8 discounted tickets can also be purchased in advanced by visiting http://www.saintpaulpolicefoundation.com/.

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 protect 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 and help fund the department’s many volunteer organizations. Holiday Lights in the Park is open nightly from November 24-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 you can find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulpolicefoundation or follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StPaulPoliceFdn. An event like this couldn’t happen without the dedication of numerous volunteers, including the department’s Reserve Unit, Explorer Program, Historical Society, Band and the Mounted and Motors Units. Volunteers from the St Paul Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) the SPPD Reserves and Explorers and Police Officers will be on hand each night to make sure the event runs smoothly.

 

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