By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
As Santa heads back to the North Pole to prepare for his Christmas Eve deliveries, the Parks and Recreation staff is cleaning up, repairing lights and picking up remnants of the good times left behind from this year’s Christmas in the Park events.
Over the last two weekends, we enjoyed watching families revel under the giant Christmas tree and delight in the festive light displays and activities. Everyone seemed to have a positive response to Christmas in the Park, and the shuttles from Post Oak Mall made the short trip to Stephen C. Beachy Park seamless.
More than 18,125 guests savored the holiday sights and sounds during the four days of celebration.
Since it began in 1984, the event has evolved from a small light display into a beloved community tradition. We’ve added a few activities — a petting zoo, inflatables, shuttle, and two real snow slides — but it essentially remains the same program at heart. We strive to handcraft our light displays with the same loving care and spirit of the great Christmas in the Park teams of the past.
Here’s a glimpse at the impressive numbers from the event days (Dec. 6-7, 13-14):
- 12,000 cups of hot cocoa served.
- 24,000 Christmas cookies devoured.
- 14,462 wristbands given away.
- 9,060 people rode the shuttle.
- 120,000 pounds of ice used for snow slides.
- 12,500 candy canes handed out by Santa.
- 168 volunteers assisted, including 28 from Bryan Collegiate High School.
- 1 million+ Christmas lights displayed.
While the organized activities are finished for this year, our beautiful lights will be displayed from 6-11 p.m. each night through Jan. 2. We offer a special thanks to our sponsors: Britt Rice Electric, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and H-E-B.
We’d love to hear what you think about this year’s event. Just leave your comment on this blog or the city’s Facebook page.
Merry Christmas!
About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has served the Parks & Recreation Department for 15 years, the last eight as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
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