What’s Up? Video: Luis Perez talks about the upcoming Christmas in the Park festivities

Grace Hallowell:

What’s up College Station? I’m Grace Hallowell, and today I’m joined with Luis Perez from our Parks and Recreation department over at Wolf Pen Creek. Hi Luis.

Luis Perez:

Hi. How are you doing?

Grace Hallowell:

I’m doing well. We are here to talk about Lights On and Christmas in the Park. It’s a yearly event, but there’s some changes this year. So let’s start with the Event Weekend with Lights On to kick things off.

Luis Perez:

The Events Weekend will start December the 1st and 2nd. It’ll be from 6:00 to 10:00 PM, and we have a lot of fun stuff going on. We have Santa, we have hay rides, we have hot chocolate and cookies and live music, and just overall fun for the family.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes, I know it’s a part of a lot of family’s traditions each year to go and celebrate. And there are a few changes this year, so the Park’s Palace, I know everybody looks forward to those, but unfortunately this year we will not have those.

Luis Perez:

True. We won’t have those. Another change will be that the lighting ceremony will start on Saturday at 6:00 PM.

Grace Hallowell:

But the lights will be on in the park starting Thanksgiving night.

Luis Perez:

Correct. So November 23rd to January the 1st people can go to the park and enjoy the lights, and if you’re driving through the park, you can tune your radio on to Christmas 97.3 and listen to Christmas music while you drive through the park.

Grace Hallowell:

So let’s talk about why people should come to this event. I know there’s a lot going on specifically on the 2nd, but what makes this event so special?

Luis Perez:

It’s just a good opportunity for the public to come out, enjoy Christmas activities, absolutely free. We do have some food vendors if folks would like to purchase food, but it’s a huge free event for family. Everyone’s welcome and it’s just a good all around fun time.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. And I’m a Northern girl myself, so when I moved down to Texas, I was a little worried about it not feeling like Christmas. But you guys do such a great job and it makes it feel like it’s a Christmas wonderland, especially in the park.

Luis Perez:

Very much so. Our operations team does a great job putting the lights together.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes, they’ve been hard at work for almost a month now, even maybe more, putting all the lights up.

Luis Perez:

I think it’s about six weeks to eight weeks, somewhere around there.

Grace Hallowell:

So if people have questions or want to learn more about the Lights On or Christmas in the Park, where can they go to find out more?

Luis Perez:

They can go to the City of College Station Park’s website and they can find some information there. We also have some blogs up. Our City of College Station Facebook page also keeps information current as well.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. And another important thing that people always question, parking. What’s the parking situation for that?

Luis Perez:

So we have shuttles running from 3:00 PM to midnight from the Post Oak Mall to Central Beachy Park and they can catch a shuttle and it’ll drop them off right in the park and then it’ll shuttle them back to the Post Oak Mall.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes, that is the easiest way to get there.

Luis Perez:

Very much so.

Grace Hallowell:

What about people with strollers? Are they able to bring those onto the shuttle buses?

Luis Perez:

Small strollers are allowed, yes.

Grace Hallowell:

Okay. And then there is accessible and handicap parking right at the park.

Luis Perez:

Yes. So if you need ADA parking, you can come off of 6 and turn right into the park. And we do have handicap parking.

Grace Hallowell:

And this event is rain or shine. I know December weather can kind of be hit or miss.

Luis Perez:

Yes, it will happen.

Grace Hallowell:

All right. So bring your umbrellas if it’s rainy, and if not, just enjoy the lights and all of the festivities.

Luis Perez:

Indeed.

Grace Hallowell:

All right. Well, thank you so much for joining me today, Luis.

Luis Perez:

Absolutely.

Grace Hallowell:

And that’s What’s Up.

Yay.

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