Christmas in the Park - San Jose, CA 95113 - Rated 4.7 based on 268 Reviews "The Christmas tree area was amazing. Every year, Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose transforms into a Christmas village with thousands of sparkling lights, over 60 musical and animated exhibits, and the 60-foot (20 m) Community Giving Tree. Mailing Address: 171 Branham Ln. In a year that’s seen more than its share of tragedy and disaster, at least Christmas in the Park found a way to hold on to its magic. Dancers from the ballet will also be there on select nights, so keep your eyes peeled for Mousima or the Nutcracker Prince. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group). (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: A sign on display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Hudson Martinez, 2, stands up in the sunroof of his families truck during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Signage at the entrance to "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" during a preview at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. “One year off as a precaution is not a bad thing. But this year, just having Christmas in the Park in any form feels like a gift. And, it turns out, this is an even cooler gift than we expected. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Cars drive through a light display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Christmas in the Park. We tried to go to Christmas in the Park San Jose 2020 which was a drive through light show this year. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: A car drives past decorated Christmas trees, about 300 of trees are on display, during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Christmas in the Park - A Drive Thru Holiday. San Jose, CA's real-time and most comprehensive local Christmas-in-the-park-san-jose-2020 news. He’s not kidding. Nov. 27, 2020 – Jan. 3, 2021 History Park, 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose $10 from 4-5 pm; $20 from 5-10 pm Tix required in advance – Buy Tickets. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: An oversized ornament on display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Christmas in the Park kicks off on Friday, November 29, 2019 through January 5, 2020. Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Jason Minsky, executive director of Christmas in the Park, directs traffic during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Related Articles The park was very pretty and it was a drive through. A pair of 96-foot-long lighted “curtains” keep people going in the right direction toward the replica of the San Jose Light Tower, where New Ballet has created a new installation — a scene from “The San Jose Nutcracker” with a huge Queen of Snow statue made by artist Lacey Bryant. That’s largely because of the addition of more than 150,000 colorful lights, which illuminate displays, guide drivers along their way and bring a festive atmosphere to the historic buildings and structures around the park. The San Jose Holiday Parade tradition began in 1981 when Santa Claus arrived in grand style for the opening of the Christmas in the Park display at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, in Downtown San José. Overall, there are more than 500 Christmas trees in the park … (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: A truck drives past a display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Santa waves and talks to a car as it drives through a light display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Santa appeared on the roof of the St. Claire Hotel (currently the Westin), vanished from its rooftop and magically appeared at the hotel entrance. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! It remained a tradition in 2020, but for safety reasons it pivoted to a drive thru holiday experience at History Park in San Jose. Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday Friday, Nov. 27 - Sunday, Jan. 3, 2020 - 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose, CA From Christmas in the Park: Mark your calendars! 2020 Christmas in the Park Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) Why is Christmas in the Park moving? For 2020, this will be a drive thru event. The show actually starts in History Park’s huge parking lot on Phelan Avenue, where many traditional and familiar animatronic scenes are on display, including the Jazz Trolley Car, Bear Pond Ice Rink, the Christmas Ornament Mine, Penguin Flight School and Happy Hollow’s Danny the Dragon. San Jose’s Mattos Orchard to be on ‘The Great Christmas Light Fight’ Designer J.R. Mattos talents also on display at Christmas in the Park And that’s just getting out of the parking lot. Flipping through downtown San Jose’s comic book history “The drive-thru was created as a way to help deal with the COVID-19 situation, while still bringing Christmas in the Park cheer, but it will be much more than that.”. SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — Christmas in the Park will be one of the few holiday traditions that will stay intact, albeit with a slight change. You’ll need to make reservations in advance, you can’t visit in person with Santa, and there’s an admission charge for the first time. Here’s what San Jose’s Christmas in the Park will look like this year San Jose’s holiday tradition will be a drive-thru event at History Park for 2020. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Join Christmas in the Park at 8 pm on New Year’s Eve as they celebrate 2020 with a fun evening filled with holiday cheer and Christmas fun. Christmas in the Park - A San Jose Tradition - Welcome to the official page of San Jose's Christmas in the Park. This year, the beloved holiday tradition will be a drive-thru event. Event Hours: Daily Noon - 9:30pm. From then on, the event is open every day, including Christmas, from 9 am to midnight through January 5, 2020. Waited 1.5hrs snaking around bumper to bumper around city blocks. Advance tickets must be purchased. Owners of Willow Glen’s Goosetown Lounge overwhelmed by support Instead of taking place in downtown San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, the event is pivoting to a drive-thru holiday experience at History Park in San Jose. On top of the regular Christmas in the Park displays, the historic and replica buildings at History Park also will be decorated, along with the illuminated replica of the San Jose Light Tower. Christmas in the Park has been a San Jose holiday tradition for about 40 years. At a speed of 2.5 mph (or less), passengers can get a pretty good look at their favorites. Save the date: 7.24.21 Christmas in July 477 - module_1078 PageTitleModule moduleMedium The most festive event of the Summer is coming this July 24th to History Park in San Jose. There will still be all the marvelous displays, hundreds of Christmas trees, and a chance to see Santa. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Santa waves at a car during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. It’s Christmas in the Park like you’ve never…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Atmospheric river: Biggest storm of the year heading for Bay Area, It’s Christmas in the Park like you’ve never seen before, Flipping through downtown San Jose’s comic book history, Ruth Bader Ginsburg watching over downtown San Jose, Owners of Willow Glen’s Goosetown Lounge overwhelmed by support, San Jose teen’s macarons have raised more than $5,000 for nonprofit, Santa Clara woman’s 107th birthday celebrated with car parade. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the event will take place at History Park in San Jose. While there’s some similarity to the Fantasy of Lights show at Vasona Lake County Park, it’s set apart by History Park’s 100-foot light tower and Christmas in the Park’s 300-plus decorated trees and charming animatronic scenes. “This is a new type of show that no one has ever seen before,” said J.R. Mattos, who was hired this year as Christmas in the Park’s exhibit engineer. BUT the line was horrendous. Due to COVID, Christmas in the park was at History Park in San Jose. SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: A car drives through a light tunnel display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Suite 10-234. All Rights Reserved. San Jose teen’s macarons have raised more than $5,000 for nonprofit San Jose resident Braxton Alsip has attended Christmas in the Park since 2006, when he moved to San Jose, and has made it a tradition to grab a hot chocolate and enjoy the sights. - General Informati SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 12: An LED light display at "Christmas in the Park; a Drive Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. Christmas in the Park officially opens for the 2019 season on November 29th, starting with the first Community Giving Tree Lighting Ceremony. But the ride through the park, which takes about 30 minutes, is an experience like Christmas in the Park has never seen. SAN JOSE, Calif. - Tickets go on sale Tuesday for San Jose’s Christmas in the Park. Ruth Bader Ginsburg watching over downtown San Jose (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: A car drives through a light display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Berkeley man who allegedly confessed to using young girl to produce child porn hit with federal charges, Three years after Oakland pedestrian was killed in hit and run, alleged driver arrested and charged, Sea shanty mania: 5 cool ways to get in on all the fun, ‘I believe in you. The last part of the trip is highlighted by the hundreds of Christmas trees — decorated by community organizations and businesses — that line the narrow streets inside the park. We enjoyed our Christmas visit both new and old exhibits. Christmas in the Park kicks off on Friday, November 29, 2019 through January 5, 2020. San Jose’s Christmas in the Park Drive-Thru. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: The moon can be seen during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. His column covers the people and events surrounding the cultural scene in Silicon Valley. Sal Pizarro has written the Around Town column for The Mercury News since 2005. Be sure to look in the windows of the Pacific Hotel and O’Brien’s Candy Shop, which are filled with Christmas decor. San Jose, CA 95136. Drive-thru event at History Park in San Jose opens Friday SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 24: A car drives through a light display during a … The thousands of families like ours who have made Christmas in the Park a tradition during the 40 years it was downtown at Plaza de Cesar Chavez will no doubt miss walking around the park with hot chocolate and churros, enjoying the nightly entertainment and soaking in the sights and sounds of Downtown Ice and the Winter Wonderland carnival rides — both canceled this year. History Park's location and footprint set up nicely for a safe and family friendly event. Santa Clara woman’s 107th birthday celebrated with car parade This annual event brings 450,000 people to Downtown San Jose over the four-week holiday season starting the day after Thanksgiving to January 1st. Inside History Park, several buildings including the blacksmith’s shop, the print shop and Dashaway Stables — repurposed for Santa’s reindeer, of course — are decorated in holiday lights. Christmas in the Park officially opens for the 2019 season on November 29th, starting with the first Community Giving Tree Lighting Ceremony. SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) – One of the Bay Area’s most popular holiday traditions will go on despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year’s Christmas in the Park in San Jose … Now, the beloved San Jose holiday tradition, which opens Friday at 4 p.m. and runs through Jan. 3, has undergone a lot of change this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday Friday, Nov. 27 - Sunday, Jan. 3, 2020 - 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose, CA From Christmas in the Park: Here’s a tip: Santa will be on your left side, so make sure the little ones know to start watching for him after you go through the light tower. Santa was fun to see at the end. 2020 Event Address: History Park 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose CA 95112. In addition, he writes Cocktail Chronicles, a feature column on Silicon Valley bars and nightclubs. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Family oriented Christmas tradition of lights, trees and exhibits in Downtown San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez Cookie Settings The website uses "cookies", which are elements of data that a website can send to your browser, which may then be stored on your system. From then on, the event is open every day, including Christmas, from 9 am to midnight through January 5, 2020. How Christmas in the Park, a San Jose tradition for four decades, is adapting its fundraising and programming because of the pandemic. November 27 through January 3, 2021, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas in the Park without Santa Claus, and the jolly old elf is there waving to people in cars from his giant sleigh as they pass by. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: A display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. The lighting is programmed to change in sync with Christmas music you can play in your car (tune the radio to 93.1 FM), an effect that’s really impressive as you drive through a 325-foot-long tunnel of lights. San Jose’s annual Christmas in the Park holiday celebration is taking a new form but keeping its most important traditions. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: A truck drives through the beginning of a light display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. That’s why I’m doing this’: Federal judge gives no prison to Pittsburg man who changed his life while facing gun charges. 2020 Christmas in the Park Christmas in the Park - A Drive Thru Holiday Since the early 1950's when the display was originally set-up on the front lawn of the Lima Family Mortuary through it's placement on the front lawn of City Hall during the 1970's and where it has been since 1980, in downtown San Jose's Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, the Christmas in the Park display is a tradition for our community. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: A minivan drives through a light tunnel display during a preview for "Christmas in the Park - A Drive-Thru Holiday" at History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Christmas in the Park is free to explore and it’s open on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019 from 9 am and they will stay open until just past midnight. There’s some new stuff, too, like LED candy canes and illuminated archways decorated with snowflakes and leaping reindeer. To begin with, it’s a drive-thru event at History Park on Senter Road. Since the early 1950's when the display was originally set-up on the front lawn of the Lima Family Mortuary through it's placement on the front lawn of City Hall during the 1970's and where it has been since 1980, in downtown San Jose's Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, the Christmas in the Park display is a tradition for our community. Copyright ©2021, Christmas in the Park. We purchased tickets in advance. “We know that people are used to our event having free admission, but due to lost revenue, having a pre-paid ticketed event is necessary,” Christmas in the Park Executive Director Jason Minsky said, adding that it was the “best one-year solution for us.”. 2020, this is an even cooler gift than we expected Community Tree. With a $ 20 charge per vehicle, at www.christmasinthepark.com, your can... 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