Christmas In The Park — Attraction in San Jose

Let me first start by saying I've been through the drive through for many years since it first began. And the reason for my rating this year is because : This year we ended up going on December 28th on a Saturday after Christmas brush is over and we booked it for a 6:30 PM drive through I got my family and my grandkids in the van and were excited to go and see the festivity of lights. when I got to San Jose I was happy to see that there was nobody in line to go in maybe about 56 cars at that time as I continue to roll in maybe three other cars were behind me through the parking lot portion of the exhibit. When we drove in I was the only car in the line no one ahead of me no one behind me and they continued like this for the whole drive through so when I continue to drive I threw my car into low gear and let off the gas I was rolling about 2 OR 3 miles an hour when I got To the old part of the exhibit where the little ice cream shop is in that one of the workers there told me no stopping and to speed up I turned and told them that I was not stopped and I will not speed up there's nobody ahead of me and there's nobody behind me they continued and told me that if I keep this up I would be escorted off the property and I told them go ahead and try it at this point I was very upset now because how can you rush me through an exhibit when there's nobody ahead of me and there is nobody behind me I was very disappointed because why are you rushing me through an empty exhibit this exhibit took me eight minutes to drive through and for the amount of money for $30 that I know it hurts San Jose because they work on donations it was a load of crap I told my wife that I will never return to this exhibit again ever ever again don't ever rush somebody when the whole exhibit was empty and you're the only one in there and then try to tell me that they're gonna call the police on me . It's not like I was getting out of my van and taking a picture I kept driving through but at two miles an hour there's clearly no signs telling you how fast you need to drive through there is a sign that says do not stop and at no point in my drive thru I stopped the vehicle . Also the displays only half the lights were working so what kind of deal is that if you're showing an exhibit make sure everything is working and don't rush people I understand maybe before Christmas there's a long line and it's bumper to bumper at least those people get to enjoy the exhibit of lights because it's packed but when I'm by myself...

Love the concept of the Enchanted Forest where one can decorate a tree on display. Christmas in the Park provides one string of 100 LED lights. There are lots of themed and memorial ones. It's nice to see each tree in the forest decorated and dedicated to something special. 💜

They also partner with Habit for Humanity for their playhouse build competition. Whoever wins gets the Cocoa Cup! Interesting to see what these participating employees are coming up with these days. There are also free performances and photos with Santa.

It's a wonderful free event that runs from after Thanksgiving to New Year's Day so the dates are easy to remember. If I have time during the holiday season, I sometimes pop by but it is not a must-see each year. I would definitely recommend going once. The animated exhibits remind me of Disneyland and their imagineers. They revamped some over the years and there are now new ones as well! They have all of them listed on their website with photos. Let me see... I liked the Mrs. Claus's Tailor Shop and the San Jose Earthquake's soccer shoe. ⚽️ Honorable Mentions: the fuzzy singing frog choir, the build-a-stuffed-toy exhibit, and the creepy dolls that go around like a merry-go-round.

There are street vendors selling interesting knick knacks, food, and the iconic snowman hot chocolate. They also started having a bar inside an inflatable structure two years ago.

At an extra cost, you can do the drive-through light show or go ice skating in front of the SJ MOMA where it is picturesque and there are tall palm trees strung with lights. I did the ice skating once (free company event) during the daytime and I actually liked it better than at night.

Apparently the website says dogs are not allowed in the Cesar Chavez park but I always see dogs there. Parking is a nightmare. There are paid parking structures if you don't want to...

I've lived in Silicon Valley for mostly the last 25yrs and somehow missed this event. I don't think San Jose promotes it 1/10 of what it should.

I was there tonight, New Year's Eve (it goes on until Jan/2). It was the biggest surprise in downtown San Jose (for me)!

A complete WONDER of setups, beautifully decorated, most with motorized dolls or features. Some were with real people, or both. Felt like a mini Disneyland at night!

My FAVORITE find. Check out the caboose and reindeer, center ground. Get a picture taken of family, your kids, you and your sweets, on a sleigh w/ Rudolph, with various backdrops by an artist! Mine, I look like I'm flying trying to hold on to the back of the sleigh! You can get Christmas cards, or even paintings, I wish I knew about this at Thanksgiving, they do it every year.

OMG! If you love hot chocolate, you're not going to be disappointed! What I found interesting/funny... There was also a huge blow-up beer/wine "tent" I walked threw. Inside, at night at least w/o ambient light, it felt like you were in a real establishment (that's the funny part). OK, maybe a cartoonish LOTRS pub, but pretty cool with uptight wine barrel tables, ha!

LOTS of various other fare food but highly upgraded in that respect.

OH! AND THERE'S A TEMPORARY SKATING RINK! -Across the street between the steakhouses

And onward...

I think it is an incredible thing for families and children. It's a GREAT thing for even an adult that has lived here on/off for 25yrs. Maybe a great place for a 1st date. Or, given the number of great restaurants across the street or within a few blocks, enough to entice a second, or is it a third?

I met with those different groups tonight, friends, friends married, with kids, singles. I shouldn't leave out teenagers. I'm older than that last now, but we all enjoyed the evening.

Happy New...