Christmas in the Park draws thousands to San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Thousands of people celebrated Christmas at the annual Christmas in the Park event located in the heart of downtown San Jose. 

"It’s been since I was a kid. I’ve always come with my mom, my family, and my dad. Now I’m bringing my wife," said Esequiel Martinez of San Jose.

For over 40 years, the 2-acre park has been transformed into a winter wonderland that people can walk through free of charge. 

Bright lights, Christmas trees, holiday displays, rides for children, food, and even snow, keep thousands of people from across the state coming back each year.

"I was born and raised in San Jose. So, we come back every holiday and I haven’t been here since I was a kid," said Lori Soto, of Vacaville. 

Organizers say this year Christmas in the Park is attracting more first-time and out-of-town visitors. The non-profit group also says donations continue to grow. One of the most popular attractions is Sleigh Ride Portraits, where people can capture the Christmas spirit and create memories.

"We’ve been doing this since 2008, I believe. My mom likes to do it, so it’s a tradition for us, but we’ve had additions to the family, so the picture just keeps getting bigger and bigger," said Pedro Medina of San Jose.

Joseph Williams says he’s been carving signs at Christmas in the Park for the last 10 years and says people buy the customized signs as gifts.

"We just love the crowd here. It’s a good and different group with people from all different cultures. The airport’s close by so they’re constantly coming in, and it’s just really nice," said Williams, a longtime carver for Yosemite Sign Carving Company.    

"My dad just really wanted one. We passed by bear wood signs right here in San Jose, and we just had to have one," said Nicole Adora of Hayward.

If you haven’t been to Christmas in the Park, the last day is Jan. 1 from noon to 10 p.m. You can also drive through History Park for light displays, but there is a fee for that event.