Parade will return for Christmas in the Park
It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas in the Park, right?
It definitely isn’t for Jason Minsky, the executive director of San Jose’s nonprofit holiday tradition, which held its annual midsummer fundraiser Saturday at History Park.
The annual Christmas display, again with Southwest Airlines as its presenting sponsor, will open for its 40th year on Nov. 29, and Minsky announced a few plans for the milestone that are worth noting. First, there’s going to be a throwback parade on opening night at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. While many people fondly remember the elaborate San Jose Holiday Parade, which had a 29-year run until its cancellation after the 2010 event, Minsky reminded everyone that it had a much smaller start.
The first Christmas in the Park parade was a small affair; so small the participants were asked to make two loops around the park. While more details are yet to come, Minsky said to expect a goodsized parade. However, it will be one that’s closer to that grass-roots original than the 2010 variety with giant balloons and celebrities on floats (with the exception of Santa, of course). And if you happen to
miss the opening night tree lighting, which always draws a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, another change for this year is that there will be a lighting ceremony for the 55-foot tree on each of the 38 nights that Christmas in the Park will be open.
There are a few other surprises in store, too. But we’ll unwrap those as the event approaches.
CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUM GETS ARTY >> The Children’s Discovery Museum in downtown San Jose is bringing something very cool to its young visitors who are artistically inclined, thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Good Tidings Foundation. This week, the museum will unveil the LeRoy Neiman Art Studio, an upgraded art space named for the late celebrity artist.
So what’s new? First off, there’s a big digital screen with room for four artists to work at the same time, and experiences such as shadow and light-play are now possible thanks to an electronic blind system on all the windows. There’s also mobile furniture so seats can be added and areas can be reconfigured depending on what activity is going on. The new space will be open to the public starting Friday.
Children’s Discovery Museum Executive Director Marilee Jennings said research is clear that involvement in the arts helps kids develop emotional and social intelligence and fosters greater academic achievement.
“Helping children explore their creativity is at the heart of what we do,” she said. “This renovation allows us to expand the types of art activities we offer to even more children.”
THE MUSIC MAN >> Music promoter and festival producer Bruce Labadie, who has been bringing events to South Bay audiences for more than 40 years, will be honored in October with the Cornerstone of the Arts award. Labadie has had his hand in most of the memorable events in San Jose over the years, from Tapestry in Talent and the San Jose America Festival to Music in the Park, the San Jose Mariachi Festival and the ZERO1 biennial. Today, he continues to book acts for Los Gatos Music & Arts’ Jazz on the Plazz series and San Jose’s Fountain Blues Festival.
But what he’s probably best known for is his work behind San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest, the multi-genre spectacle that he helped start 30 years ago. Of course, back then it was a much smaller affair. When the festival hits Aug. 9-11 this year, it’ll draw more than 40,000 people to 14 stages around downtown.
At the Oct. 18 ceremony at the Hammer Theatre Center, the San Jose Downtown Association’s Downtown Doors program also will be honored with the creative impact award, and Southwest Airlines will receive the Business Support for the Arts award.