The secrets behind Christmas in the Park’s new tree light show

Christmas in the Park, San Jose’s most traditional holiday event, has added new technology to its 55-foot community tree at Plaza de Cesar Chavez that goes far beyond lights and tinsel.

The tree appears to have been transformed into a giant video screen, but it’s actually blanketed with 20,000 LEDs — about three times the number of lights as before — arranged in 100 strips that are 50 feet long. The lights are computer programmed to put on a light and music show that has been drawing crowds day and night.

The new look is the work of Tom BetGeorge, who has appeared on ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight” and became a YouTube sensation with the “Star Wars”-themed light and music show on his home a few years back. Christmas in the Park Executive Director Jason Minsky got in touch with BetGeorge, who grew up in San Jose, who wound up creating a light-andsound show for a 20-foot tree at Christmas in the Park last year.

After that success, they both wanted to go bigger this year, and Sal Ventura — who was retiring from his leadership role with IBEW Local 332, the electrical union that annually installs the lights — agreed it was a good year to do something special. The show runs about seven minutes right now, but Minsky said it’ll be programmed for a longer loop soon and also has the capability to show video. Amazingly, the whole thing is controlled by a laptop.

“People love it,” Minksy said. “People stop and stare at it and are just mesmerized. We have more people taking pictures in front of the tree than ever before, though we have had one person tell us it was a bit much.”

Minsky, who says BetGeorge’s “Disney quality” effects far exceeded his expectations, can’t imagine Christmas in the Park returning to a traditional lighting scheme in the foreseeable future, especially with its 40th anniversary coming next year. And for anyone wondering why there’s no tree topper this year, it’s because the one used in past years was found to be damaged and a replacement couldn’t be acquired in time. There’ll be a new one next year.

Christmas in the Park is open at Plaza de Cesar Chavez through Christmas Day, with