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City staff previews fall events, tree lighting and Celebration of Lights ticketing
Summary
Parks and tourism staff reviewed upcoming fall and holiday events, including Food Truck Fright & Film (Coco), the tree-lighting and holiday market on Nov. 19, and the Celebration of Lights (opens day after Thanksgiving). Staff reported that train rides are sold out, sleigh hayrides are about 63% sold and trolley tickets remain available (~1,700).
Parks and tourism staff briefed the Cultural Arts Commission on fall programming and holiday events, listing dates and current ticketing status.
Staff said Food Truck Fright & Film will screen Coco at Dames Park next Friday, with food trucks and costume characters; the tree-lighting ceremony and holiday market is scheduled for Nov. 19. The Celebration of Lights drive-through opens the day after Thanksgiving (staff cited Nov. 28 as the expected opening date) and runs through Dec. 30. Train rides for Celebration of Lights are sold out; sleigh hayrides are roughly 63% sold, and the climate-controlled trolley has about 1,700 tickets available.
Staff also summarized that the Homestead and Fort tours finished the season with increased attendance and generated more than double the revenue of 2023; they credited staff efforts and partnerships for higher ticket sales and private tours. Vendor recruitment and vendor-retention issues were discussed for the Fall Into the Arts event, which had 21 registered artists this year and a higher-than-expected number of late dropouts.
Commissioners and staff discussed vendor-deposit policies and the possibility of introducing an application fee for future events; staff said an application fee exists for other city events (Heritage and FreedomFest) and that such a policy is under consideration for future arts events.
