It will be the most wonderful time of the year – again, when Parker Pride Foundation, the City of Highland Park, and Rehab Highland Park partner to present the annual “A Christmas in the Park and City Tree Lighting” spectacular. The festive event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, from 3-6 p.m., at Massachusetts Park, 12170 Woodward Ave. in Highland Park. Admission is free.
“There will be music, crafts, games, treats, and a food truck,” said event founder and organizer Sydney Spight, who oversees the Parker Pride Foundation. “There will be a team of cheerleaders, a drumline, toy giveaways, and much more. It will be something special for children, adults, entire families, and the community to enjoy.”
During the Christmas and City Tree Lighting festivities, Santa Claus will converge on Massachusetts Park, much to the delight of the kids and kids at heart.
“Santa Claus will arrive at Massachusetts Park riding on the top of a fire truck,” Spight said. “He will then board a huge sled, interact with the children, and pass out toys to every kid possible. It’s going to be really fun.”
Spight added that Massachusetts Park, courtesy of Rehab Highland Park, will be transformed into a breathtaking Christmas-themed landscape, serving as a splendid backdrop for the Holiday festivities. At 6:00 p.m., the City Tree Lighting ceremony will begin under the auspices of the City of Highland Park and Mayor Glenda McDonald.
Rehab Highland Park, a 501 C3 organization, focuses on community revitalization, historic preservation, and neighborhood beautification throughout the City of Highland Park. The organization is the brainchild of Maurice Turner and Blake Mims.
“The organization and its entire team have been Godsent and really show up big in support of what Parker Pride Foundation is doing throughout the year,” Spight said. “They simply get things done across the City of Highland Park.”
Parker Pride Foundation, a non-profit organization, also gets things done on behalf of Highland Parkers. Founded by Spight about 15 years ago, the organization’s goal, according to its founder, is to empower Highland Park residents, communities, and schools under the banner “Bringing Life Back to a City That Once Thrived.” Parker Pride Foundation has had several names since its inception, including Parker Pride and Parker Pride Alumni Association.
“I’m proud that we are giving back to this great community of Highland Park,” Spight said. “We want to continue to make things happen to empower our youth and adults in HP. Our ‘A Christmas in the Park’ event is just one shining example of the many things that we are doing in and for our city and its people.”
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