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WELCOME TO MY MAYOR'S MESSAGE FOR[Mayor's Message 1224]
DECEMBER, 2024.THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE AND IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
THAT MEANS SOME OF OUR GREAT TRADITIONS ARE BACK TO ALONG WITH SOME EXCITING NEW ONES, STARTING WITH THE VERY POPULAR 2024 EDITION OF PRAIRIE LIGHTS, WHICH IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
OUR FANTASTIC AWARD-WINNING HOLIDAY LIGHT EXPERIENCE AT LYNN CREEK PARK ON JOE POOL LAKE IS NOW OPEN EVERY DAY, STARTING AT 6:00 PM HERE'S PARKS, ARTS AND RECREATION SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER EMILY LANIERS TO GIVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS.
BRAY LIGHTS IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 19TH YEAR OF THE EVENT.
WE'VE ADDED A LOT OF NEW FEATURES THIS YEAR, SO IF YOU'VE BEEN TO PRAIRIE LIGHTS IN THE PAST, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU COME BACK THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW FEATURES YOU DON'T WANNA MISS.
FOR $50, YOU GET ACCESS TO TWO MILES WORTH OF 5 MILLION LIGHT DISPLAYS.
AND WE HAVE A BRAND NEW ANIMATED LAND THAT'S SYNCHRONIZED WITH MUSIC AND AN ALL NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART TUNNEL.
THAT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.
YOU MAY REMEMBER OUR HOLIDAY VILLAGE WHERE YOU CAN VISIT SANTA, ENJOY OUR CONCESSION STANDS AND FREE CARNIVAL RIDES WITH YOUR ADMISSION, AND DO SOME SHOPPING AT SOME OF OUR CHRISTMAS VENDORS.
YOU CAN ALSO HEAD OUT BACK OF HOLIDAY VILLAGE FOR OUR LIGHTED WALKTHROUGH FOREST, WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REDESIGNED AND ALL BRAND NEW.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE A GRAND PRAIRIE RESIDENT, MAKE SURE YOU STOP BY ANY ONE OF OUR RECREATION CENTERS, LIBRARIES, OR CITY FACILITIES, AND PICK UP A $10 OFF COUPON SO THAT YOU CAN JOIN US FOR A DISCOUNTED RATE.
AND WE THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE TRADITIONS THAT FAMILIES HAVE DONE FOR YEARS AND YEARS THAT YOU SHOULD START.
MEANWHILE, JOIN US IN DOWNTOWN AT CITY HALL PLAZA ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, STARTING AT 5:00 PM FOR THE CITY'S TRADITIONAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION TO CHRISTEN THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY SEASON.
THIS IS ALWAYS A FUN EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
THERE'LL BE APPEARANCES WITH SANTA, AND YOU HAVE PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES WITH HIM, CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND THE RETURN OF OUR FREE ICE SKATING RINK.
AND THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION WILL ALSO FEATURE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE DALLAS STARS HOCKEY TEAM.
HERE'S DOWNTOWN MANAGER CHIP DAMME TO TELL US MORE.
AND AS THE MAYOR SAID, EVERYTHING STARTS RIGHT AT FIVE O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER THE SIXTH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PARADE LEADING FROM FIRE STATION ONE DOWN TO CITY HALL.
WE'LL DO OUR TREE LIGHTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, AND MAKE SURE YOU SHOW UP ON TIME TO CATCH THE DRONE SHOW IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE GOT A GREAT VENDOR FAIR THAT'S GONNA BE GOING ON ALL NIGHT LONG AFTER THAT.
WE'VE GOT THE ICE RINK OPEN FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
WE'LL BE HERE UNTIL DECEMBER 28TH.
SO FOR INFORMATION ON THAT, GO TO GPTX.ORG AND TYPE IN ICE RINK IN THE SEARCH BAR.
AND I'M ALSO VERY PROUD TILL NA.
GRAND PRAIRIE HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS A SITE FOR THIS YEAR'S WFAA SANTA'S HELPER'S TOY DRIVE.
AND THERE WILL BE A LIVE TV BROADCAST TO PROMOTE THE DRIVE ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH FROM 5:00 PM TO 8:00 PM AT THE EPIC.
PEAK CUSS WILL BE HOSTING THE ON AIR EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS, CHEERLEADERS AND DRILL TEAMS. SO BRING A TOY AND HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF 10,000 TOYS.
AND IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT THAT EVENING, YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP OFF TOYS AT DONATION BOXES THAT ARE SET UP AT ALL OF OUR REC CENTERS DOWNTOWN, AT CITY HALL, AND AT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
AND ALSO AT EPIC CENTRAL IS THE ALL NEW HOLIDAY INSPIRED ELUVIA WATER LIGHT SHOW THAT IS ALREADY LIGHTING UP THE 2024 HOLIDAY SEASON FOR ALL OF US TO SEE THE FREE NIGHTLY SHOWS FEATURE, HOLIDAY MUSIC, STUNNING PROJECTIONS, AND A MAGICAL DISPLAY OF LIGHTS.
BRING YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND LOVED ONES TO EPIC CENTRAL NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST TO WITNESS THIS MAGIC.
THE SHOWS TAKE PLACE EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR FROM 6:00 PM TO 11:00 PM AND GET READY TO REV IT UP FOR A HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER WITH CARS, BIKES, AND GIVING BACK AT CRUISING FOR A CAUSE WITH CLAWS, THE ULTIMATE CAR SHOW AND BIKE DRIVE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM THIS FESTIVE EVENT FEATURES CLASSIC CARS, COOL RIDES, AND A BIKE DRIVE TO BENEFIT GRAND PRAIRIE SANTACON.
AND LATER IN THE MONTH, WE'LL ALSO GET THE CHANCE TO SEE DANCE TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE NATION COMPETING IN THE THRILLING HIGH POLE COMPETITION AT ASIA TIMES SQUARE.
YOU'LL BE ABSOLUTELY AMAZED BY THE ACROBATIC SKILLS OF PRECISION OF THESE PERFORMERS SHOWCASING THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH THIS TRADITIONAL ART FORM.
THE COMPETITION IS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM.
FOR TICKETS OR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT GPTX.ORG FORWARD SLASH COMMUNITY CALENDAR.
AND FINALLY, OUR GRAND PRAIRIE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS SOME FRIENDLY HOLIDAY SAFETY REMINDERS.
REMEMBER TO WATER YOUR REAL CHRISTMAS TREE DAILY, TURN OFF AND UNPLUG LIGHTS
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OR ELECTRICAL DECORATIONS WHEN SLEEPING OR LEAVING THE HOUSE.PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR SMOKE ALARMS ARE WORKING AND DON'T OVERLOAD THOSE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.
AND ON THAT NOTE, PLEASE STAY SAFE, BE KIND.
HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON, AND I'LL SEE YOU IN 2025.