The Christmas in the Park tradition began in 1950 as a small holiday display. Don Lima, a local community leader, placed animated characters in front of his business on Willow Street in San Jose, drawing spectators, young and old. Each year, the display grew in size and became so popular with the San Jose community that a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam clogged the streets. In 1970, Lima donated his display characters to the City of San Jose where for several years; the display was set up on the lawn of City Hall.

In the early 1980’s, Lima gathered a group of community leaders to request that the City move the display to the downtown park now known as Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

Each year, the two-acre park is transformed into a holiday fantasy with over 60 musical and animated exhibits and glittering lights and the 60-foot City Community Giving Tree. Some of the original displays are housed in one of the largest exhibits, the Lima Train, and include a melting snowman, caroling mice and elf woodcrafters. The Victorian Village, a 25-foot growing Christmas tree surrounded by the animated Nutcracker Suite exhibit and Santa House welcome park visitors. Guests enter a winter wonderland of lights, songs and entertainment by local schools and groups, and stroll through a forest of trees decorated by San Jose schools, community groups and businesses.

Christmas in the Park draws over 450,000 people to downtown San Jose during the four-week holiday season. It is supported through fundraising efforts by the volunteer Board of Directors, is free to the public and is open from 9 a.m. to midnight daily. Children can have their photograph taken with Santa Claus, watch the nightly entertainment and enjoy refreshments.