UPDATE: Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City has just launched its highly anticipated SPARKLE Holiday Walk, a dazzling light display expected to attract over 30,000 visitors through early January. Kicking off last night, this festive attraction was realized with an impressive in-house effort on a budget of just $55,000.
Park Management Company President and CEO Michelle Furrer revealed that the park staff began preparations back in June, carefully designing all light displays and holiday scenes. “We started sketching out the sight lines and pathways in June and July,” Furrer stated. “It was essential to balance the needs of park visitors while creating this holiday attraction.”
The SPARKLE Holiday Walk is open nightly from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM on Thursdays through Sundays until December 14 and nightly from December 18 through January 4. This ticketed event not only provides a festive experience but also supports the park’s year-round free programming. General admission is priced at $9 online and $10 at the gate, while members enjoy discounted rates of $4.50 online and $5 at the gate. Children aged two and under can enter free of charge.
Furrer emphasized the community’s enthusiasm for holiday festivities, stating, “Oklahoma City really is all in for the Christmas celebrations and holidays, and this is just one more thing.” The SPARKLE Holiday Walk is designed to complement other holiday activities in the area, providing families with yet another option to enjoy the season.
This year’s celebration marks a shift in strategy for Scissortail Park. Furrer, who joined the Park Management Company in March, noted her intention to enhance holiday experiences. “We need to own different seasons,” she asserted, indicating that Scissortail Park will now focus on holiday events while the Myriad Gardens continues its own traditions, such as the Devon Ice Rink.
The SPARKLE Holiday Walk is not just about lights; it’s about community spirit and engagement. As Furrer pointed out, “You think of larger cities like Chicago and New York, and they have public lands set aside for these kinds of events. It’s unique for a modern city in the 2020s to open a 70-acre public park that offers great uses for the community.”
The SPARKLE Holiday Walk has garnered support from several sponsors, including Continental Resources, the Chickasaw Nation, BancFirst, the Inasmuch Foundation, Bank of Oklahoma, and MetroFamily Magazine.
As the festive lights illuminate Scissortail Park, residents and visitors alike are encouraged to be part of this holiday celebration. With the park’s pathways open during the day for public use, the SPARKLE Holiday Walk is set to enhance the holiday season for all, fostering community connections amid the vibrant displays.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience the magic of the SPARKLE Holiday Walk, a shining example of local creativity and community spirit.
