Holiday events give cities end-of-year economic boost

Yukon’s annual Christmas in the Park event opened last month for its 24th season, offering motorists the chance to drive through three parks outfitted with over 4.5 million lights on 500 displays.

The event boosts civic pride and entertains locals, but it also draws thousands of visitors from neighboring cities, injecting this Oklahoma City suburb with one of its largest boosts in tourism dollars. 

“It’s our biggest tourism attraction of the year by far,” said Jenna Roberson, a spokeswoman for the city. “Cities live and die by sales tax revenue and tourism dollars are really the easiest ones for us to grab right now.” 

Hosted by municipalities, chambers or sometimes non-profit organizations, cities and towns across the state are putting on holiday events including skating rinks, decorated downtowns, light displays and shopping festivals. 

“By attracting visitors into our city they are not just going to stay in Christmas in the Park, they are going to get something to eat and go shopping,” Roberson said. “Studies show that November and December are our biggest months for tourism and we attract people from all 48 (lower) states.”

The Christmas season offers cities and towns of all sizes the chance to attract visitors and their dollars. Here are some ways communities across Oklahoma are creating successful holiday events and tips for other municipalities considering their own event. 

Cater to specific groups

Holiday events can have wide appeal, attracting all types of people. But these events also give cities a chance to target specific groups looking for a holiday outing. 

“We have so many schools and other organizations that come out year after year and it’s a big tradition for their holiday,” said Alexandra Logoutine, a spokesperson for the Edmond Ice Rink, which opened in mid November in the city’s Mitch Park. 

Last year, the Edmond Ice Rink welcomed more than 40,000 visitors, including schools, church groups and businesses that hosted their holiday parties at the rink. 

In addition to skate rentals, the rink also sells hot chocolate and other snacks, and hosts miniature train rides. 

While large cities such as Oklahoma City use ice rinks to attract visitors, smaller towns are also hosting their own. In addition to Edmond, Broken Arrow hosts its Rose District Ice Rink.

Partner with other businesses

Visitors to Guthrie’s Territorial Christmas can step back in time through the city’s historic preservation district outfitted with Christmas decorations, carolers and trolley riders. The annual event began the last week of November and attracts visitors from outside the state. 

In putting on the event the city partners with local businesses by inviting them to create old-fashioned holiday displays in their storefront windows. The event also partners with the Pollard Theatre to show holiday films. 

Christmas is a perfect season to collaborate with local businesses, writes Emily Robbins with the National League of Cities. 

“Use your role as a convener to help local businesses connect, collaborate, and feel empowered to establish creative marketing tactics to attract holiday shoppers,” said Robbins, who pointed to Edmond’s business passport program as a great example of working with local shops to attract holiday customers. 

Promote wellness

Ardmore’s Festival of Lights is another Christmas light display that motorists can drive through. However, the city’s parks department hosts guided walks through the park twice a week before vehicles are allowed to enter, giving visitors a chance to experience the lighted displays on foot. 

It is also a chance to encourage residents to walk in the parks more. 

“Our trails are open every day, but this is a great way for people to get together and enjoy time as a community,” parks director Teresa Ervin told The Daily Ardmoreite. “Sometimes it really helps to have someone there giving you a word of encouragement to keep going, and we’ll all be there doing that for one another.”

Season of giving

Many holiday events are put on by nonprofit groups as a way to raise donations. Fantasy Land in Bartlesville’s Johnstone Park is a drive-through lights display presented by the Rotary Bartlesville Daybreak club. 

Admission to Fantasy Land of Lights is free, but donations are collected for the Rotary fund for college scholarships.

Promote your uniqueness

Roberson said Yukon’s Christmas in the Park light display started when there weren’t any similar events in the region. 

“I think you have to find what makes your community unique and think about what people would want to see,” Roberson said. 

Roberson also said cities and event organizers should constantly be looking for ways to improve and modernize their events. 

Yukon’s Christmas in the Park recently launched “selfie stations” in an effort to encourage visitors to take photos with friends and family. They are also asking guests to tag the city with any pictures posted on social media. 

Holiday events across Oklahoma can range in size from simple tree lighting ceremonies with entertainment from the local high school choir, to giant light displays that cause traffic jams on local streets. But no matter the size, these events offer a chance to bring citizens together and showcase a city to visitors. 

“It’s one of the most important things we do for Yukon,” Roberson said.

For information about other Christmas events across Oklahoma, please visit: travelok.com/article_page/top-holiday-events-in-oklahoma