With a little over a month remaining before the official opening of the annual light display, Noble Park is already looking festive. Lighted frames that have been placed strategically on the lawn, all around the park, are going up. Locals and visitors drive/walk through the park, watching as Paducah Power workers and volunteers make constant progress. The Friday after Thanksgiving is the target date to flip the switch and light up the City's largest park.
Christmas in the Park began in 1997 with Christmas lights donated by JF “Doc” Hicks and Jimmy Kinsey. Both men had displays at their homes for many years. Over the years, PPS has purchased many new displays and added several from corporate sponsors. This year over a half million twinkling bulbs will illuminate the park between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Thousands of people will visit the attraction, making it a holiday favorite for people of all ages. To add to the holiday experience, those driving through the park can tune their radios to hear Christmas music, thanks to Bristol Broadcasting, Co. A sign at the park entrance directs visitors where to set their radio dial.
During Christmas in the Park, PPS employees and community volunteers man the Santa House at the park, collecting donations of money and nonperishable food for area helping agencies. To date, Christmas in the Park has generated well over a half million dollars and more than 757,000 pounds of food for local food pantries. In 2016, the event raised 66,893 pounds of food and $43,752. All donations from Christmas in the Park activities go to Paducah Cooperative Ministry, Family Service Society, the Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul Society.
In recent years, a significant portion of the proceeds have come from the annual Stuff the Truck drive involving Lourdes, Baptist Health Paducah and Wagner Moving and Storage and the School Challenge with local schools. During Stuff the Truck, employees at both hospitals and the general public work for two days to stuff a semi trailer full of canned and dry goods.
During the annual School Challenge, schools in Paducah/McCracken County compete against each other by collecting canned goods. The school that collects the most pounds of food per student wins $1,000. Together, last year, the schools generated over 30,000 pounds of canned goods for Christmas in the Park.
