‘Lights on the Lake’ to brighten Ascarate Park this weekend
Ascarate Park will host its third annual Lights on the Lake this Saturday to mark the holiday season.
El Paso County Parks crews have spent hours setting up light displays around Ascarate and are ready to brighten the park.
Visitors can walk or drive around the park to look at the displays.
“The event is continuing to grow as we build on it and people get excited about it every year,” said Alexandra South, marketing specialist for El Paso County Parks and Special Events.
The county is expanding the event to provide more entertainment including the Jingle Bell Jog, a 1.5-mile stroll around the lake, beginning at 5 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to wear their favorite holiday sweaters.
After the Jingle Bell Jog, there will be live entertainment, music, carnival-style games and food vendors.
The night will wrap up with a free showing of the movie, ‘A Christmas Story,’ on what county officials are calling the largest inflatable screen in the city in a drive-in style atmosphere.
Visitors will be able to park in a designated area as they arrive for the evening and they will be able to listen to the movie on their car radios.
A seating area will also be available for those with blankets and chairs.
“This event, I think is nostalgic for a lot of people. They have memories of Ascarate as a child and we want people to keep coming back and remember how great it was,” South said.
The park entry fee will be waived on Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m.
The light displays will be on nightly until the beginning of January and park entry fees will apply.
“As we increase park use and as people start seeing and remembering that the park is here, we’re able to secure funding and get grant money. The more we do for the community the more of an asset it is,” South said.
