Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park: 2020

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 Johnson City Christmas Parade, the Blue Plum Organization found another way to bring holiday cheer to Downtown Johnson City. That year, we organized Christmas in the Park, transforming Founders Park into a festive holiday destination and giving families a safe way to celebrate the season during an otherwise difficult year. The event featured community-decorated Christmas trees and holiday lights, creating a welcoming space where families could walk through the park, enjoy the decorations, and experience some much-needed Christmas spirit.​ Christmas in the Park was a natural extension of Blue Plum’s long-standing mission to bring people together and create memorable experiences in Downtown Johnson City. Even when a traditional parade was not possible, we found a way to keep the holiday season alive downtown.

The 2020 celebration also helped lay the groundwork for the expanded holiday programming that followed. In 2021, when it became safe to hold the Christmas Parade again, we handed the Christmas in the Park event to the City of Johnson City and Connect Downtown Johnson City, which led this growing Christmas tradition into an nationally-recognized event, now titled Candyland Christmas.