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Ask any Saint Paul-area resident during your search for Saint Paul homes for sale about holiday traditions, and the Christmas lights at Rice Park will surely top his or her list. With a holiday tree as bright – and tall – as NYC's Rockefeller Center tree, it's easy to see why!
Each year, Downtown Saint Paul's Rice Park is transformed into a glittering holiday wonderland, starting with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony that boasts thousands of blue lights. But with Rice Park undergoing a $2.42 million construction project that includes new walkways, grass, and landscaping, many residents wondered if the annual festivities would go on as planned.
Despite concerns that area residents wouldn't be able to enjoy the holiday light display this year, the Visit St. Paul Foundation, in conjunction with the event producer, found a way for the show to go on. The Rice Park Powered by Xcel Energy Tree Lighting Ceremony was held as planned Nov. 18 – with a few modifications.
New sod in Rice Park meant heavy trucks couldn't be driven to place the lights on any interior trees. The solution? Lights were strung on the street side of the park's trees, lining the perimeter for a similar effect. Additional lighting on inside branches also helped showcase the traditional twinkle lights that usually encircle each tree.
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