Volunteers and event organizers were busy making final preparations Friday ahead of this year’s 25th Annual S.M. Wright Foundation Christmas in the Park at Fair Park.
Christmas in the Park is an annual gift-giving event organized by the S.M. Wright Foundation and held inside the Automobile Building at Fair Park in Dallas. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, December 16, at 8:30 a.m.
The S.M. Wright Foundation organizes the annual event in an effort to spread holiday joy and hope to those who need it most. The Foundation provides brand-new toys, bed sets, coats, bicycles, food, clothing, and household items to thousands of children and their families each Christmas season.
Upon entering the Automobile Building, families will see a large decorated Christmas tree located front and center. To the right of the Christmas tree will be a large section with multiple rows of bicycles for kids. To the left will be several pavilions featuring numerous categories of gifts.
In a pre-event conversation with The Dallas Express on Friday, S.M. Wright Jr., co-founder, president, and CEO of the S.M. Wright Foundation, said he anticipates headcount at this year’s Christmas in the Park to surpass previous years.
“It is going to be a lot, and we’re expecting a lot more families this year given the economy,” said Wright Jr. “This year’s Christmas in the Park will make an enormous difference for local families,” he said.
During set up on Friday, Dallas resident Victor Meza, 18, detailed the extraordinary effort that has gone into making Saturday’s gift-giving event special for Dallas families.
In Santa Claus fashion, Meza — who is working to become a future Air Force pilot — said he has been helping transport Christmas gifts from the warehouse since Wednesday and that a lot of hard work has gone into organizing the event this year.
Meza told The Dallas Express that helping set up this year’s Christmas in the Park has been a joyous experience and that he looks forward to seeing all the smiling faces on Saturday.
“Life is an experience, so it’s important to enjoy every day” regardless of the hardships that may lay in front of you, Meza said.
Besides the wonderful Christmas decorations adorning the building, the number of toys, gifts, clothes, and other items organized throughout the facility will surely bring a smile to families this Saturday.
