Holiday Express to shut down Pullen Park for more than week starting Thursday
Pullen Park will be closed for more than a week starting Thursday so staff can prepare and host the sold out Holiday Express.
The park near downtown Raleigh will be closed to the public Dec. 6 through Dec. 17. Only Holiday Express ticketholders will be able to enter the park and only on the day their tickets are good for. (Chavis Park's carousel also will be closed Dec. 6 to Dec. 17 because the staffers who run the carousel will be helping with the Holiday Express.)
The event, which includes a visit with Santa, carousel rides, a ride on the park's kiddie train, arts, crafts and thousands of holiday lights, sold out in what seemed like minutes in late July. At the time, disappointed parents, who weren't able to get tickets for their family, were livid that some people may be buying the tickets to sell online later. One person claimed to have those plans on Go Ask Mom's Facebook page.
More recently, several businesses have run contests for Holiday Express tickets, giving their followers and customers the chance to win some of the dozens of tickets that they had purchased.
On Monday, however, city officials said they found no issues with tickets exceeding the transaction limits through Eventbrite for resale purposes or contests.
"Like other events, those who purchase tickets often resell or use [them] for contests/promotions," said Kellee Beach, marketing communications administrator for the city. "We do not regulate who purchases tickets."
If you are one of the lucky thousands with tickets, here are a few things to know before you go:
- If you have a later train boarding time, you are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the other activities before you hop on the train.
- Pullen Place Cafe will have a special Holiday Express menu that includes meals, snacks and hot chocolate.
- Ticket holders can park at Pullen Park. Overflow parking is at Governor Morehead School across Ashe Avenue from the park. Overflow parking is a short walk to the park. There will be no shuttles.
- Tickets will be required for entrance into the event. Download the Eventbrite app to access e-tickets or print out paper tickets at home before you go.
The city's website has more details.
