“Capital Holiday Lights in Washington Park has been a Capital Region tradition since 1997,” Albany Police Sports League (PAL) board chairman David Bauer said in a statement. “In this 25th and final year here at Washington Park, we look forward to bringing to our area residents this symbol of hope, love and peace that defines the holiday season.”

For years, the event has been a very popular mainstay where cars roam through urban foliage to contemplate brightly colored decorations.

Yet the future of the vacation mainstay came under scrutiny this spring when neighborhood groups surrounding Washington Park said the event was a victim of its own success and had long passed its mark. , resulting in six weeks of chaos, including roaring traffic, stressed infrastructure and what they saw as a questionable benefit to the neighborhood.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan acknowledged that the car-centric event had a big impact.

“In order to preserve this historic treasure in our city for its next 150 years and to continue our work to achieve our carbon reduction targets, the time has come to recognize that this event is not in line with those targets,” said Sheehan in a statement. Until August, the city did not know whether it would grant a permit.

This year’s installment will run from November 26 to January 2.

PAL, which has already started locating locations for next year’s installment, continues to seek personnel to assist with installation, operations and teardown. Electrical technicians are also needed. Lighting installation will begin shortly and volunteers are always welcome, officials said.

Neighborhood groups said they “fully support” the compromise deal announced by officials on Wednesday and praised Sheehan and PAL for their efforts to secure a deal, which is also supported by the Washington Park Conservancy.

“For the past year, this compromise puts in place a system to mitigate traffic congestion and other potential impacts on residents of surrounding neighborhoods while still giving PAL time to determine a more suitable location that would allow it to thrive,” said the leaders of five neighborhood organizations in a joint statement. “Over the next several years, this will realign the use, maintenance and preservation of Washington Park to its original mission by providing four-season access to this historic site. “

The groups raised concerns in May, raising a long list of objections as the event has escalated in recent years, drawing thousands of visitors to the densely populated neighborhoods.

This year’s launch event comes with several changes:

• All admissions must be secured in advance via online booking. Driving purchases will not be permitted and any customer attempting to participate in the event without a pre-purchased ticket will be referred to the online booking platform. (For anyone unable to make an online purchase, in-person tickets may be available for advance purchase at the PAL office Monday through Friday during regular business hours).
• Evenings reserved for pedestrians will be offered on Sunday and Monday of the opening week, from November 21 to 22, and on Saturday December 11. as well as the American Red Cross of Northeast New York State and the Regional Food Bank of Northeast New York State. Admission is $ 5 per person or $ 10 for a family.
• On Monday, November 22, the “Pet Walk Night” will take place during which pets will be admitted free of charge. Admission is $ 5 per person, or $ 10 for a family. The evening walk on Saturday 11 December will be the 25th annual 5K run in the city of Albany.
• PAL supporters and youth programs are invited to peruse the displays each evening from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. before the show opens to traffic.

“Holiday Lights in the Park” serves as the main fundraiser for PAL’s annual $ 1.2 million budget and dates back to 1997 when it featured 30 screens, a number that grew to 126 last year. This year’s event will have 103 illuminated decorations, organizers said

Bauer said although organizers are sad to leave, the past year will be a “fantastic” start.

“We look forward to the continuation of the light show so that PAL can continue to support the more than 2,000 children and families in Albany who participate in PAL programming each year,” he said.

For more information and the full schedule of events, visit http://albanycapitalholidaylights.com.

To help support PAL or to volunteer to help with this year’s show, call 518-435-0392 or email [email protected]