The Dunwoody area celebrated its third holiday lighting ceremony of the season on Dec. 1 as an estimated 1,300 people braved some chilly temperatures at Brook Run Park on North Peachtree Road.
In late November, the Dunwoody Homeowners Association hosted “Light Up Dunwoody” at the Shops of Dunwoody, followed by “Light Up the Village” at the Funwoody complex the next weekend.
The Brook Run event was put on by the city’s parks and recreation department, and featured the lighting of the “Mega Tree” around dusk.
This year’s display has more than 100,000 lights that will shine nightly in the park through the end of the year. The Arctic Safari theme includes a safari-style vehicle and train, the Mega Tree, illuminated faux igloo geo-domes, Arctic animal ice shapes, and a penguin glow area.
Holiday Lights has become a popular Dunwoody holiday tradition since it began in 2020 as an effort to bring the community together during a time when COVID-19 was forcing the whole world to isolate.
Since then, according to the park’s department, the display now attracts an average of 27,600 visitors to Brook Run Park in December.
Volunteers from Dunwoody-Atlanta Chapter – DAC of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. assisted with this year’s Letters to Seniors program during Holiday Lights opening night.
“The goal of the program is to send a little holiday cheer to those in isolation or just needing extra love this season,” according to a city statement.
The letters are still being collected through noon Dec. 20. Dropoff locations include Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., and Spruill Arts Center, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.
The letters will be distributed to residents at Dunwoody assisted living communities.
At the event, organizers gathered more than 50 senior letters, according to Dunwoody’s Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher.
Letters to Santa, was another popular activity at the Holiday Lights party, and will also continue through Dec. 20.
Children can send messages and pictures to Santa by emailing Santa.Claus@dunwoodyga.gov. Santa will respond with a personalized, mailed letter. Those wishing to participate should include in the email the child’s name, return mailing address, and any special instructions.
More than 100 Santa letters were collected at the event, Boettcher said.
