Festive Dallasites kicked off the season with the Lee Park and Arlington Hall Conservancy, who hosted the 10th annual Light Up Lee Park holiday kickoff event. Friends of Lee Park packed the Great Lawn for the official lighting of the historic Dallas landmark, which was open to the public.

While on the Great Lawn, they enjoyed an evening full of holiday cheer and entertainment that included hot chocolate and music by the Salvation Army Brass Ensemble. A few holiday favorites, such as “Silent Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” evoked giddy cheers from the crowd.

In addition to the festivities outside, Arlington Hall was buzzing with the conservancy’s annual Members and Patrons Holiday Party. More than 450 attendees — including Molly Ridgway, Casey Cleary, Annika and Dennis Cail, and Ann Gresham — donned their holiday best and celebrated the season with dinner, drinks and dancing. And there was much to toast, as this year saw the opening of a ramp linking Lee Park to the Katy Trail and Arlington Hall’s 75th anniversary.

Conservancy patrons joined the rest of the partiers on the lawn for the much-anticipated lighting and fireworks display. Leading the countdown to the lighting were Gay Donnell, Lee Park and Arlington Hall Conservancy president; District 1 county commissioner Dr. Theresa Daniel; and District 14 city councilman Philip Kingston. Once the trees were lit, a fireworks display brightened the night sky over Turtle Creek.

“Lee Park has a more than 100-year history in Dallas, and this event gave the public the opportunity to create new memories in a place that already holds so many,” Donnell said.