Holiday Lighting Ceremony Brings Joy to Emerson Park

On Saturday, November 15th, our community came together for one of Argentine’s most cherished traditions — the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Emerson Park. With approximately 200 kids in attendance, the park was filled with excitement, families, and festive spirit.

Although we weren’t able to decorate the gazebo this year due to the upcoming roof replacement by UG Parks and Recreation, the celebration didn’t miss a beat. The talented youth from New City Church stepped up and beautifully decorated the trees throughout the park, giving the event a warm and magical glow. Their work truly transformed the space, and we’re grateful for their creativity and generosity.

This event was made possible through the strong partnership of Villa Argentine Neighborhood Association (VANA), New City Church, and Southwest Argentine Neighborhood (SWAN)—a team that continues to show what community collaboration can accomplish. We were also supported by about six volunteers from JC Harmon’s National Honor Society, students from Sumner, and several community volunteers who helped everything run smoothly.

And of course, no Holiday Lighting Ceremony would be complete without Santa! He arrived in style once again this year, riding in on Station 7’s fire truck. We’re incredibly thankful to our first responders for always finding ways to support our neighborhood traditions and bring extra joy to the kids.

Throughout the evening, families enjoyed bike giveaways, cash giveaways, and several festive goodie baskets. Our generous annual sponsors made these moments possible, including:

Franklin Center • Arvest Bank • Panasonic Energy • Metro KC Fitness • Southwest Argentine Neighborhood • Rep. Louis Ruiz • Rep. Melissa Oropeza • Dragonfly MSP • Elite Designs • Villa Argentine Neighborhood Association

A huge thank you to all of them for their continued support of our events and our community.

Holiday treats added to the fun—Grounded Sole provided delicious hot cocoa, New City Church brought carolers, ran the s’mores station, and helped kids roast marshmallows, while VANA, SWAN, and ABC provided cookies with the help of volunteers who kept the sweets flowing.

One of the most magical moments of the night was selecting a kiddo from the crowd to flip the switch and officially light up the park. Their excitement spread to everyone around, and as the park lit up, so did the smiles.

We’re also excited to share that VANA helped the UG install lights along Strong Avenue again this year, including several new additions that make our commercial corridor shine a little brighter for the holidays.

All in all, the Holiday Lighting Ceremony was another joyful success—filled with community, collaboration, and the spirit of the season. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored, or contributed in any way. Our neighborhood shines brighter because of you.