Is the economy that bad?

[nutterbutter2010]

That they holiday light shows are being canceled? I'm in NJ, and at the PNC Bank Art Center in Holmdel they have the Holiday Light Spectacular, but this year it has been canceled. It was one of the best light "spectaculars" on the east coast, and I was really looking forward to taking my girls there. Its not cheap - about $20 per car or so, but so worth it. Really got you in the Christmas spirit


So do you think they canceled it because they don't forsee many people coming because they don't have the money to spare, or something else??




Also, and NJ people here have any suggestions of somewhere else to go? I know Jenkensons Aquarium has something, but its just for a few days, and.... how good could it be inside that small aquarium??? LOL

 

[happygirl]

I wouldn't pay 20.00 to go see Christmas lights when I can go see them for free

 

[allison443]

I hadn't heard that was canceled. I'm surprised-I though it was pretty popular.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Back when we lived in NJ we use to go to that ever year, it was so much fun! That's sad they cancelled it. My kids were really little when we went and they still remember it.

 

[MM27]

I figured something must be up with that because I drive the parkway back and forth every day for work and if I leave late I could always see the lights from there. I was just wondering the other day why they weren't on yet.

 

[princess momma]

Yes, the economy is that bad.

 

[Wall-E1]

Yes, the economy is that bad. This is what happens when the U.S. Treasury is the victim of the largest "bank heist" in history.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I wouldn't pay 20.00 to go see Christmas lights when I can go see them for free

So you wouldn't got to WDW?

 

[happygirl]

So you wouldn't got to WDW?

That different LOL

 

[Hercules10]

Property tax revenue is way down thanks to the real estate bubble exploding. Sales and use tax are way down as consumers tighten their spending habits. Both put a strangle hold on cities' and local communities' revenue streams. All levels have had to slash their budgets. Holiday cheer isn't cheap.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

Oh, no way! We go every year and I was looking forward to going next weekend. The kids always love it (our oldest is 5 - such a great age). That's too bad...

For me it's a sentimental thing as I grew up in Holmdel and worked the concession stands at the Garden State Arts Center (in the days before corporate sponsorship and PNC Bank came along ) every summer.

Bummer.

 

[disney1990]

None of the big light displays in our area have been cancelled. Sorry to hear about yours.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

Two other options (which are a bit of a drive for us as we're at the shore) are the holiday light display at Camden Children's Garden:

http://www.camdenchildrensgarden.org/calendar.html

or in Wall Twp. they're having a Christmas express train at Allaire State Park. We've taken the train ride in the summer time and it's a lot of fun for the little ones but we've never been on the holiday version. They say it sells out every year so I don't know if you can still get tickets or not:

http://www.njmt.org/specialevents.htm#_November_23rd,_24th_1

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I've done the Allaire State Park train. It's okay. I guess it just depends on the age of your kids. We did this for a few years when DD was younger, but at 14, I don't think she's interested anymore.

 

[eliza61]

Property tax revenue is way down thanks to the real estate bubble exploding. Sales and use tax are way down as consumers tighten their spending habits. Both put a strangle hold on cities' and local communities' revenue streams. All levels have had to slash their budgets. Holiday cheer isn't cheap.

In Philly, they have this thing called the Mummers parade. It's on New Years day and has been a tradition for, forever. Last year the city informed the mummers that it was no longer picking up the tab for the parade. You should have seen the uproar. Basically it came down to this, you can get your holiday parade or you can have firefighters and policemen. The city budget was that bad.

This year if the Mummers want a parade they have to pay for it themselves.

 

[Pakey]

Our city cancelled the holiday lights this year. Of course, our unemployment rate is higher than the national average. Things are terrible here. I'm glad they cancelled it; that money can be put to better use.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

Now I'm thinking Story Book Land in Egg Harbor Twp some weeknight... anyone been? They say they've got holiday lights, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and they're open every day from 4:30pm - 9pm.

http://storybookland.com/

If nothing else, we may have to add it to our things to do list in the warmer weather.

 

[ReneeA]

The Detroit area has at least a 25% unemployment rate (that's actually worse than our unemployment rates in the Great Depression - at least the auto plants were still churning out cars then). All of our extras are being cancelled also, unless they can come up with private donations.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

One thing to realize however - is how many people it takes to put these lights up! For the PNC ones near me, it takes 2 months to do. That would be JOBS for a lot of people.

 

[ReneeA]

One thing to realize however - is how many people it takes to put these lights up! For the PNC ones near me, it takes 2 months to do. That would be JOBS for a lot of people.

Yup, and the city has to have the money to pay those people. The money isn't there right now unfortunately. I'm sure most governments and private companies would LOVE to have all of their employees working right now.