ALBANY –– The Albany Police Athletic League announced last week an informal agreement with Albany County and the Altamont Fair to present a new and improved Capital Holiday Lights Extravaganza, beginning in November 2023.
While there were several offers from communities and private property owners throughout the region, the right location was difficult to find. Infrastructure needs, such as electric, roadways, and aesthetics needed to be addressed; drive-ability, physical improvements, as well as vendor and parking needs were also major concerns.
“We are looking forward to finalizing an agreement to be the new location for the Capital Holiday Lights show,” said Amy Anderson, Manager of the Altamont Fair. “We understand what this beloved show means to the thousands of Capital Region residents who come annually, and we anxiously await the opportunities it will bring to Altamont.”
The timing of this agreement, post-Covid employment factors, and the infrastructure needs, make it impossible to present the quality show our supporters expect for 2022. Rather than turning out the lights for the children that we serve, PAL is excited to announce, with longtime community partners, that the 2022 Price Chopper/Market 32 Capital Holiday Lights event will be remote and will present a nostalgic video for all to enjoy.
“Price Chopper/Market 32 relishes the opportunity to resume title sponsorship of Capital Holiday Lights when it relocates to the Altamont Fairgrounds in 2023,” said Mona Golub, Vice President, Public Relations and Consumer Services for Price Chopper/Market 32. “It’s a privilege to sponsor one of the region’s greatest holiday attractions, which fuels the wonderful youth programming that PAL provides as it entertains thousands of neighbors and friends.”
The video will be available for online enjoyment at www.PALlights.com beginning on Friday, Nov. 25, at 6 pm. The show will have an online presence through January 2.
For 25 years, PAL’s holiday lights show has been the premier Capital District event bringing holiday cheer annually to tens of thousands of lights enthusiasts. It is estimated that more than 2 million people have visited the event since its November 1997 debut.
The proceeds from this annual event support PAL programming that serves area youth. These programs provide a safe place for city youth to go after school, as well as when school is not in session, helping children engage in positive ways with law enforcement at an early age, and providing life skills and mentorship to help them become successful adults.
“We couldn’t let a year go by without a lights show for everyone to enjoy,” said retired Albany Police Sgt. Leonard Ricchiuti, “so just as families ordered pizza and came in their pajamas before, we’re inviting them to still do that in front of their televisions and keep the spirit of the lights lit while we await a new home for the show. Everything we’ve done for the last 25 years will need to be rerouted, refreshed, and renewed to provide the best holiday experience for all.”
For more information about the Albany Police Athletic League, visit the website https://www.albanypal.org/.