Students from San Jose State University are partnering with the nonprofit Christmas in the Park to overhaul the Countdown to Christmas display for 2026. The project combines mechanical engineering and industrial design to add moving elements to the holiday attraction .

3D Printing and Moving Elves for the 2026 Season

The redesign of the Countdown to Christmas display involves a multidisciplinary team from San Jose State University, blending the skills of industrial designers and mechanical engineers. According to the report, the team is moving beyond traditional methods by utilizing 3D printing and fiberglass casting to bring the display to life. While the iconic arrow counting down the days remains, the new version will introduce moving elves to add a dynamic storytelling element to the attraction.

The development process began with low-fidelity cardboard and clay models before transitioning into detailed prototypes. this workflow allows San Jose State University mechanical engineering students to focus on the technical movement of the figures, while industrial design students manage the aesthetics and the overall user experience. Operations Director Keith Peffer noted that this collaborative approach creates a repeatable formula for making annual improvements to the event's displays.

The $1 Million Goal for Modernization and Scholarships

Executive Director Ted Lopez is leveraging this student partnership as part of a larger, more ambitious vision for the nonprofit. The organization is pursuing a $1 million initiative aimed at modernizing its various displays, creating seasonal employment opportunities, and establishing scholarships for students. By integrating academic projects into the event, Christmas in the Park aims to showcase local talent and encourage those students to remain in San Jose after graduation.

This strategy reflects a broader trend where civic nonprofits act as experiential laboratories for university students. By providing a public stage for industrial design and engineering projects, Christmas in the Park transforms a seasonal celebration into a workforce development pipeline. This approach not only updates the physical attractions but also embeds the nonprofit into the city's educational ecosystem, ensuring a steady stream of fresh technical expertise.

A Revolving Stage for Broadway San Jose

Beyond the countdown clock, the nonprofit is expanding its technical ambitions through a partnership with sponsor Broadway San Jose. As reported in the source, Operations Director Keith Peffer and Zack Tatar are developing a new display featuring a revolving stage. This speciifc installation is designed to offer a dual perspective, showcasing a polished musical theater performance on one side and the "backstage chaos" on the other.

The Broadway San Jose project highlights the organization's shift toward more complex mechanical installations. By moving from static displays to revolving stages and kinetic figures, Christmas in the Park is increasing the technical requirements of its attractions, which in turn increases the value of the partnership with San Jose State University's engineering departments.

Who Will Lead the High School Intern Workshops?

Despite the clear technical roadmap, several operational gaps remain. Executive Director Ted Lopez has explicitly stated the need for professionals to lead workshops for college students and high school interns, but the report does not name any confirmed partners or instructors for these roles. Furthermore , while the $1 million modernization goal is ambitious, the source does not specify the current funding level or the primary sources of these expected sponsorships .

The community will see the results of these efforts when the redesigned Countdown to Christmas display debuts on November 27, the Friday after Thanksgiving. Whether the nonprofit can secure the professional mentorship and financial backing required to sustain the $1 million vision remains to be seen.