For the third month running, SCUBA – the South Cape United Business Association – is gearing up for “Nights on the Parkway.”

This month’s street stroll will be held Friday, Dec. 16, from 6-9 p.m., along Cape Coral Parkway, Southeast 47th Terrace and other venues along the downtown corridor.

The theme is “Holiday Giving for the Cape Coral Caring Center” and residents turning out for a evening of entertainment, dining and shopping are asked to bring nonperishable food items and canned good to help the needy.

“The businesses will be collecting for the Cape Coral Caring Center,” said Judi Heller, owner of Su Casa, one of dozens of businesses taking part.

“There’s a dire need for our residents,” she added.

Patterned after the popular Art Walk nights held in downtown Fort Myers, the fledgling event has been scheduled monthly to draw families to the South Cape with live entertainment, themed fun and special offerings.

Business owners in and around the Cape’s downtown hope to encourage families to walk the pavered sidewalks and visit the shops and businesses while also enjoying a night out.

Dozens of downtown businesses are taking part, Heller said, adding so far, the community seems to be embracing the effort.

“They are excited to have another reason to visit the parkway at night,” she said. “They keep saying things like they are discovering new businesses that they didn’t know about as they can’t visit during the day and that they’re happy there’s another activity after dark.”

The inaugural “Nights on the Parkway,” with a Halloween theme, offered free candy, face painting, clowns for the kids and a costume contest for four-legged family members. The event drew three times the regular traffic to the downtown district in October, organizers said.

Last month’s event, which included live music, classic cars, karaoke, raffle prizes, a treasure hunt and the return of icon “Big John,” proved popular as well.

“We’re planning on year round,” Heller said of upcoming “Nights on the Parkway.”