Festival of Lights set for Saturday
The CenturyLink Holiday Festival of Lights takes place Saturday in downtown Cape Coral.
Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, the event will run from 4-10 p.m. along Cape Coral Parkway East, between Southeast 15th Avenue and Candia Street. The roadway will be blocked off to through traffic starting at 6 a.m., which is a few hours earlier than last year, officials reported.
“Please plan your day accordingly and arrange for alternate routes during your travels,” Donna Germain, a spokeswoman for the chamber, said in a prepared statement released last week.
The involved stretch of Cape Coral Parkway will reopen Sunday at midnight.
The festival features a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at 6:15 p.m. at the Cape Coral Town Center, also known as Big John’s shopping center. A tree lighting will then take place to officially kick off the holiday season in the Cape. Santa will be available for pictures until the end of the festival.
“He will be talking with kids and taking pictures,” Germain said.
There will be four holiday stages with local entertainers performing throughout the night.
“They’re dance groups, school groups,” she said, offering some examples.
Another highlight of the festival will be a 25-ton snow drift slide for the children. The slide will be located in the parking lot next door to the Wendy’s, at 1427 E. Cape Coral Parkway.