Holiday Festival of Lights
Though it may feel like Christmas in July in Cape Coral, the turn of the calendar to December means those bustling at the North Pole are working in overdrive, while our city is also working to bring an authentic winter atmosphere to palm tree-lined streets.
The CenturyLink Holiday Festival of Lights is a marque tradition in the Cape, as more than 20,000 residents from around the area will come to enjoy the festive atmosphere on Cape Coral Parkway Saturday, Dec. 1, for music, attractions, sledding (yessledding), the lighting of the tree and to even catch a glimpse of jolly old St. Nick himself.
“The CenturyLink Holiday Festival of Lights is so special to our community and is one of our longest standing traditions,” said Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Donna Germain. “It is a great opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the start of the holiday season. We are so blessed as an organization to have an amazing group of sponsors and volunteers that assist our staff each year in putting this event together for the residents of Cape Coral.”
The Chamber, along with sponsors and volunteers, makes bringing Christmas to Cape Coral possible.
“We could not do about 80 percent of what we do as an organization without the help of our planning committee, volunteers and community supporters,” Germain said. “They help us with everything from pre-planning meetings that start months in advance, to set up and break down the day of the event. We are truly grateful for what they do for us.”
The free event kicks off Saturday at 4 p.m. as attractions and decorations fill Cape Coral Parkway from Southeast 15th Avenue to Candia Street.
There will be three holiday stages that will host local entertainers, dance troupes and singers, who will perform throughout the night.
Businesses in the area will also have entertainment outside their shops for folks to enjoy as well.
Other highlights include a Tiny Tots Train Ride, Candy Cane Park, tree lighting and the ever-popular 20-ton Snow Slide.
“Cape Coral’s annual tree lighting started nearly 40 years ago by the business owners in downtown Cape Coral or South Cape as it is now known,” Germain said. “Elmer Tabor and his family have generously ‘loaned’ (us) Big John’s Plaza/Cape Coral Town Center for more than 30 years as host of the official Cape Coral Christmas Tree. Decorating the tree has also become a very special tradition for the Tabor family over the years as well.”
“It’s our gift to the community every year,” Tabor said. “It originally started out as a holiday night for people to come out and enjoy, and for businesses to say ‘thank you’ to their customers for the year.”
Now, the event is one of the biggest the city puts on each year.
“Personally, it is one of my favorite events that the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral puts on for the community,” Germain said.
Santa will make his way down “Santa Claus Lane” to light the tree at 6:30 p.m., along with a little help from Tabor’s granddaughters.
Comically, the first year the Tabor’s had the tree delivered, it was decorated by the company who delivered it.
To the dismay of Tabor’s wife, she found herself unmoved with how it was decorated, so the Tabors decided they would do it themselves.
The rest, as they say, is history.
The 25-foot artificial tree will be illuminated by 10,000 LED lights, sponsored by LCEC.
The festival brings a jubilant and lighthearted atmosphere for families and residents alike that can provide a lasting Christmas memory for years to come.
“(The Festival of Lights) also holds a special place for me as a lifelong resident of Cape Coral,” Germain said. “I remember attending this event as a child and performing at it in various school groups in elementary and middle school, so having the opportunity to contribute to this event through the Chamber is something I am very proud of.”
A collection to benefit the Cape Coral Caring Center will be taken up as well, as attendees are encouraged to bring a food or monetary donation.
Parking is on a first-come, first-serve basis in the public parking lots.
Cape Coral Parkway will be closed beginning at 5 a.m. on Dec. 1, and will reopen at 2 a.m. Dec. 2.
The festival wraps up at 10 p.m.
For more information and for a full schedule of performers and their time slots and stages, visit www.holidayfestivalcc.com.
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