Tree Decorating, Lighting Events Kick-off Holiday Activities

The City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation Department will begin its holiday activities on Wednesday, Dec. 5 with the annual tree decorating event for children at City Hall from 4 to 5 p.m.

This year the city has an artificial tree, which came to the city with decorations already attached. For that reason, kids are asked to decorate the fence around the tree instead, but all the same holiday ornaments and creations are welcome. The address of City Hall is 121 S.W. Port St. Lucie Boulevard.

Then on Thursday, Dec. 6, the annual tree lighting event will begin at 5:45 p.m. with holiday musical performances by local youth dance and performance groups and the popular band Shaboom. Santa Claus will arrive shortly after the lighting of the tree, which will take place at about 6:30 p.m.

Immediately after the events at City Hall, the Winter Wonderland Light show will begin across the street at the Community Center on Airoso Boulevard. It will run from 6 to 7 p.m. every evening until Jan. 2. All the events are free and open to the public.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, the annual Festival of Lights event starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 9 p.m. in Lyngate Park. Admission is free and there will be food, children's rides, crafts, music, vendors and more. The Festival of Lights parade will begin at 5:45 p.m. and will travel north on Veterans Memorial Parkway toward Lyngate Drive and the park. It will be followed immediately by fireworks.

Also offered by the Parks and Recreation Department is Santa's Calling for kids 2 to 8 years old. Parks employees will arrange for Santa to place a personal phone call to any child who is registered by Tuesday, Nov. 13. The calls will be made on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 13 and 14, between 6 and 8 p.m.

The final holiday event is planned for Friday, Dec. 21, when kids from 2 to 5 years old and their parents are invited to have Pancakes with Santa from 9:30 a.m. to Noon at the Community Center. This event costs $6.95 per child.

For more information about any of the city’s official holiday events, call (772) 878-2277.

For more information, contact:
Tonya L. Taylor
Civic Center Administrator
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5092