In a year when residents likely could use some holiday cheer, the Cape’s annual winter wonderland arrives this weekend, as the community is set to light the tree and welcome Mr. and Mrs. Claus to Southwest Florida.

Holiday Festival of Lights, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral and title sponsored by The Gunterberg Charitable Foundation – Culliton Family, takes place Dec. 3, where family and friends can experience a jovial atmosphere and plenty of fun for all.

“The Festival of Lights is a Cape Coral tradition that is all about family and community,” said Chamber President and CEO Donna Germain. “More than 40 years ago, the business owners in downtown Cape Coral or, South Cape as it is now known, started the annual tree lighting and block party. Over the years, this event has grown into one of the largest-single day events in Southwest Florida, with more than 25,000 in attendance. As an organization, we are fortunate to have our incredible sponsors and volunteers to aid our staff each year in putting this event together for the residents of Cape Coral. We could not do a fraction of what we do without them.”

The event takes place from 4 to 10 p.m. along Cape Coral Parkway from Del Prado Boulevard to Candia Street. The opening ceremony begins at 5:45 p.m. and Santa will be arriving at 6:15 for the official LCEC tree lighting at 6:30.

The jolly man in the red suit and his missus will arrive at the Cape Coral Town Center (Big John’s) to officially kick off Cape Coral’s holiday season with the lighting of the Christmas Tree. Pictures with Santa will follow immediately after the lighting until 10 p.m.

“This year especially, we feel our community and businesses need some holiday cheer as we continue to rebuild from Hurricane Ian,” Germain said. “We are a strong community and will come back better than ever. We have not missed a year, even in 2020, and this year will be no different.”

Next to Santa, kids can have a blast and traverse down the 15-ton snow slide, a rare chance to hit the slopes in Southwest Florida. One of the biggest attractions at the event, the slide will be located adjacent to the Winn-Dixie parking lot on the parkway and sponsored by The Brotherhood of Heroes Resource Center and Museum.

Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral is sponsoring the free Tiny Tot’s Train Ride on Vincennes Boulevard. There will be three performance stages with local entertainers and dance troupes providing live entertainment throughout the evening.

Cape Christian Fellowship will host Candy Cane Park, a free kids area complete with inflatables and so much more. Don’t forget various food and holiday craft vendors on-site. The Cape Coral Caring Center is also collecting food for the holiday season.

“One of the things I have always loved about Cape Coral is, even though we are growing as a city, we have still been able to maintain our hometown feel,” Germain said. “That is what this event is all about, bringing our families, businesses, community leaders and friends together to celebrate the holiday season! I remember my parents bringing our family to this event when I was a kid and there were years when myself or one of my siblings performed at Holiday Festival of Lights with a school group. Our number one goal is to help our community make memories and create new traditions of their own.”

To ensure the safety of community and volunteers, Cape Coral Parkway from Del Prado Boulevard to Coronado Parkway will close at 5 a.m. on Dec. 3 and reopen at 2 a.m. on Dec. 4. Parking for the Gunterberg Charitable Foundation Holiday Festival of Lights is on a first-come, first-served basis in the public parking lots. Residents are warned to be cautious of tow away zones in the downtown area.

Germain added that there’s nothing like the atmosphere at the Festival of Lights.

“The Festival of Lights is so special to us and is one of our longest-standing traditions, not only as the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, but as a community,” Germain said. “We love having our residents come out to enjoy this event and celebrate the start of the holiday season. I cannot talk about this event and family without mentioning Elmer Tabor and the Tabor family. For more than 40 years, they have generously ‘loaned’ the community Big John’s Plaza/Cape Coral Town Center as host of the official Cape Coral Christmas Tree. Decorating the tree has become an incredibly special tradition for the Tabor Family over the years as well.”

Additional sponsors include Big John’s Plaza, The Tabor Family, Tactical Roofing Solutions, City of Cape Coral, Vascular & Vein Center at Gulf Coast Surgeons, Achieva Credit Union, Carts of the Cape, Technology At Work, It’s IT, ShorePoint Health, Skyworks, Cape Coral Closets, The Skin Spot, Service Today, HotWorx, The Westin Cape Coral, Edison Ford Winter Estates, Lamar Advertising, Waste Pro, ACRA Electric, Taylor Rental – Creative Events, Suncoast Beverage, The Breeze Newspapers, Fox-4 and The News-Press.

For additional information about the event, visit www.holidayfestivalcc.com.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj