Holiday Festival of Lights offer new treat – fireworks!
The Comcast Holiday Festival of Lights contained a pleasant surprise for attendees this year as a fireworks display was part of the annual holiday kickoff Saturday night.
Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, the event was held in downtown Cape Coral and featured drinks, food and activities for young and old. For the first time since its inception, the ceremony treated visitors to a show, along with the usual lighting of a Christmas tree and a visit by the big man himself, Santa Claus.
Another first was the use of 1,000 LED lights on the tree, a move by the Lee County Electric Cooperative to go “green.” Multiple stages provided a mix of entertainment.
Cape resident Gary Charleston and Deborah Gorman, of Minnesota, stumbled on the event during a trip to a nearby store and decided to check out the festivities. Charleston said he was impressed by the tree lighting and the fireworks.
“I love these festivals,” he said. “It’s fun to see a crowd this big out.”
Gorman agreed.
“It was fun,” she said, adding that the weather was great compared to Minneapolis.
Gary and Julie Torgerson, of Cape Coral, have been to nearly every Holiday Festival of Lights. The couple called this year’s event “very nice,” with a good turnout and a variety of performers. Some of their favorite performances were the children’s dance groups.
“It’s very family oriented,” Julie Torgerson said of the event.
“Overall, a very good time,” Gary Torgerson said.
He also commented on the fireworks show.
“That was a nice addition,” he said.
Cape residents Travis and Crystal Varney dropped by the event Saturday with their children, 6-year-old Anthony and 2-year-old Kayla, for the first time. The family also enjoyed the fireworks, and the children got a kick out of snow machines set up near the Christmas tree.
“They really think the fake snow is neat,” Crystal Varney said, adding that the family is originally from Michigan.
Asked if they would attend the ceremony next year, the couple said definitely.
“It’s fun for the kids,” Crystal Varney said. “Something nice you can do as a family.”
She added that it also helps that the event is free.