A SEASON OF CELEBRATION
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
97
&hildren can wear shorts while sNating on artificial ice and
eat breakfast with a merry Santa. A gingerbread village set
out among the trees is intricate, creative, and likely to have
you reaching for your camera. Holiday vendors sell gifts
you may not find elsewhere. And handdecorated holiday
wreaths are available too.
The festival’s gala on Friday, Nov. 16, features New York
and Los Angeles band leader and singer Michael Andrew,
theater spokesman Oscar Sales says.
Creativity galore astounds visitors as they celebrate the
holidays at Heathcote Botanical Garden’s Garden of Lights.
Volunteers work for months to design and create the inge
nious lighted waterfalls, birds, fish, plants, cherry blossoms
in a Japanese garden and even a coral reef. The popular event
in Fort Pierce is only open Friday and Saturday evenings and
is a destination for the whole Treasure Coast. Refreshments,
music and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus round out the
evening. Children can search for illuminated critters (and a
few live ones).
“It’s about celebrating life and the garden,” says Diane
Kimes, executive director. “We have some new displays this
year and we’ve changed some we had last year.”
Anyone looking for something unlikely to be found in the
froen north should checN out the daling Áotillas of boats
in the boat parades of Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin
counties, organized by the Marine Industries Association of
the Treasure Coast. Watch as Rudolph, Santa’s sleigh and
reindeer, garlands and gifts, elves and decorated trees, all
covered with lights, Áoat by against the darNness of evening
skies. Consider taking a camera and binoculars.
“Vero is celebrating its centennial, so there will be an extra >>
Two children admire a
custom-decorated tree
with giant candies on
it at Riverside Theatre’s
Festival of Trees.
A family walks through a
tunnel of lights at Heathcote
Botanical Gardens’ annual
Garden of Lights.