Tree Lighting in Palm Coast’s Town Center Ignites Series of Holiday Events

Kick off the holiday season at Palm Coast’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast. The event is free, but you’re responsible for your own Starbucks treats.

Join Santa Claus, Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts and the Rotary Club of Flagler County in the countdown to the lighting of a beautiful tree, being decorated this year with sparkling lights and ornaments made by Girl Scouts from four local troops and the students in the Bunnell Elementary School Art Club. Carol Mini, the City’s urban forester, hand-selected the tree from Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest in Eustis. The Sand Pine (Pinus clausa) is 25 feet tall with a 25- to 30-foot spread. The tree has been pruned into a Christmas tree shape for many years to prepare it as a city holiday tree.

After the tree lighting, Santa will visit with children as others may enjoy entertainment and refreshments, and take a walk through the Rotary’s Fantasy Lights. Parents should bring their cameras to capture pictures of their children visiting Santa in the Santa’s Village area.

The Rotary Club of Flagler County’s 10^th Annual Fantasy Lights display at Central Park will open that same night – continuing from 6:30 to 9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30. Fantasy Lights is a free self-guided walking tour around Central Park featuring 40 animated light displays, festive live and  music and Santa’s Village. Holiday refreshments available for purchase. There will be photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Santa’s Merry Train Ride, 3-D twinkle glasses and snow. See the City’s online calendar for details on special themed nights. A ride-along tour for persons with disabilities is available upon request. Admission to Fantasy Lights is free, but donations to support Rotary’s service work are accepted. For more information about Fantasy Lights, contact Bill Butler at purduebill@aol.com.

Also be sure to Save the Date for these other holiday events:

• Saturday, Dec. 5 – 30^th Annual Holiday Boat Parade, 6 p.m. Presented by the Palm Coast Yacht Club, boats will be lighted and begin departing the Cimmaron Basin, following this route: Cimmaron Basin to Intracoastal Waterway, turn south, passing Tidelands, Canopy Walk, St. Joe’s Walkway, Waterfront Park, Island Estates, then turning at Grand Haven Gazebo before heading back north to Clubhouse Waterway.

• Saturday, Dec. 12 – Palm Coast Starlight Holiday Parade & Event – Parade at 7 p.m. with activities from 4-6:30 p.m.including visits and photos with Santa (Santa visits and photos will end at 6 p.m. so that Santa can prepare for the parade), music and fun family entertainment. Night-time parade featuring lighted floats starts at 7 p.m., at Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave. More info: 386-986-2323. There are no tornadoes in the distant forecast (for now, anyway).

• Saturday, Dec. 19 – Starlight Half Marathon & 5K – 6 p.m., in and around Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave. The run is part of the Palm Coast Running Series. More info: www.triumphraces.com.

For more information about the Tree Lighting Ceremony, contact the Palm Coast Parks & Recreation Department at 386-986-2323.