Biggest Lakewood Ranch holiday events ready to kick off


A laser light show will cap New Year's Eve festivities at Waterside Place.
A laser light show will cap New Year's Eve festivities at Waterside Place.
Image courtesy of Sky Elements Drones
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While the holidays are full of events in East County, some of the biggest events of the season are ready to kick off.

Lakewood Ranch's marquee Christmas event each year is Christmas on Main, which this year falls on Dec. 21 at Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

Temple Emanu-El's Hanukkah Celebration will be held Dec. 22 during the Lakewood Ranch Farmer's Market at Waterside Place.

And the now annual New Year's Eve celebration will be held at Waterside Place 6 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31.

The celebration includes live music by DJ Truth, food and beverages, adult games, a kids' area and a drone show just before midnight.

“What we’ve learned over the years is that not everybody celebrates New Year's (the same)," said Keith Pandeloglou, the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities executive director. “There’s people who want to say they went out on New Year's and be home by nine. There’s other people who want to go out and have dinner with the family and listen to the DJ and go home at 11 p.m. And then there’s the people who will be with us until 12:01 a.m.”

Those who do stay late on New Year's Eve at Waterside Place will be rewarded with a spectacular drone show.

Though some people may yearn for traditional fireworks, Pandeloglou said the drone show has received positive feedback.

“The drone show is kind of the headliner,” he said. “That’s where most of the attraction is. Last year was the first year we did that. It starts a little after 11:50 and it does the countdown with us in the sky.

"We tried to do something that would be a little more inclusive. We’ve had some feedback that fireworks can be a little disruptive, but we still have firework components of it, because it looks like the drones are creating a firework.”

Christmas on Main runs 4-8 p.m. Dec. 21 and includes free games for the kids, rides, attractions, an appearance from Santa and a candlelight service that runs from 7-8 p.m. The event is presented by Grace Community Church.

Temple Emanu-El's Hanukkah Celebration runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at the farmers market and features a Happy Hanukkah Table, gelt giveaways, a dreidel spinning contest, Hanukkah crafts for kids, and Hanukkah items for sale.

 

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