Community regroups as Light Up Longboat kicks off holiday season

The air was cold and the wind brisk. Well, cold for a Florida November.

But that didn’t deter Longboat Key residents from attending the annual Light Up Longboat ceremony. 

The 2024 event at the Town Center Green drew hundreds of community members, many of whom said the annual event felt like a return to normalcy after a summer of back-to-back hurricanes. 

“People are regrouping,” said resident Blake Slansky. “People are adapting and making it work.” 

Slansky recently returned to Longboat Key with his family, including his wife Elise Kidd Slansky and their daughters Blaire and Brynn. 

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the family decided to delay their return to the island. But when they got back, it felt right. 

“When we got back on the island, it felt like home,” said Elise Kidd Slansky. 

Light Up Longboat kicked off around 5:30 p.m., and residents flowed around the Town Center Green. The community regrouped while chatting with local organizations like Longboat Key Turtle Watch, and sampling treats from Viento Kitchen and Harry’s Continental Kitchens. 

The Rotary Club of Longboat Key also noticed this year’s event drew a larger crowd than in years past. 

Members of the club, including Nancy Rozance reprising her role as Santa, collected toys and games throughout the night for Hope Family Services in Bradenton. 

By the end of the night, they filled a car with donations. 

“We’re so grateful for how many gifts people brought to donate,” Rozance said, adding it was a record number of gifts. “I think people just wanted to give.” 

Mayor Ken Schneier joined Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Kim Verreault and Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips on the Karon Family Pavilion stage to officially turn on the lights of this year’s unique tree. 

“As you all know, we’ve had a tough couple of months here on Longboat and in the area,” Schneier said. 

Schneier spoke about the town’s resiliency in the face of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and thanked all the town department heads who helped in Longboat's recovery process. 

“As you can see, we’ve had a lot of debris picked up, we’ve got services back,” Schneier said. “We have more to do, and more will be done. Everything will be done until the town is back in shape.”

After Schneier’s remarks, the crowd watched in anticipation as the tree was lit, displaying its unique design and amber glow. 

Christmas (Tree) Story

So, what’s the new tree all about? 

This year, the town and Chamber of Commerce decided to switch things up, ditching a traditional Christmas tree and creating something unique.

There’s not another tree in the world like it, said Phillips. 

According to Phillips, the main reason for using a flat, wooden tree was to accommodate how the wind blows through the back of the Karon Family Pavilion. 

Phillips saw an idea on the internet for a wooden Christmas tree that could be decorated inside with whatever ornaments they wanted. Phillips took the design idea to Reed and Ginny Savidge, who own Ace Hardware on the island. 

Within days, the Ace Hardware family brought Phillips’ idea to life. It was exactly how Phillips imagined. 

“Very rarely do you dream something up and it turns out exactly how you envisioned,” she said. 

Then, Phillips was joined by Verreault and Chamber Marketing Manager Felicia McDermott to decorate the tree. 

It took them about four hours to assemble the tree, including more than 200 ornaments and 2,400 lights. It was a “labor of love,” Phillips said. 

With a golden theme, the tree has an amber-like glow that will be on from 5-11 p.m. every night at the Karon Family Pavilion until the New Year.