Christmas comes early to Longboat's north end

By Dana Kampa
| 11:16 a.m. December 1, 2025

Piper Dawson checks out was she dubbed her favorite tree decorated by Lo' Key Island Grille at the opening evening of Christmas in the Garden on Nov. 30 at Longboat Island Chapel.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Hot chocolate was flowing and lights were twinkling at the opening night of Christmas in the Garden on Nov. 30 outside Longboat Island Chapel.

Attendees said the seasonal celebration was the perfect way to dive into the holidays, especially with the number of Christmas trees on display this year.

Rev. Brock Patterson welcomed visitors while they meandered among the pathways flanked by trees decorated by an impressive variety of local organizations, businesses and individuals.

"We have a lot of great events in store for you this season, including many great shows," he said.

Island Breeze members Greg Anderson and Steve Quinn brought their musical talents to the garden's gazebo, playing classics like "Silver Bells" and more contemporary tunes like those from the movie "Polar Express."

Christmas in the Garden continues throughout the month at Longboat Island Chapel. Musical performances begin at 6 p.m. at 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Dates include Dec. 4, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 22 and 31. Entry is free, but the chapel invites donations.

Visit the chapel's Facebook page for the full lineup.

Bayfront Park pickleball player Karen Vito presents a check to Longboat Island Chapel, host of Christmas in the Garden, from fellow players hoping to support the holiday fun.

Photo by Dana Kampa

Pickleballers bring good tidings

At this year's Christmas in the Garden festivities, Bayfront Park pickleball players presented a check for $864 to Longboat Island Chapel to support the festivities.

Member Karen Vito said they wanted to give the church a boost after members worked so hard to rebuild from hurricane damage this year.

"Everybody contributed," she said while presenting an oversized check to Rev. Brock Patterson. "From $2 to $20, people have been handing me money over the last month for you."

The group also recently collected about 100 toys to donate to Toys for Tots.

Karen Vito said she was able to collect about 100 toys for Toys for Tots this year, with the support of fellow Longboaters.

Courtesy image

Greg Anderson and Steve Quinn bring their musical talent to the opening night of Christmas in the Garden on Nov. 30 at Longboat Island Chapel.

Iris White, Longboat Island Chapel board of trustees president, stands by the tree she decorated for Christmas in the Garden.

Sheila Loccisano, who runs the Follow Me to Longboat Key pages on multiple social media platforms, decorated her tree at Christmas in the Garden with photos of familiar faces from around the island.

Becky Lietzau helps community members pick an ornament to hang on the communal tree centrally located at Christmas in the Garden.

The various colors of ornaments attendees chose to add to the communal tree at Christmas in the Garden represented what they wished for in the new year.

Michael Bettner adds to the community Christmas tree by the gazebo at Christmas in the Garden.

Lesley Rife, who has helped coordinate Christmas in the Garden for the past five years, said this will be her last year helming the decorating.

Musical performances will continue throughout the month on certain nights at Christmas in the Garden outside Longboat Island Chapel.

Longboat Island Chapel's Rev. Brock Patterson said when welcoming attendees to Christmas in the Garden that he hopes this month's musical events will give community members a chance to unwind and enjoy the holidays.

The team from Lo' Key Island Grille decorated a tree for Christmas in the Garden this year.

Christmas in the Garden visitors said the opening night festivities on Nov. 30 were the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Christmas in the Garden organizers included a tree for Kwanzaa in this year's display for the holidays.

The Christmas in the Garden display is open to the public from 5-9 p.m. through Dec. 31 outside Longboat Island Chapel. Live music takes places select dates.

Community members may recognize some familiar faces from Secur-All Insurance amid the business's decorations at Christmas in the Garden.

Laurel Maul and David Stone prep the hot chocolate for attendees at the opening ceremony of Christmas in the Garden before the fun comes to a close for the evening. The garden will remain open throughout December.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.