With a sparkle in his eye and a wave of the hand, jolly old St. Nick illuminated the lights on St. Armands Circle's 60-foot Christmas tree at a lighting festival on Dec. 5.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Sarasota
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A bit of holiday magic came to St. Armands Circle this weekend with Holiday Night on the Circle.
With only their voices and no background music, members of the Sarasota Academy of the Arts sang the classic wintery tune, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Dozens of attendees in the park lent their voices to bolster the singing right before Santa Claus rode in to help light the 60-foot-tall Christmas tree.
The tree lighting on Friday evening, orchestrated by the St. Armands Circle Association, included festive cookies for all, opportunities to mail a letter to the North Pole, ornament decorating and more.
Association executive director Rachel Burns explained that the festivities looked a little different this year. Organizers set up the stage in the center of the park rather than directly next to the tree, spacing out the performing area, photo opportunities around the Circle's periphery and other activities.
She said the St. Armands Circle Association is proud to host the annual event for free. She said such moments, where families connect, are invaluable to fostering a tighter-knit community and supporting local businesses.
"I'm a mom of two now-grown kids, and I remember going to these kinds of festivities, and your kids would want to do everything, and that can add up," Burns said. "It's really important to the St. Armands merchants that we provide a venue for families to come and not worry about saying no."
Visitors said they loved the classic charm Santa Claus exuded at the festivities.
Viewers can see the lights for themselves on St. Armands Circle in the evening throughout the month.
Jesse, Marianna and Phoebe Corazza take in the festive sights at the Dec. 5 Christmas tree lighting on St. Armands Circle.
Photo by Dana Kampa
The Sarasota Academy of the Arts offered musical entertainment for the evening's tree-lighting festivities.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Fernando and Kelly Harb help families decorate ornaments at the Dec. 5 St. Armands Circle Christmas tree lighting.
Photo by Dana Kampa
The Sarasota Academy of the Arts sang popular tunes include "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and more at the tree lighting on St. Armands.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Kristin Wright handed out cookies to attendees of the tree-lighting ceremony, courtesy of the St. Armands Circle Association.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Attendees packed St. Armands Circle for the Christmas tree lighting, which took place inside the park for the first time this year.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Kay and George Wygal dressed to impress for Holiday Night on the Circle.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Festive decorations surrounded St. Armands Circle Park for the tree-lighting ceremony.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Hugh Fiori posts a letter to the North Pole at Holiday Night on the Circle.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Connor Floyd was all smiles while handing out free candy canes at Holiday Night on the Circle, courtesy of the St. Armands Circle Association.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Santa Claus arrives on St. Armands Circle.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Rev. Kenneth Blyth of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church offers a prayer before the Christmas tree lighting.
Photo by Dana Kampa
St. Armands Circle Association executive director Rachel Burns says the group is glad to bring some free holiday cheer to visitors with Holiday Night on the Circle.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Sarah, Becca Rae and Cliff Talbott snap a family photo with Santa Claus at Holiday Night on the Circle. Two-year-old Becca Rae wished for a pony this year.
Photo by Dana Kampa
The 60-foot Christmas tree cut an impressive figure across the night's sky after the lighting on St. Armands Circle.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Tree-lighting attendees take their final looks at the tree towering over St. Armands Circle.
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.
