Alison and Eloise Fichner snap a photo with Santa Claus at Light Up Longboat on Nov. 22 at the Town Center Green.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Longboat Key
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Whether joining in caroling, taking a picture with the Grinch, telling Santa Claus their wish list or helping with the tree-lighting countdown, attendees at this year's Light Up Longboat found many ways of ringing in the holiday season.
Festivities started at 5 p.m. at the Town Center Green, which was decorated with statues of snowmen, penguins and other holiday figures. Local organizations and businesses doled out cookies and sold intricate ornaments while volunteers from the Christ Church of Longboat Key choir led caroling.
Members of the Rotary Club of Longboat Key also facilitated a raffle to benefit HOPE Family Services in Bradenton. Volunteers collected toy and monetary donations.
The sun quickly set across from the Karon Family Pavilion, and all eyes turned to see Santa Claus himself greeting revelers of all ages.
Mayor Ken Schneier welcomed guests and shared his relief that Longboat Key experienced a hurricane-free season, unlike last year.
"We have a lot of things to be thankful for this year," he said.
Kim Verreault, Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, thanked everyone who contributed to the success of this year's event before passing the microphone to representatives from The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.
Per their daily tradition, staff opened a bottle of champagne to coincide with the countdown to lighting the Christmas tree in the pavilion, officially ringing in the holiday season on the island.
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Peter Forsyth from The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort signals for the lighting of the Christmas tree with a champagne sabrage at Light Up Longboat on Nov. 22 at the Town Center Green.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Natalie Solomon and her dog, Mack, wear coordinating necklaces of Christmas tree lights to Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Light Up Longboat attendee Tommy Rheinlander shows some youngsters that he's not afraid of the Grinch.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Cyndi Seamon, Longboat Key Turtle Watch vice president, chats with attendees at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Cyndi Seamon, Karey Kaine, Carlyn Vigil and Renee Dillon
Photo by Dana Kampa
Volunteers with the Christ Church of Longboat Key choir sing carols at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Margaret Moore, dressed as Mrs. Claus, carols with fellow volunteers from Christ Church of Longboat Key. She later won the raffle the Rotary Club of Longboat Key held to support HOPE Family Services in Bradenton.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Janet Shapiro with the Rotary Club of Longboat Key helps run the raffle booth collecting donations for HOPE Family Services in Bradenton.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Local artist Jackie Williams does a live painting demonstration as part of the festive fun of Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
The Gowl family, including Victor, Andie, 5-year-old Selma, 1-year-old Noa and 2-year-old Judah explore the snowman display at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Karen Bedsole with Dog Perfect shows off the team's impressive holiday display at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
A dog team subs in for the typical flying reindeer in Dog Perfect's Light Up Longboat display.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Lynn Armstrong Coffin and Michael Garey dish up crab cakes for attendees at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Brian, Linda and Nora Govoni are excited to ring in the holidays with family on Longboat Key this season. Nora is especially looking forward to celebrating her third birthday with everyone.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Carlyn Vigil and Cyndi Seamon snap a picture with Santa Claus before he makes his way to the Karon Family Pavilion for the tree lighting at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Mayor Ken Schneier shares his gratitude that the Town of Longboat Key had a hurricane-free season this year while speaking at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
With the pop of a champagne cork and a dash of holiday magic from The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort's Peter Forsyth, the Christmas tree at the Town Center Green spark to life at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Choir members sang and families cheered as the lights came on at Light Up Longboat.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Valerie Nelson from Le Gardenia Bleu, recent winner of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce's Emerging Business of the Year Award, shows departing guests their available holiday ornaments.
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.
