Photos

Colorful lights are on full display at the annual exhibit.

Joel and Gail Morganroth

Keith Monda and Veronica Brady

Audrey Robbins and Harry Leopold with Marjorie Floyd and Caroline Amory

Katie, Elia, Camille and Chris Cianfaglione.

Colorful lights are on full display at the annual exhibit.

Lisa, Emma and Bruce Feinman.

Lisa Feinman lights a large menorah as part of a Hanukkah celebration.

President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki updates the audience on the organization's progress.

Board chair Pauline Wamsler thanks the audience for safely assembling at the gardens.

Colorful lights were on full display at the annual exhibit.

Pauline Wamsler, Schuyler Joerger and Jennifer Rominiecki flip the switch.

Bonnie and Don Resler

Ron and Karen Toshner

Jackie and Bruce Modahl

Samantha White-Morin and David Morin

Kellye Trask and Jackie Roemer

Ken Blyth introduces the musical guest.

Dave Morgan and his ensemble provide lively tunes for the crowd.

Dave Morgan

The garden was decorated with festive touches and a few extra trees.

Lynda Menuez, Michael Bodnyk and Wahib Habib

Dave Morgan plays marimba.

Crystal Harris (left) and Ryan Harris of Parrish and their children, Abigail (held by Crystal) and Jackson, came to see the giraffes.

Brandy Waligora of northwest Bradenton feeds a llama. She passes by The Rye Road Giraffes all the time when she drives to work at Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary and finally got to visit.

Oona Olmstead of Bayshore Gardens said she loves giraffes but also got to ride a camel.

Hannah Storbeck of Summerfield feeds Twigs the giraffe as siblings Ethan (left) and Jani watch. They are from South Africa, and mom Anoesjka Storbeck said seeing the giraffes and zebras felt like a taste of home.

Jeffrey Schermerhorn (left) and Paxton Schermerhorn of Sarasota feed the llamas. They came to see all the animals, but mainly the giraffes and more "exotic" creatures.

Mackenzie Laden ofSarasota rides Gorilla, a pony. Laden loves ponies and also wanted to see the giraffes.

Crystal Harris (left) and Ryan Harris of Parrish and their children, Abigail and Jackson (bottom), came to see the giraffes.

Sara Mapes (top) and her son, Emerson Ott, of Old Myakka came to see the giraffes but were also fascinated by the tortoises.

(From left) Jessica Bangora, Tristan Bangora, Ryan Bangora and Elizabeth Bangora, who live on State Road 64 in Bradenton, feed Melman the giraffe. They were driving to Rye Preserve but stopped to visit when they saw the giraffes.

Irene Downey (left) of Country Creek and Cheryl Nagle of Braden Pines visit the cow enclosure. They love animals and were visiting The Rye Road Giraffes for the first time.

Brandy Waligora of northwest Bradenton feeds a llama. She passes by The Rye Road Giraffes all the time when she drives to work at Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary and finally got to visit.

Oona Olmstead of Bayshore Gardens said she loves giraffes but also got to ride a camel.

Melman the giraffe is one of two giraffes visitors can see at The Rye Road Giraffes farm.

Aubree Forsythe of Bayshore Gardens rides a camel. She said it was great.

Hannah Storbeck of Summerfield feeds Twigs the giraffe as siblings Ethan (left) and Jani watch. They are from South Africa, and mom Anoesjka Storbeck said seeing the giraffes and zebras felt like a taste of home.

(From right) Robert Morelli, Everett Morelli and Tiffany Morelli of Sarasota feed a llama. They came to see the giraffes and Santa Claus.

Peter Ard, who is portraying a soldier, guards the entrance to Bethlehem.

Evangel Baptist Church members sing and play instruments as people come through the drive-thru.

Luminaries lead up to three crosses.

Sherman Mackereth, who is portraying a fisherman, works on fixing his fish net.

Bob Gay, Cliff Truman and Sherman Mackereth fix their fishing nets around the fire.

Sonda Tioitty prepares baked goods for the bakery. She had pre-packaged cookies available to pass out to visitors.

Mark Bulger and David Gay work on a wooden door as carpenters. In past years, they would help kids with a kids craft but can't this year due to the event being a drive-thru only. Bulger says it's weird not having the interaction.

Anyone looking for food can visit Jean Ard and Nancy Robb. They're selling fish, eggs and bread.

Levi and Andrea Lalond pass out pre-packaged pamphlets about the church and goodies for children. "I love to interact with everyone coming through," Andrea Lalong says.