Ringing in its 21st year, Carols in the Park will meet Winter Haven residents and other visitors "Under the Mistletoe," which is this year's theme.
Chock full of events, the festival will be held Dec. 5 and 6 in Central Park.
Arts and crafts, entertainment, an art contest, decorating contests, children's activities, the tree lighting, a visit from Santa, and, yes, a carol sing, combine to make the holiday celebration one many look forward to each year.
"While I call it an arts and crafts festival, it is really so much more," said Michele Hightower, co-coordinator of Carols on the Park and senior relationship specialist with Wachovia Bank. "It is really a wonderful way to get in the Christmas spirit."
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David Calhoun, the music director at Eagle Lake Elementary School, gets the chorus ready to perform at the 2008 Carols in the Park.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
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The namesake activity, the Carol Sing, is held on Saturday night.
"We pass out free songbooks, provided by the News Chief, and hot apple cider," Hightower said. "A DJ from 97 Country (WPCV) usually leads the Christmas carols and then we have the tree-lighting ceremony. Once the tree is lit, Santa makes an appearance and passes out candy canes to the children."
But prior to the climax of the carol sing, there is much work to be done. Working diligently like Santa's elves, volunteers from several businesses and organizations come together to transform Winter Haven's Central Park into a local Christmas land of sorts. Numerous tents, hundreds of chairs, thousands of lights and other decorations and countless hours of organization go into the success of the event.
In 1988, the Sertoma Club of Polk County and Wachovia Bank (formerly First Union Bank) came up with the idea of Carols in the Park to create a sense of community during the holidays.
Now, all those years later, one of the city's largest events, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 people visit during the holiday kickoff event. Vendor spots are at a premium and always sell out. This year, more than 60 vendors will set up to peddle their art and craft creations.
"The arts and crafts vendors are a great place to look for interesting and inexpensive gifts," Hightower said.
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Brenda Phelps, right, and her daughter, Meg, stroll thorugh Carols in the Park last year, browsing vendors' merchandise as they go.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
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On Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. and every 30 minutes after until 5 p.m., local talent will be showcased on stage in the park. Schools, churches and other groups pull out all the stops to keep the visitors entertained.
Children can look forward to rides and games - tickets must be purchased for these two activities - and a free arts and crafts area sponsored by Wachovia Bank.
"This year we will have beaded candy canes, reindeer pictures made from children's hand prints, beaded wreathes and necklaces/bracelets, holiday foam magnets and the always-popular holiday tattoos," Hightower said. "This tent is always a big success with the kids and parents alike. Of course, we also give out free balloons at the craft and information tents."
And, what would an event be without food?
"Yes, there is yummy carnival food available for purchase," Hightower said. "Who doesn't love lemonade, pizza, corn dogs and all those other great snacks?"
The Mid Florida Blood Bank Bloodmobile also will be on site during the event, and downtown businesses will compete against each other in a decorating contest.
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Taylor O'Quinn, 4, gets a laid-back paw shake for Saint, a chihuahua-shih tzu mix, at Carols in the Park in downtown Winter Haven last year.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
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Each year, local public and private schools are invited to participate in the Carols in the Park art contest. Students submit posters to reflect the annual theme. The overall winner has his or her poster reproduced on all the promotional materials, including the event T-shirts, which will be available for purchase at the information area. The awards are given out at a ceremony on Saturday at noon and the winning posters are on display throughout the event.
This year's best-of show winner is Krina Patel, a fifth-grader from Bethune Academy in Haines City.
"This really is a fun-filled weekend and we get a lot of compliments from the patrons," Hightower said. "We invite everyone to stop by and get into the holiday spirit while feeling a part of our great community."
