Celebrate the Holidays at Cultural Park set for Saturday
Three Cape Coral entities hope to raise awareness and spread cheer with a new event.
Hosted by the the Cape Coral Historical Society and Museum, Cultural Park Theatre and the Cape Coral Art League, the first-ever Celebrate the Holidays at Cultural Park will be held Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at 528 Cultural Park Blvd. A holiday celebration for the community, the event is free for all.
“We really just wanted to help get the name of Cultural Park out there,” Breanne Hastings, the museum’s executive director, said. “Cape Coral could really use a great center for the arts.”
“And, we just wanted to give back to the community,” she added.
The event will feature a visit from Santa Claus, local carolers and live entertainment, along with holiday lights and decorations. In conjunction, each entity will hold a holiday open house.
“It’s going to be a really nice outdoor stroll,” Hastings said.
A visit to the museum will reveal Mrs. Claus handing out cookies and treats. A replica of the Cape Coral Holiday Boat-a-Long has been created, and visitors can examine the various exhibits.
“They can walk along the exhibits and gardens,” she said, noting that they will be lit up.
At the theater, the guitar club from Mariner High School will be performing.
“They’re going to be inside the theater’s lobby,” Hastings said.
There will be a donation area set up at the theater for the Cape Coral Caring Center. Visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or new unwrapped toys for children ages 3-8.
“The truck will be there to collect donations and toys,” she said.
The art league will have work from its students on display under holiday lights.
“They’re going to have a lot of displays and artwork out that their classes have been working on,” Hastings said.
In advance of the celebration, an open Holiday Card Contest was held for the community. Those who entered were asked to create a card using the theme of “Holidays through Theater, History or Art.”
The three winners were Roger Deering, Colin Peck and Hal Klingler.
Hastings explained that the winning entries will be blown up as giant holiday cards.
Santa will arrive on a fire truck at 6 p.m. for pictures and to listen to Christmas lists.
“Santa’s elves are going to be handing out candy canes,” she said.
The carolers will be Mariner High and Pelican Elementary School students.
“They’re going to walk through all three entities to spread the cheer,” Hastings said.
For more information, call 239-772-7037 or visit online at capecoralhistoricalmuseum.org. People can also visit the Facebook event page at “Celebrate the Holidays at Cultural Park.”