A SEASON OF CELEBRATION
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
HEATHCOTE BOTANICAL GARDENS
Heathcote Botanical Gardens offers whimsical and scenic displays of lights.
Saturday, Dec. 4, offers a second chance to see a great
parade. Head to Vero Beach, out on the island on Ocean
Drive, to see a fantastic assortment of floats and marchers.
Thousands of lights sparkle in the dark on large floats on a
street lined with spectators drinking it all in. Be sure to bring
the camera along. Visit the Oceanside Business Association at
www.verobeachoba.com/christmas-parade if you can’t wait
to see what it looks like.
Port St. Lucie’s annual holiday festivity, Festival of Lights,
is themed Disco in December this year with the Studio 54
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Some eagerly attended events have been postponed to next
year. One postponed favorite is Festival of Trees at Riverside
Theatre in Vero Beach. But it is expected to return next year.
Boat parades, sparkling against the dark sky, begin at 6:30
p.m. on Dec. 11 for Martin and St. Lucie counties, and Dec.
18 for Indian River County. These are a must-see if you’ve
never been to one. The boats travel the river showing off their
elaborate decorations — Santas, trees, elves, wreaths, garlands
and gifts with giant bows.
It’s a treat to see — and you can see more than one since
they are on two different days. Just contact the Marine Industries
Association of the Treasure Coast at https://miatc.com
if you have a boat and want to participate. It’s a great family
adventure whether you watch or take part.
MENORAH LIGHTING IN TRADITION
On Nov. 28, gather in the Town Square of the Tradition
community in western Port St. Lucie for the Menorah lighting
from 5-8 p.m.
Early December brings the parades on land. On Friday,
Dec. 3, see the great Stuart Christmas parade presented by
the Visiting Nurse Association of Florida. Bring the kids out
to SE Ocean Boulevard to watch the marchers, floats and
bands — in fact, check out stuartchristmasparade.com for an
advance peek. A Reflection of Christmas Classics is the theme
this year.
>>
Ballet Vero Beach
produces an original
version of the
classical Nutcracker
by placing it at the
Indian River Lagoon.
Tradition in western
Port St. Lucie lights up
the night with a blue
holiday tree.
BALLET VERO BEACH
/christmas-parade
/miatc.com
/stuartchristmasparade.com
/christmas-parade
/miatc.com
/stuartchristmasparade.com