LEGOLAND Florida Decks The Halls With Lego Bricks At Christmas Bricktacular

Winter Haven

-

December 5, 2018

0

LEGOLAND Florida Decks The Halls With Lego Bricks At Christmas Bricktacular

by James Coulter

LEGOLAND Florida guests will be able to see plenty of red, white, and green—LEGO bricks, that is!—during its annual Christmas Bricktacular event all this month.

Presented by Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas, this month-long event will allow children and adults of all ages to enjoy holiday fun with sweet treats, fun activities, and live entertainment, including a chance to meet the jolly old man in red bricks himself.

This year includes the all-new “Holly Jolly Jubilee” interactive show (presented by Wells Fargo) where guests can help Santa’s elves prepare for the big day at Santa’s workshop.

Once the sun goes down, the Christmas lights go up at the 30-foot tall LEGO Christmas tree during the nightly LEGO Christmas Tree Spectacular, featuring a flurry of falling snow flakes and a dazzling display of laser lights.

The Christmas activities will be hosted at the park on select dates every Saturday and Sunday, and from Saturday to Tuesday on the week of Christmas Day.

Here are some of the holly jolly family-fun that guests of all ages can look forward to at the park:

LEGO Christmas Tree Spectacular (5:45 p.m. to park closing)

Rock around the 30-foot tall Christmas tree (or rather, the Brickmas tree!) as it lights up in a fantastic synchronized light show, complete with flurries of snow flake falling from the sky.

Santa Helper’s Scavenger Hunt (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

All throughout Miniland U.S.A., Santa Claus and his elves are appearing here and there and everywhere, especially on the rooftops. Keep a sharp eye out for them, and feel free to report their whereabouts for a chance to win the official contest.

Letters To Santa (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Whether you want a LEGO hippopotamus for Christmas, or if all you want for Christmas is your two front teeth, you can write your Christmas wishes for Santa in a letter and have it mailed straight to the North Pole in a LEGO mailbox.

Holidays Around The World LEGO Mosaic Build (Noon until completion)

Christmas is a time to wish peace on earth and good will towards you fellow man. You can help do exactly that by creating tiles for the giant holiday mosaic wall as a way to offer greetings around the world.

Holiday-Themed Competition Build (Noon to 6 p.m.)

Deck the halls with bricks of holly and let your imagination run wild by creating your own holiday-themed LEGO sculpture, and enter it in for a chance to win.

LEGO Christmas Tree Build (Noon until complete)

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree! How beautiful are your green LEGO bricks! If you want a chance to build your own LEGO tree, then try your hands at it by helping out other model citizens construct one from scratch complete with LEGO ornaments.

Holly Jolly Jubilee (1:30 p.m.; 3:15 p.m.; 4:30 p.m.)

Santa’s elves are preparing to ship out all of the toys for the good girls and boys, and you can help them out in this all-new family-friendly interactive stage show.

Meet LEGO Santa (10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Have you been naughty or nice this year? If you’ve been nice, feel free to meet Old St. Nick—or rather, Old St. Brick—himself and take a photo with him.

Meet LEGO Toy Solider (10 a.m.; 11 a.m.; Noon; 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.)

When he’s not busy guarding Santa’s workshop, this LEGO toy soilders will gladly go off-duty to meet and greet children for photo opportunities.

LEGOLAND Florida is located at 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, FL 33884. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.legoland.com/florida/

Frostproof Celebrates Island Christmas With Caribbean Parade

Frostproof

Staff Reporter

-

December 4, 2018

0

Frostproof Celebrates Island Christmas With Caribbean Parade

by James Coulter

They may have gone missing during a three-hour tour nearly 50 years ago, but the castaways from “Gilligan’s Island” not only appeared at the annual Frostproof Christmas Parade on Saturday, but won overall best float.

Specifically, Cooking Manufacturing Group won the award for overall best float for their “Gilligan’s Island”-themed float at the annual Frostproof Christmas Parade.

Their float featured employees dressed up as the island castaways as they stood alongside replicas of the island cabana and the S.S. Minnow from the popular television show, “Gilligan’s Island”.

The boat itself, which served as the S.S. Minnow, was the prized possession of the business owner, who decided to feature the boat in the parade as a way to retire the old vessel.

“He had the boat for a long time…he had to retire it, and this was its last hurrah,” said Joseph Hale, Senior Engineer at the Cooking Manufacturing Group.

As the float had to be assembled within one day, putting it all together and setting it up upon the trailer proved to be the biggest obstacle.

However, such a challenge proved to be quite rewarding, as the team’s efforts managed to win them all the award of best overall float that evening, especially since it was their third year entering.

“We feel fantastic,” Hale said. “It was a perfect reward for all the effort that went into it…I don’t know what we will do next year, but we hope to improve next year.”

At least 45 entries were entered into this year’s parade, the most floats that the parade has received within recent years, explained Frostproof Mayor Martin Sullivan.

Each of the floats made their way along Scenic Highway through Downtown Frostproof, each decorated to this year’s theme of a Caribbean Christmas.

The parade was followed by an after-party at Wall Street, which featured food vendors, bounce houses, free hot chocolate, and even real snow for children to play in.

Of course, no Christmas celebration would be complete without an apperance from Old Saint Nick himself. He and his wife both appeared that evening, riding not on a bright red sleigh, but rather in a bright red fire engine, with a bag a toys for the girls and boys.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus appeared at the park gazebo, where children and their parents had the chance to meet and greet with photo opportunities as well.

Each year’s parade and after event has a different theme. This year’s theme, fittingly enough, was Caribbean Christmas In The Park.

“I thought the event was fantastic,” Sullivan said. “Every year, the staff is tasked with coming up with a theme and the Christmas party, and they knocked it out of the park this year.”

Each of the floats that appeared within the parade were judged and later awarded in three categories: best overall, mayor’s choice, and best theme.

This year, Cooking Manufacturing won Best Overall, while the Frostproof Care Center won best theme, and Life Church won Mayor’s Choice.

Donna Respress, a member of Life Church, appeared on the float, as well as helped assemble it before the parade. The float proved to be a real hodge podge with mermaids, kayaks, steel drums, and even a manager scene.

“They went through great lengths that was not only themed Caribbean, but had a lot of work and energy put into it, and that was obvious, and the members on the float were very enthusiastic,” Mayor Sullivan said.

The church has been attending the parade for years, and this year saw an especially large turnout both with floats and overall attendance, Repress commented.

“We are very excited,” she said. “We worked together, and it was really good. Everyone came in and did a good job.”

Overall, both the parade and the after party not only proved to be quite festive, especially with its Caribbean theme, but drew in quite a large crowd that went over expectations, which have evidently been set higher for next year.

“They exceeded our expectations,” Mayor Sullivan said. “We had nearly double what we thought we would have compared to last year, participants in the parade, and next year we will have more.”

Bartow Ford Winter Wonderland Lets It Snow For Fourth Year

Bartow

Staff Reporter

-

December 4, 2018

0

Bartow Ford Winter Wonderland Lets It Snow For Fourth Year

by James Coulter

Rachel Aguilera from Lakeland waited patiently in line to see if the key she received would open the door to a F150 Super Cab STX Two Wheel Job 2018 at Bartow Ford.

Even though she was the eighteenth contestant in line, and even though all of the other contestants before her had failed to open the new truck, she was still doubtful that her key would open it.

When her turn finally arrived, she put her key into the lock, turned it, and nearly fell over crying tears of joy when it unlocked for her.

“I did not feel like I would win this,” Aguilera said. “I left this in God’s hand, and it was his will.”

As she considers this truck a gift from God, she plans on using it for His will by helping other people, whether it’s transporting them, delivering food, or even hosting tailgating parties at concerts and games.

“It feels awesome,” she said. “It is thanks to Bartow Ford, 97 Country, and God that I was able to win this, it is awesome. I can’t say nothing more than thank you.”

The annual car giveaway was hosted during the fourth annual Winter Wonderland hosted at Bartow Ford Company on Saturday.

Aside from allowing 20 lucky contestants the opportunity to drive away with a new truck, the annual holiday event also allowed children of all ages and their guardians to enjoy snow and other fun activities outside.

The main attraction, of course, was the 80 tons of snow outside, where children could play in, make snow men and angels, wage snowball fights, and even sled down on ice slides.

Earlier that morning, children and their guardians could enjoy breakfast with Santa Claus, and later have the opportunity to take a photograph with him and Mrs. Claus, as well as other Christmas characters such as Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch.

Other holiday-related activities provided that day included bounce houses, inflatable slides, train rides, Christmas carolers, and holiday crafts.

The annual event started as a simple contest for a free truck giveaway, but as that contest only managed to attract a handful of attendees, the event was expanded to include snow and other holiday activities in order to attract a much larger turnout, explained Benny Robles, Jr., President of Bartow Ford.

“I wanted more people to see it,” he said. “So I had the idea of transforming it into a winter wonderland. We got bigger and bigger with ideas, and here we are.”

His father, Benny Robles, Sr., the owner and founder, loved the idea, and felt it would be a great opportunity for local children to enjoy a white Christmas.

“Some of the kids here have never seen snow, so we give them opportunity to see and experience snow,” he said.

Their first Winter Wonderland event four years ago was initially expected to only draw in a handful of guests, approximately 500 to 600 people.

Their initial expectations was vastly exceeded when more than 2,000 people attended the inagural event, he said.

“We had no idea how many people to expect…and we were overwhelmed,” he said.

Since then, the event has grown with more activities and more participants, with at least 5,000 to 6,000 attending annually, Robles, Sr. explained.

Putting on such a massive event with a massive amount of snow is quite the massive undertaking that requires at least 100 employees to help coordinate, with most of these employees humbly volunteering their time to help with it.

In the future, they hope that their annual holiday tradition will grow bigger and better with more snow, more activities, and even more children enjoying a Winter Wonderland in sunny Florida.

“I enjoy seeing the kids and having fun, experiencing the snow, [and] I experience the whole event,” Robles, Sr. said. “We are going to continue to grow on it. It is a tradition that we plan to continue to do every year.”

Polk High Schools Spreading Holiday Cheer Through Toys For Tots Toy Drive

Staff Reporter

-

December 4, 2018

0

Polk High Schools Spreading Holiday Cheer Through Toys For Tots Toy Drive

Polk County high schools are getting ready for the holidays with some friendly competition for a good cause.

Local high schools were invited this year to help raise donations for the Toys for Tots of Polk County.

The schools are taking part in a good-natured challenge to see what school can raise the most toys, books, and stocking stuffers to help brighten the holidays for underprivileged children in Polk County.

The school that brings in the most donations will receive a large trophy during a celebration in January. This trophy will be maintained at the school for one calendar year before becoming a “traveling trophy” that will stay with next year’s winner.

Mulberry High has been doing a great job collecting donations. The school will be having a pep rally on Friday, Dec. 7, where students will be donating about 15 boxes of gifts. This year’s pep rally will include a special salute to Pearl Harbor and the beginning of World War II. There will be several Military Veterans, including a World War II Veteran, in attendance for the event.

Operation Pop Top Leads To Only One Arrest; Ten Stores Refused To Sell Alcohol To Minors

Staff Reporter

-

December 4, 2018

0

Operation Pop Top Leads To Only One Arrest; Ten Stores Refused To Sell Alcohol To Minors

On December 3, 2018, PSCO conducted “Operation Pop Top.” It’s an on-going effort to enforce laws related to selling alcohol to minors. This involves sending high school age PCSO Explorers* into stores to see if they can buy alcohol.

During the operation, our explorer who is 17-years-old, was sold an alcoholic beverage at the Wawa gas station located at 1490 3^rd St SW in Winter Haven. Deputies arrested the clerk, 47-year-old Rufus Green of Winter Haven, and charged him with selling an alcoholic beverage to a minor. He was taken to jail.

“We take this very seriously and I am glad to see the vast majority of the stores are in compliance with the law. This is an on-going effort, so we remind retail store personnel, please don’t sell alcohol or tobacco products to minors.” -Sheriff, Grady Judd

The following stores were found to be in compliance with the Florida beverage laws:

Sunoco: 420 Magnolia Ave, Auburndale
Chevron: 123 Magnolia Ave, Auburndale
Wawa: 334 Havendale Blvd, Winter Haven
Sunoco: 421 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
Chevron: 2885 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
Chevron: 2049 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
Citgo: 1690 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
Racetrac: 934 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
Citgo: 1250 6^th St NW, Winter Haven
Sunoco: 1202 6^th NW, Winter Haven

*A high school Explorer is a teenager involved with the PCSO Explorer Post who volunteers to assist deputies doing compliance checks. The PCSO Explorer Post is a cadet program designed for students who are interested in any aspect of law enforcement, and allows individuals to learn about law enforcement careers. The Explorer Post is chartered by the Boy Scouts of America. The Explorer Post is also affiliated with the Florida Sheriffs Explorers Association and the Florida Association of Police Explorers. The program is designed to develop self-esteem, discipline, good citizenship, and leadership within the Post, and to strengthen the partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and the youth of our communities.

104th Person Arrested In Vice Operation Conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Staff Reporter

-

December 4, 2018

0

104th Person Arrested In Vice Operation Conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office

On Monday night, December 3, 2018, 49-year-old William Welch turned himself in to deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for a Polk County warrant. His arrest came after Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced earlier that day, that 103 people were arrested in Operation Naughty – Not Nice II, which focused on human trafficking and prostitution. Welch became the 104th arrest in the operation.

Welch unknowingly communicated with undercover detectives, thinking he was arranging a meeting with a 14-year-old girl to have sex. Welch traveled to the meeting place, but did not make contact at the residence. Detectives recovered his car at the scene.

“This is a man who posed a great danger to the public, particularly children. It was his intention to meet a child to fulfill his sick fantasies. He came to the neighborhood, but he was suspicious, so he started looking around and left in the dark of night without his car. We have his car, and we’ll soon have him in our jail too.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.

Welch has been charged with: Travel to meet a minor (F2), Use Computer to Seduce, Solicit, Lure a Child (F3), Use Two-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F3), and Lewd Battery – Attempted (F3).

Winter Haven Couple Arrested for Armed Robbery of Family Dollar Store Winter Haven

Staff Reporter

-

December 4, 2018

0

Winter Haven Couple Arrested for Armed Robbery of Family Dollar Store Winter Haven

On December 3, 2018, PCSO Robbery detectives arrested 37-year-old Christopher “Champ” Bouiye, and his girlfriend, 39-year-old Michelle Videau, who both lived at 5651 Cypress Gardens Rd #105 in Winter Haven, and charged both with armed robbery (FL), armed burglary with assault (FL), and conspiracy to commit armed robbery (F2), in the armed robbery of the Family Dollar store that occurred on Sunday, November 25, 2018.

Bouiye was additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F2) and destruction of evidence (F3).

According to their affidavits:

On November 25, 2018, just after the store opened at 8:00 a.m., an unknown black male suspect entered the store and pointed a handgun at the clerk. The suspect went behind the counter and demanded money from the safe and registers. After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect left the store and walked westbound towards Lake Dexter Boulevard.

The victim described the suspect as a black male, 5’10-6’0″ tall, medium build, 30-37 years old, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, pants, black gloves, and dark blue bandanna covering his face.

PCSO Robbery detectives obtained video from surrounding businesses which showed that a gray, 2004-2007 Kia Spectra dropped the suspect off on Lake Dexter Boulevard. The video showed that the suspect was wearing a dark shirt or jacket, long pants, and he appeared to have dark skin. The Kia is seen circling the area while the suspect is in the store. The Kia also went into the Lake Dexter neighborhood off-camera. A few minutes later, the suspect is seen walking towards the Lake Dexter neighborhood. Video from the neighborhood showed that the Kia fled towards Register Road.

On Monday, December 3, 2018, detectives in the Cypress Gardens Road area of Winter Haven observed a gray 2006 Kia Spectra traveling westbound on Cypress Gardens Road. Detectives followed the vehicle and observed that the driver failed to obey a stop sign at Overlook Drive and Dundee Road. Detectives conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Michelle Videau, and passenger, Christopher Bouiye.

Christopher provided a Dundee Citrus work ID card as identification and a date of birth of 5/31/1981 (37 years old). A DAVID inquiry showed that Christopher is 6’0″ tall. Christopher matches the description given by the victim of the suspect who pointed a gun at her and demanded money. Michelle and Christopher told detectives that they have been staying at Cypress Inn (5651 Cypress Gardens Rd), and that they were in the process of moving to another motel.

Michelle advised the gray Kia Spectra was a rental car that she rented from Legend Auto Sales in Winter Haven. Michelle advised she has had the car since November 6, 2018.

When detectives told Michelle that video surveillance in the area showed that the suspect who robbed the victim at Family Dollar was in a car matching the description of her rental car, she initially advised she did not go to the Family Dollar, but then admitted that she did drive her boyfriend, Christopher Bouiye, to the Family Dollar the Sunday morning after Thanksgiving. Michelle advised they had talked about doing a robbery there a few weeks prior because they needed money, but they did not do it. On Sunday, November 25, 2018, Christopher told her “I’m ready.”

Michelle drove him in the gray Kia Spectra to the Family Dollar and dropped him off on Lake Dexter Boulevard. She stated Christopher was wearing a black hoodie, jeans, black Jordan shoes, dark blue or black bandanna, and a black hat when he got out of the car. He did not have his face covered when he got out the car, but he had the bandanna tied around his neck. Michelle stated she drove across the road by a gas station and back to the Lake Dexter neighborhood, which is corroborated by video surveillance. Christopher then got back in the car and was nervous. Christopher then directed her to drive southbound on Register Road, which is corroborated by video. Michelle advised that she did not know that Christopher had a gun. After the robbery, Christopher and Michelle went to their motel room at Cypress Inn. Michelle saw Christopher put the clothes he wore during the robbery in a bag and throw them away. The black Jordan shoes he was wearing are the same shoes he was wearing at the time of the traffic stop.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the suspects’ hotel room, during which they recovered a black hooded sweatshirt, and dark blue bandanna.

Bouiye has been in the Polk County Jail on 15 prior occasions, and was just released in September 2018. In 2000 he was sentenced to one year in state prison for the sale of cocaine.

Videau has been in the Polk County Jail on 7 prior occasions, and was just released in February 2018.

“This guy’s nickname is ‘Champ’ but we think he’s more like a ‘chump.’ Anyone who sticks a gun in someone’s face and robs them – not to mention a convicted felon who isn’t even legally supposed to possess a firearm – deserves to be locked up for a long, long time.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Winter Haven Celebrates 30th Carols In The Park

Staff Reporter

-

December 3, 2018

0

Winter Haven Celebrates 30th Carols In The Park

by James Coulter

For three decades, folks have come a caroling among the leaves of green in Winter Haven’s Central Park, and there they go a wandering so fair to be seen.

Downtown Winter Haven celebrated its 30th Annual Carols in the Park on Saturday with 16 performances from choirs, orchestras, and musical groups from local schools and other placea throughout the area.

The Performing Arts Academy from Winter Haven Christian School was one such group. At least two dozen of its students performed intriguing renditions of traditional Christmas songs, including a quite humorous performance of “The 12 Days Of Christmas”—or rather, the “The 13 Days Of Christmas.”

Steven Osborne, The Performing Arts Teacher, and his students were invited to attend following their performance at the 9/11 Remembrance event earlier that year.

With this being their first year performing at the Christmas event, he and his students were more than excited, and their expectations were more than exceeded.

“They blew our expectations out of the water,” he said. “Just to see everything here and to see all of the groups and professionalism of the set up, it was wonderful.”

Being able to participate within a community event such as this was an honor, as was being able to perform alongside other local talent upon that same stage, he further elucidated.

“Just a desire to be a part of the community and to go out and spread our message of Jesus Christ into the community, and it was the perfect opportunity of that,” he said.

On the other side of the age spectrum was Haven Harmonies, a chorus consisting of several retirees from across the county who practice on a weekly basis as Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church in Winter Haven.

Joe E Jones has been directing the chorus for eight year, and his group has been attending the event ever since it first started more than 30 years ago.

As someone who was on the Cultural Arts Committee that developed Carols In The Park 30 years ago, Jones appreciates how much the annual holiday event has grown over the years.

Overall, he loves the festive atmosphere and the camraderie that he and his choir members share performing at the event with others.

“It is just a nice event for the community, and they enjoy our singing, and we share our music,” he said.

Aside from Christmas carols, guests that day could enjoy other holiday-related activities, from horse-drawn carriages and pony rides around the park, to photo opportunities with Santa Claus himself.

This year’s event utilized the new South Central Park area, which served as a convenient central location for the local holiday vendors and food trucks.

“Utilizing the new [space] has been wonderful,” said Anita Strang, Executive Director of Main Street Winter Haven. “Being able to have all the vendors set up in one location where the traffic flows well and it is working out great.”

Main Street Winter Haven has been helping coordinate the event for nearly 16 years, and each and every year has only seen it grow bigger and better.

For both Strang and Alex Santiago, Main Street Vice President, being able to see local residents, including children, enjoy the event is more than enough reward for them.

“I enjoy seeing the family and the kids running around and visiting Santa Claus and walking among the vendors,” he said. “It is a family event.”

Highlands Hammock Announces Hammock North Pole Event

Uncategorized

Staff Reporter

-

December 3, 2018

0

Highlands Hammock Announces Hammock North Pole Event

— Enjoy a Christmas Sleigh Tram Ride Through the Hammock at Night —

Sebring: Highlands Hammock State Park will be celebrating Christmas at the Hammock North Pole on the nights of December 13, 14 and 15. Residents and visitors throughout the greater Heartland area and neighboring communities may take a ‘Christmas sleigh’ tram ride around the Loop Road and enjoy the peace and beauty of the Hammock after dusk. This special holiday event includes a stop at the ‘North Pole’ across from the Cypress Swamp where families will depart for a visit with Santa. Children may participate in crafts and games with a holiday theme. Mrs. Claus will again be reading stories, and s’mores and hot chocolate will be available for purchase. A food vendor will also be on site.

According to Park Services Specialist Carla Sherwin, “The community so very much enjoyed the North Pole last year when the event was launched, the decision was made to expand it.” A gingerbread house, an igloo, and some additional photo boards where children may pose for seasonal pictures are in the works. “I am sure that children will be delighted to experience these additions, and this is a wonderful opportunity for families to create special memories of the holiday and the park,” Sherwin added. The Hammock North Pole begins at 6:00 p.m. with the last tram departing from the picnic area at 7:45 p.m. returning by 9:00 p.m. Participation is limited, so advance registration must be completed and tickets purchased through Eventbrite. For ticket assistance, please call (863) 381- 4912. Ticket cost is $10.00 per person. All proceeds benefit park improvements through the Friends of Highlands Hammock. Highlands Hammock State Park is located at 5931 Hammock Road in Sebring. Visit https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Highlands-Hammock and www.FriendsofHighlandsHammock.org

Downtown Winter Haven Lights Up Its Christmas Tree

Staff Reporter

-

December 3, 2018

0

Downtown Winter Haven Lights Up Its Christmas Tree

by James Coulter

“Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree! How beautiful are your branches!”

Those song lyrics were most likely going through the heads of Winter Haven residents and visitors as they witnessed the official lighting of the Christmas tree in the downtown area.

The Winter Haven Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday evening drew in hundreds of guests to Central Park as they watched the town’s Christmas tree light up for the very first time this holiday season.

More than two weeks went into the overall preparation of the decorations, with the decorating starting on Monday and finishing up on Thursday prior to the event, explained Brittany Overstreet, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Winter Haven.

Winter Haven Mayor Pro-Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr. officially flipped the switch during the ceremony, turning on the hundreds of lights donning the tree as it overlooks Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven.

Helping to ensure that “everything is awesome” were Emmet Brickowski and Wyldstyle, the main characters from “The Lego Movie” and its upcoming sequel, “The Lego Movie 2.”

The two LEGO characters arrived from LEGOLAND Florida for the fourth year to help switch on the lights and later take pictures in front of the tree with children and their families.

Prior to the tree lighting, the Theater Winter Haven Choir, for the first time at the event, served as Christmas carolers performing traditional Christmas melodies, including a medley of 30 different songs performed in less than three minutes.

Earlier, at the very start of the event, children could decorate their own Christmas ornaments and engage in other arts and crafts as provided by the City of Winter Haven.

More than 200 guests lined up around the block to receive a free cookie and cup of hot chocolate as provided by local eateries, Gourmet Goodies and Richard’s Fine Coffee respectively.

Overstreet had been supervising the event for the past three years. Each and every year, she has seen it grow in attendance. The first time she attended, she saw more than 90 to 100 guests appear; this year, much more than that were present, she said.

Part of what makes their event so successful has been the local residents and their support for local free events and activities such as these, she explained.

“I think [it’s] people being interested in doing things more locally and not traveling so much,” she said. “We like the success of seeing people come out and enjoy it with their families.”

Anita Strang, President of Winter Haven Main Street, loves local events such as this and how they draw in many community members and residents.

So much does she love events such as this that she is more than willing to do anything to attend, even if it means going out in a leg brace like she did this year.

“The tree lighting ceremony is such a beautiful sweet event,” she said. “It was beautiful. I love seeing the children and families.”

Main Street Winter Haven is one of many local organizations that help coordinate with the city to help put on these local events.

From the Christmas ornaments to the cookies and chocolate, most everything provided at the event were donated by local organizations and businesses, and such community involvement has only grown over the years, Overstreet explained.

“We definetly have received more donations from the community,” she said. “We had a couple more community donors than we had in the past.”

One such local donor was Gourmet Goodies, a local bakery that donated the free cookies for the event.

The bakery has been participating for the past three years. Not only does the event mean more customers to their store, but overall happier people within the community, explained Carissa Hughes, Owner of Gourmet Goodies.

“That is the most enjoyable thing for us: seeing people come downtown and be supportive of what we do as a community,” she said.

DailyRidge.comFast Factual Free News!

DailyRidge.comFast Factual Free News!