Is anything better than a big, exciting, and colorful Christmas get-together?
Thousands come to the breezy and crisp city of Naples, Florida during the winter season to celebrate the biggest event of the year. Read below to find out more about what we consider our three favorite holiday events in Naples, Florida. For a place to stay, including our many Naples monthly rentals, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Christmas on Third Tree Lighting and Snow Celebration
The Christmas on Third Tree Lighting and Snow Celebration is almost certainly the most popular holiday event of the year for Naples locals and visitors alike. The celebration features the lighting of the massive tree on Third, music from the local high School band, dancing, costumes, and more.
The tree is lit by the mayor and afterward, Santa Claus himself stops by for a visit. The restaurants stay open late and often offer fascinating holiday-themed specials. Though we recommend booking your dinner as the restaurants can fill fast!
The initial Christmas tree lighting is November 25th at 6 p.m. The area stays open to around 9 p.m. Stop by any Thursday through the season for the special snowfall!
Holiday Boat Parade at the Village Shops at Venetian Way
While details for the 2019 Holiday Boat Parade at the Village Shops at Venetian Way are sparse at this time, the event should stand to be one of the most sensational of the season.
Various fully-decorated yachts, sailboats, and boats will glide along the Venetian Bay. The event is free. Simply pick a nice spot along the bay, wait for the sun to go down, and admire the stunning multi-colored lights adorning the local boats. The event will incorporate live entertainment and a fun snow show! Kids can come to stop by any of the family-friendly activity stations. This may likely include face painting, balloon art, caricatures, and holiday stories. There may even be a visit by Santa Claus!
Visit the Village Shops during your stay to see the gorgeous Mediterranean architecture, beautiful views of the water, and top-tier Naples restaurants. The Village Shops are located at Village Shops on Venetian Bay 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd. The shops usually open at 10 a.m. It includes a multitude of shops, such as Chico’s, Lux Boutique, Tommy Bahama, Pratt’s, Sukie’s Wine Shop, and Dana Taylor, among many others. Restaurants include the Village Pub, Miramare Ristorante, and the Bayside Seafood Grill.
And you may not believe it, but you can actually stay at one of our Naples rentals with pools and spend the remaining afternoon swimming- even in the heart of December!
Night Lights at the Naples Botanical Garden
The Naples Botanical Garden is one of the top area attractions whether you go in the heart of December or in the middle of July. The botanical gardens glow with special rare flowers and foliage as well as weekly events all year long.
But it may be Night Lights which takes the cake as the finest event of them all. The gardens are washed in color. The foliage is coated in sparkling lights. It remains open late so you can stroll through the grounds after dark. There’s also live entertainment from the Naples Ballet, the Opera Naples Youth Chorus, and other local artists. The stage stands over a widespread of glow-in-the-dark furniture. There’s a special menu at the garden’s Fogg Café as well as a signature cocktail selection for the event.
It is November 29th to December 23th, as well as Dec 26th to the 30th. The event also carries into January 1st to the 5th. You can stop in with the whole group at any time from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening.
