Village’s ‘Holiday by the Bay’ at Ludovici Park on Dec. 3

By Gary Alan Ruse….

Pictured is a moment from last year’s event.

The second annual “Holiday by the Bay” takes place on Saturday, Dec. 3, and offers Palmetto Bay families a chance to get into the holiday spirit with a number of attractions and activities for adults and children.

It runs from 4 to 9 p.m. at Ludovici Park, 17641 Old Cutler Rd. in Palmetto Bay, in the open area adjacent to the library.

Fanny Carmona-Gonzalez, village Parks and Recreation director, said the event has a lot of things for people to enjoy.

“It’s a great family night for everyone to come out and have a good time,” she said. “There’s going to be music and holiday cheer. There will be food vendors and arts and crafts vendors.

“We have carnival rides for the kids; we have arts and crafts for the kids to make little ornaments for Christmas. Santa Claus is going to be there and the kids can have their pictures taken with him.”

Admission is free, as are the carnival rides. People can design their own Christmas cards there and kids can write letters to Santa as well, to be posted in a special mailbox for the purpose. “The letters will go straight to the North Pole,” assures Carmona-Gonzalez.

Close to a dozen schools will be participating and providing music for the event, and helping out in a big way are sponsors TotalBank, South Motors Honda, District 8 County Commissioner Lynda Bell, and C3TS Engineering/Architecture.

Bill Kress, village communications manager, said he is impressed by the transformation the event brings to the park, and by the help of so many in the area.

“It really highlights how beautiful this park is, and we go to great efforts to turn it into a winter wonderland,” Kress said. “They really do a nice job, decorating trees, putting in lighting. The park really is stunning. It’s so beautiful to start with, but this takes off with the holiday decoration.

“We’re very happy that we’re able to bring in some heavy-hitter community sponsors. The commissioner’s office is partnering with us for this event, which is the first time.”

Kress said that the village was sending out postcards to all households inviting residents to the event. One side of the postcard has a message from TotalBank.

“With their sponsorship we were able to offset the production and postage costs,” Kress said. “It’s the only way we were able to do it. We want this event to be the signature holiday event in South Dade.”

For information call Village Hall at 305- 259-1234.


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