Lights of Love
The 26th annual Lights of Love tree lighting ceremony took place on the evening of December 5.
“We were just talking with our friends here about how in the past, it was a very small, intimate event,” Donna Byrtus said. “But I felt like this was a kind of a Hallmark movie feel. I enjoyed it so much. I was excited and it got me into the Christmas mood. I’m like a kid. I couldn’t wait for the trees to be lit up.”
“It is so nice, I almost wanted to go up and sit on Santa’s lap,” 80-year-old Andrew Byrtus added.
The event, co-sponsored by the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation, and the City of Plant City drew a crowd of 500 to McCall Park. Vendors sold Christmas wares and First Baptist Church Plant City children’s choir sang for onlookers.
“This is my second year here at Lights of Love,” Lori Wilson said. “I actually am here representing Tampa Electric as one of the title sponsors. I am very glad to be a part of it again this year….It is a very wholesome hometown feeling, and I could not be more happy. I love bringing my daughter here and my family, and new people every time I come.”
Mayor Nate Kilton and Karen Kerr, President of SFBH, each spoke to the crowd before Santa and Mrs. Claus threw the switch to turn on 100,000 lights in the park and throughout downtown Plant City.
“This is our second year of coming here and we love it,” Krissy McKnight said.
“Definitely something that we will remember as a family forever, and ever, and ever,” BillyMcKnight said. “This is pretty special that our town does this and it is really awesome. Merry Christmas to all!”
Plant City residents and businesses sponsored lights on a new 25-foot tree to raise money for a new neonatal intensive care unit at SFBH. The event brought in $45,000 to see that the unit opens in 2025
“I think it is great. I love it. It is a tradition they have been doing for a long time, and my family enjoys it. And I think it gets the community together,” Terrin Stevens observed.
Christmas Parade
The Plant City Christmas Parade went off without a hitch—other than a short interruption by a freight train crossing South Collins Street—on the evening of Friday, December 6. The parade began on South Collins Street, went north to Reynolds Street, then turned east to end at the Plant City Courthouse.
The Ford family watches the parade every year. “My wife comes out at 4:30 in the morning to set up chairs for the family,” Darrell Ford said. “This is our first year with our grandbaby, and he enjoyed every single part of it. He loved the Grinch. He loved Sasquatch. He loves every part of it. It is a great family tradition.”
Thousands of people lined the sidewalks to enjoy the floats, marching bands, marchers, and vehicles. Seventy-four entries vied for trophies and cash prizes. And of course, the REAL Santa and Mrs. Claus graced Plant City with sleigh and reindeer.
“I have lived here my whole life and this is the first time I have been to the parade,” Jack Laughlin said. “I loved it—it was great.”
“The Plant City Christmas Parade is a great, family-friendly event, and a hometown tradition,” Heather Decubellis said. “We love participating. This is our second year—we moved to Plant City a year ago.”
The winners are below. They will be handed awards on Thursday, December 12, at 6:00 p.m. at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum.
Best Overall – First Baptist Church – Dover
Best Marching Unit – Plant City High School Marching Band
Best Church or Religious Group – Ekklesia Revived
Best School – Plant City Christian Academy
Best Business – GT Grandstands
“The parade was so much fun—it was so festive and everybody was having a great time and were so cheerful,” parade judge Dodie White said. “We celebrated the season, and we celebrated it wonderfully tonight.”
