One night each December, McCall Park is set aglow with a sparkling Christmas tree and other decorations during Lights of Love, a fundraising event for the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation.
This year’s Lights of Love will be Thursday, Dec. 4, and proceeds will benefit the hospital’s surgery center expansion.
Each year, the event goes turns on with a countdown until the tree lights and holiday displays explode with light. But a lot goes into it before that night.
For one, there’s the massive 30-foot-tall tree that is the centerpiece of the evening.
Then, there’s 210 lighted decorations throughout the city. Total, these displays have about 35,000 bulbs.
Typically, employees from the City of Plant City’s General Services Department begin preparing for the lighting ceremony the week after the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, about halfway through November. But, this year, they started setting up Oct. 29, in order to make sure there would be ample time for necessary repairs. Each year, about 500 bulbs are broken or stolen and have to be replaced.
The lights specifically for the tree are stored at the hospital throughout the year and are put up the last week of November.
Last year, 30 businesses and families sponsored Lights of Love with large donations, and 180 individuals and families gave smaller donations to honor loved ones with a “light.” However, the number of donations does not correspond with the actual number of lights on the tree.
Though the official tree lighting ceremony will be at 6:45 p.m., the fun starts at 5:30 and lasts until after the lighting ceremony. Photos with Santa will be available for $10. And, as always, snacks will be available at Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen.
New this year, the event will also feature the singing of Christmas carols by the Plant City Community Chorale. The exact start time of their performance will be announced closer to the event date.
The chorale, which has about 30 members, has been working on this year’s Christmas repertoire since August. Its conductor, Ken Watts, is a Master of music and has been performing and conducting for more than 40 years.
To kick off their performance, the chorale will sing a Christmas medley. But, after that, they will move throughout the crowd, singing traditional carols. The audience will be encouraged to sing along with the songs they know.
To donate to Lights of Love, contact the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation at (813) 757-8478. “Lights” can be purchased in memory or in honor of a loved one for $25, $50, $75 and $100, and sponsorships are available at higher levels.
IF YOU GO
Lights of Love
When: 5:30 p.m.; Dec. 4
Where: McCall Park
BY THE NUMBERS
10: the age of the tree
210: the number of lighted decorations around Plant City
35,000: the number of bulbs total on the displays
30: the number of feet the tree is
500: the number of broken or stolen bulbs
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.