From the Mayor

from theMAYOR Light Up Ocala is one of our annual local treasures

BY MAYOR KENT GUINN

Iremember the first Light Up Ocala, because I was there. The day was November 30, 1984, and I was having dinner with my wife and father-in-law at O’Neal Brothers Restaurant where Harry’s currently stands on the downtown square. By today’s standards, the whole affair seemed rather subdued although it was a special moment.

Back in those days, a fountain served as the focal point of the square and the first Light Up Ocala was very simple: just some lights in the trees and not much more, nothing like what we have now. I also remember the lights being turned on at 6:30 and it was barely dark, so the effect was not so spectacular. On that night, there were less people there than one finds in the square on a typical Friday night, but because it was the first, it was rather special and started a tradition that is now one of the city’s showcase events.

I think of the events that help make Ocala special, and among them are the annual Christmas parade, FAFO which took place in October, the Kiwanis pancake day and, of course, Light Up Ocala. Just as the downtown area has grown and evolved, so too has the Light Up Ocala celebration, which includes a much more spectacular display of lights to go along with many other activities that are fun for the entire family. And as the downtown area grows, so too will Light Up Ocala.

New residences are going up and will add to the Christmas décor as the years go by. One of the new events that I especially enjoy is the golf cart parade, with fantastic decorations on display for all to see. Last year, around 150 carts joined the parade that passed in front of homes where residents set up barbecues in their yards and enjoyed the show.

The coming years will no doubt bring more activities and more people, but even as it is now the event stands as one of Ocala’s special evenings by kicking off the Christmas season in the perfect manner.

This year’s Light Up Ocala will take place from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at the downtown square and beyond. With over 100 vendors that will include arts and crafts and various food options, the evening will be fun for the whole family as live entertainment will fill the air. An interactive kids zone at Citizen’s Circle will offer plenty of fun activities for both young and old and, of course, the Junior Sunshine holiday parade will be marked with a special appearance from Santa Claus himself.

I enjoy Light Up Ocala as much as any other event since it accentuates the beauty of our remarkable city, and as the city continues to grow I look forward to witnessing the magnificent changes in Light Up Ocala that will follow. Noting the changes that have taken place in the last 38 years, I can only wonder what the next 38 years will bring!