MOUNT DORA BUZZ
  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Business & Real Estate
    • Outdoor Life
    • Real Estate Buzz
    • Government & Education
    • Kindness Matters
    • Profiles
    • Newsworthy
    • What's Hot...
    • Development Buzz
    • Who Knew?
    • Buzz Polls
  • Calendar
  • Festivals & Events
    • Annual Festivals
    • Monthly Events
    • Local Holiday Events Guide
    • Fall Festivals & Halloween Events
    • Best Local Pumpkin Patches
  • Best of Mount Dora
  • Dining
  • Things to Do
  • Live Music
  • Parking
  • Photos
    • City Scenes
    • Colorful Cottages of Mount Dora
    • Gilbert Park
    • Holiday Lights
    • Doors of Mount Dora
    • Views from Above
    • Palm Island Boardwalk
    • July 4th Americana
    • Vintage Photos
    • Donnelly House
    • Sydonie Mansion
    • The Howey Mansion
  • History
  • Mobile App
  • Contact
    • News Desk
    • Advertising Inquiries
    • Writing Services & Content Marketing
    • Design Services
    • Social Media Services
    • Suggest a Restaurant Visit
    • Submit Pic of the Day
  • Subscribe

Arts & Entertainment

MOUNT DORA CHANGES UP HOLIDAY LIGHTS TRADITION

10/20/2020

4 Comments

 
Picture
It’s a festive and decades-old tradition that garnered Mount Dora the reputation of being arguably the Best Little Christmas Town in Florida.  This year, the beloved tradition will continue, albeit with some changes due to COVID-19.

City crews are working hard to hang the nearly 2 million lights downtown, but this year the impressive  light display will be expanded to create a more walkable display that includes Simpson Cove, as well as part of Gilbert Park.   Spectators will be able to stroll from downtown’s Donnelly Park to Mount Dora Marina’s jaw-dropping Christmas display and continue to Simpson Cove and the park to enjoy more lights.  

RELATED:  Things to To in Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis 

Joe Lewis, owner of Mount Dora Marina and Boating Center, says this year's LED display will be bigger, better and brighter than ever before.  “In my view, people need a great Christmas experience more than ever before, and it's our pleasure to be able to help out a little.”  This marks the 24th year Lewis and his small crew of elves have worked overtime to produce what is believed to be the largest private light display in Central Florida.

As usual, the lights will be turned on sometime during the last two weeks in November.  However, this year the City of Mount Dora will forego its crowded Light Up ceremony and won’t give advance notice of the date in order to reduce the crowd size and create a safer environment.  Once the lights are on, Mount Dora Buzz will post it on its Facebook page so residents and visitors can make plans to enjoy the display without the large crowds.  The towering musical Christmas tree will also return to Sunset Park in November. 

Mount Dora’s holiday lights will remain up until Mount Dora Arts Festival in early February so residents and visitors have plenty of time to enjoy it. 

RELATED:  Mount Dora Arts Festival is a Go in February

Lewis and his wife, Suzy, will host their annual “Light Night for Tykes” when they open the gates to their magical winter wonderland to benefit Toys for Tots on Saturday, December 5th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.  It’s the only night the inside of the sprawling illuminated display is open to the public (see video below).  The charity event collects toy donations for underprivileged children by asking for a new, unwrapped toy to gain admission. The marina is located at 148 Charles Avenue at downtown Mount Dora’s lakefront near the lighthouse.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here.  ​​​​ For local things to do, click here and for the area's free mobile app, click here. ​​​
Sign up for Mount Dora Buzz
Picture
Local Entertainment Calendar
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Paid  political ad.
4 Comments
Ann
10/23/2020 09:56:39 am

I am disgusted and ashamed that it is the third week of October and wreaths and garlands for Christmas are already hanging on buildings on Fifth Avenue! In downtown Mount Dora!

Reply
Jackie Heath
10/23/2020 10:16:17 am

You try hanging up 2 million lights in what you deem an apporiate time frame for a mid November turn on. Simply isn't going to happen. I worked at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville for years and they started putting up their outdoor lights in August. For places that have large light displays they have to start early to make sure it's ready.on time.

Reply
Mount Dora Buzz
10/23/2020 04:30:57 pm

Ann, starting to decorate early is a very nominal sacrifice to endure in order to complete the transformation on time so everyone can enjoy Mount Dora during the holidays. A ton of man-hours go into making it the Best Little Christmas Town in Florida. If it doesn't suit you, the commercial district along US 411 in Mount Dora isn't decorated.

Reply
Julie
10/25/2020 10:40:04 pm

I’m sure no one cares what you think. They out it there for our pleasure.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    July 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015

    RSS Feed

Terms of Use
Copyright Mount Dora Buzz 2025
​All rights reserved.



  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Business & Real Estate
    • Outdoor Life
    • Real Estate Buzz
    • Government & Education
    • Kindness Matters
    • Profiles
    • Newsworthy
    • What's Hot...
    • Development Buzz
    • Who Knew?
    • Buzz Polls
  • Calendar
  • Festivals & Events
    • Annual Festivals
    • Monthly Events
    • Local Holiday Events Guide
    • Fall Festivals & Halloween Events
    • Best Local Pumpkin Patches
  • Best of Mount Dora
  • Dining
  • Things to Do
  • Live Music
  • Parking
  • Photos
    • City Scenes
    • Colorful Cottages of Mount Dora
    • Gilbert Park
    • Holiday Lights
    • Doors of Mount Dora
    • Views from Above
    • Palm Island Boardwalk
    • July 4th Americana
    • Vintage Photos
    • Donnelly House
    • Sydonie Mansion
    • The Howey Mansion
  • History
  • Mobile App
  • Contact
    • News Desk
    • Advertising Inquiries
    • Writing Services & Content Marketing
    • Design Services
    • Social Media Services
    • Suggest a Restaurant Visit
    • Submit Pic of the Day
  • Subscribe