Every year new fads aim to create over-the-top holiday decorations, but McKee Botanical Garden has stayed true to its traditional roots, with twinkling lights and festive displays that lure more than 3,000 guests to its annual pre-Christmas event, Holidays at McKee. As in previous years, visitors once again ambled along pathways lit with luminaria, stopping along the way to visit Santa and see the popular model train display, which grows a little more each year.
Eric Menger and Peter Tyson, the two remaining “train guys,” assembled and produced the extensive train display; their third partner, Jack Nutbrown, having passed away this year. Menger, the Vero Beach Airport manager, has loved trains since he was 3. His grandfather was a conductor on the New Jersey Central Railroad.
“Somehow it got into my blood, starting with Lionel trains to O Scale which is a bit larger, and finally the HO large-scale model at McKee,” said Menger. “I just love to see the little kids. Their eyes light up and even though Santa is in the corner, they don’t care; they want to see the trains.”
Even a candy table was mostly ignored, as children pointed to the tiny villages and watched as three trains traveled the multi-layered tracks and tunnels. A new feature this year was the addition of farm animals making barnyard sounds.
“In an age when it’s all about electronics, it is refreshing to watch the kids be so fascinated by the trains,” said Peter Tyson. “It’s like the movie Polar Express! I have trains at home that go around the Christmas tree, too,” added 6-year old Mathew excitedly.
Elaine and Jim McSweeney have made it a holiday tradition to bring their three Youth Guidance mentees, Brendon Rogers, 15, Keja Ryaos, 13, and Tavarius English, 8, to see Santa at McKee. “Our grandchildren all live up north so we consider these kids part of our family,” said Elaine McSweeney.
Music from the 1924 Wurlitzer Band Organ added to the festive mood, as did the enticing scents emanating from the café, which offered a special holiday menu created by newly installed restaurateur Chris Bireley of Osceola Bistro.
“I love hearing all the pre-event excitement but you are never sure it is accurate until you see all the people,” said Bireley. “It is incredible I had not been here before I extended Osceola Bistro into the café. I never knew how big this event was and how exciting.”
“The most impressive thing was the artificial night sky they set up in the trees,” said Hans Schumann from Germany, speaking about the new laser light display in two sections of the garden.
“Every year we switch it up a bit,” said Kelly Susino, McKee’s manager of marketing and events. “As a cultural attraction we do a lot of special events but this is a big fundraiser which starts our main season.”
The displays may also be viewed at Night of Lights, Dec. 27, 28 and 29. Visit MckeeGarden.org for details.