Santa sprinkled a bit of Christmas magic over McKee Botanical Garden, lighting up the tropical treasure during its annual McKee Festival of Lights.
Members were given a sneak peek at the festivities in advance of the public, strolling along the luminaria-lit pathways of the historic 18-acre wonderland. Thousands of lights illuminated the garden, where flamingoes, frogs, goldfish and pandas dotted joyful scenes alongside decorative trees and oversized flowers which bloomed luminously.
A stupendous blowup Santa Claus watched over guests as they entered the garden through a tunnel of lights, keeping a close watch as he made a list and checked it twice to see who was being naughty or nice.
Visitors traipsed through “snow” flurries blowing over the Spanish Kitchen, before heading into the glow of warmth in the Hall of Giants. A wealth of gnomes inside skied down a slope set up on the world’s largest mahogany table, fed farm animals, dined family style, napped in their bunkbeds, and wreaked havoc among a forest of Christmas trees.
New this year, a specially curated giant snow globe featured even more gnomes.
After taking in the more than 25,000 red and white lights strung up along the Royal Palm Grove’s Candy Cane Lane, visitors enjoyed visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. An outdoor holiday movie, Christmas shopping and snacks at the Garden Café were also on tap for everyone to experience.
In the weeks following, local performers provided entertainment, and a 1924 Wurlitzer vintage band organ and model train were added to the amusements.
Beginning Jan. 20 and running until April 30, McKee will present the Garden of Glass, by master glass sculptor Jason Gamrath.
For more information, visit McKeeGarden.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
