INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Christmas may be over but its celebration isn’t – at least, not yet at McKee Gardens, with its numerous light displays.
/Tiny tots with their eyes aglow darted from one twinkling display to the next – followed closely behind by doting parents and grandparents– not wanting to miss minute of the festivities at Holidays at McKee: An Old Fashioned Celebration.
Staff and volunteers go all out each year, decorating one of Vero’s most treasured historical landmarks in its sparkly best for the festive event.
The weekend enticed hundreds of visitors, lured by the sounds of an ornate vintage Wurlitzer street organ, pumping out lively holiday tunes.
“It was here the first two or three years, and we had a lot of people ask about it, so we brought it back,” said Christine Hobart, McKee Botanical Garden executive director.
Thousands of LED lights created a soft glow – wrapped around majestic palm trees, dripping as icicles from landmark structures, lighting winding paths with candy canes and twinkling animal statuary, and reflecting into waterways along pathways lined with luminaries.
“I feel like I’m walking through a winter wonderland,” said one woman as she passed by.
Two new inflatables made their debut this year – a lounging 20-foot snowman outside the Education building and a 20-foot Christmas tree towering over a good enough-to-eat ginger bread family.
Camera buffs were out in full force, experimenting with lenses and capturing the lights with a little magic of their own.
“It’s almost like a cathedral; the lighting is wonderful,” said Roger Sobkowiak, as he manipulated his lens while shooting an arbor covered in glimmering white lights.
Another favored holiday tradition at McKee is the captivating large scale model train display in the Education Room, crafted by and on loan from Harry Halbert, Jack Nutbrown, Peter Tyson, Eric Menger and Tom Hadden.
Trains run on three levels and more than 200 feet of tracks alongside perfect little train stations, shops and houses fabricated and crafted to scale, just as full-sized buildings would look.
“We added a tunnel on the bottom and a couple of buildings,” said Nutbrown. “The stuff is expensive but we try to do a little bit more each year.”
For many, this was also their first chance to view the Fräbel REIMAGINED exhibition of more than 200 pieces by acclaimed flame-work glass artist Hans Godo Fräbel, which will remain on display through April 30.
The stunning sculptures, nestled into the landscape and carefully perched in ponds and waterways, were beautifully enhanced by the twinkling lights.
“I thought it was wonderful; it’s the first time we’ve been at Christmas,” said Karen Smith. “We loved seeing the lights and the Fräbel sculptures. “I think it’s an undiscovered gem in Vero at Christmastime.”
Opening night drew approximately 500 visitors, and the forecast for the weekend was even bigger crowds with a wintry nip in the air.
If you missed Holidays at McKee, a Nights of Lights special illumination of the Fräbel exhibit will continue from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27 to Saturday, Dec. 29.
General admission applies.
