VERO BEACH — It was a night packed with everything imaginable to do for families: run a 2 mile race, jump on bounce houses, bid at an auction, sit with Santa, listen to live music, sample foods from vendors, drink in a beer garden and admire boats decorated for the holiday season parading by on the Indian River Lagoon.
At the Holiday Rec Run 3296-GO! and Holiday Rec Party last Friday, thousands of people converged on Royal Palm Pointe to take in the fun and by doing so, helped support the park’s fountain. Proceeds from the event will allow the fountain to be open year round on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The fountain and other public places and activities made possible by the Recreation Department enhance the feeling of community, attendees said, and Vero Beach families reveled in it all during the city’s official kick-off to the holiday season.
Having freshly finished running the race, completing it in just over 14 minutes, Alan Dritenbas lamented the budget shortfalls of the recreation department. The 31-year-old ran for a cause that’s near and dear to his heart.
“We need our parks, lifeguards and fountain,” he said. “It’s important to the community. If you can’t get out in public places, meet people and be around friends, what are we here for?” said the third generation Vero Beach resident who grew up benefitting from the various programs offered by the department.
With thousands of dollars of budget cuts and the prospect of continued quality programs and services in jeopardy, the Recreation Commission of Vero Beach decided to launch a fundraising and awareness campaign for the organization.
Santa Claus was on hand to help in any way he could, zooming up to Royal Palm Pointe Park on his Honda motorcycle draped with multi-colored lights to nestle into his job for the evening: listening to the Wish Lists of children.
“Rec department activities are important for good health and the community overall,” said Randy Wytrval, who played Santa for the evening.
The Annual Holiday Boat Parade organized by Tim Grabenbauer of the Vero Beach City Marina featured boats decorated for the holidays. Vessels ranging from rowing shells to cabin cruisers decked in lights forming a shooting star, reindeer and sleigh, Frosty the Snowman and a Christmas tree, rowed and motored from the Barber Bridge south to Quail Valley and back.
Guild on the Go, a long tradition of the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, presented High Society Christmas from the Main Stage which consisted of popular holiday songs as well as several numbers from the movie and Broadway show, High Society.
Other entertainment included the bands The Rip Tides, Old Barber Bridge, and the vocal ensemble Diversified. The Gifford Youth Orchestra and the Indian River Charter High School Chorus also performed.
Enjoying the myriad of activities was Jennifer Rossmell, who grew up playing city-sponsored sports such as T-ball and baseball and wanted to show her support so that her children could enjoy such programs in the present and future.
“It would be pretty boring with nothing to do,” she said.
Samantha Bullard with her 2-, 7- and 8-year-old children posed for pictures around the city’s Christmas tree. She moved to Vero from Stafford, Va., near Washington, D.C., three years ago, and takes full advantage of Recreation Department programs.
“This town does a lot of free events for kids, more so than the one where I used to live,” she said.
Onlookers chanted “Bring on the Boats” three times before vessels launched from the Barber Bridge to show their brightly lit creations.
A reindeer and sleigh, shooting star, Christmas tree and Frosty the Snowman gracefully went by under a sliver of a moon as Annie DeStefano, who recently moved here from Chicago, and Mike Smith from London, watched in anticipation. They said they attended the event to get a much-needed jolt of holiday spirit on the warm Florida evening.
“It’s a bit strange not having cold weather with the holidays coming,” said DeStefano, “so we wanted to do something Christmas-y to get in the mood.”
