Festival of Lights marks decades of Cape Coral tradition

Christmas Tree lighting at the Cape Coral Festival of Lights. -PHOTO CREDIT: ABBY MACCARTNY

Cape Coral’s signature Christmas event has a name with 15 words in it.

It also has a history that is even longer, one going back perhaps 40 years.  Or maybe even 45.

In other words, more than half the history of Southwest Florida’s largest city.

Cape Coral was incorporated in 1970, which is 55 years ago.

Joe Yapello and Sarah Richard. -GLENN MILLER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

The name: The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral Presents the Incredible Bank Holiday Festival of Lights.

The event kicked off with a lighting ceremony on Dec. 6. The lights will remain up into 2026.

Chamber president Donna Germain, a Cape Coral native and Mariner High School graduate, isn’t sure exactly when the event began, but it was at least 35 and perhaps 40 years ago. She thinks it might actually be 45 years, but she and other organizers are trying to pinpoint the first year the event was held.

How has Cape Coral grown since the early days of this Christmas tradition? In 1980, the city’s official population according to the U.S. Census was 32,103.  It is now closing in on 250,000.

The Festival of Lights is a community project that involves the community and has grown with the city.

“The chamber has always been involved,” Germain said, “But we know that it originally started with the downtown businesses.”

It’s traditionally always stared the first Saturday in December, according to Germain. School groups would flock to the festive event. Businesses invited customers.

“And then it grew from there,” Germain said. “It became a large block party and things like that.”

Legendary Cape Coral businessman Elmer Tabor and his family have been key people in making the event grow, according to Germain.

The festival is a community event that includes numerous sponsors.

Santa Claus arrives for the lighting of the Christmas Tree. -PHOTO CREDIT: ABBY MACCARTNY

The Dec. 6 event included the arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree. That is sponsored by the Lee County Electric Cooperative.

There was a 15-ton snow slide. That was sponsored by Nissan of Cape Coral and The Extreme Companies.

The Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral sponsored the Tiny Tots Train Ride. The rides were free.

Another event for kids is the Candy Cane Park sponsored by Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park.

The festival includes activities for grown-ups such as four holiday stages that were sponsored by Renda Broadcasting.

“Our businesses are really the driving force behind all this,” Germain said.

Germain said the chamber organizes the event, but without community support from businesses and civic organizations, it would not be possible. She added that there are 23 sponsors and between 40 and 45 in-kind sponsors.

A community event, indeed.

Germain recalls first attending the event as a Caloosa Elementary School fifth-grader. It was a group outing from the school.

She believes it was in 1988.

“We’ve added different things over the years,” Germain said. “Very early on it was a simple block party. We did the tree lighting. We had performances. Now we have the snow slide. We’ve got a whole kids’ area that’s free to parents. We have a tiny tots train ride, which is like a trackless train that goes around.”

Making cotton candy it looks like. -GLENN MILLER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

The festival is always evolving. Germain said organizers are always adding something to enhance the event.

“We’ve got more bounce houses this year,” Germain said.

Improving and enhancing the tradition also means more food and craft vendors. She estimated there are nearly 80 vendors this year.

It’s become part and parcel of the life of Cape Coral.

“We have always tried to create a tradition in Cape Coral,” Germain said. “I should say carry on the tradition in Cape Coral.”

The Dec. 6 arrival of Santa Claus in Cape Coral marked the beginning of the Christmas season in Southwest Florida’s largest city.

“The community comes together,” Germain said.

From a fifth-grader at Caloosa Elementary in 1988 to chamber president in 2025, Germain brings a special sense of the festival.

“We love carrying on the tradition,” Germain said.

The lights will remain up until Jan. 6, according to Germain.

That’s a month since they were turned on and Santa arrived and the tradition continued.

Elizabeth Goldbach, Ira Liebman, Brad Peska. -GLENN MILLER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Barbara & Andy Dolleschal. -GLENN MILLER / FLORIDA WEEKLY