SARASOTA (WSNN) – Selby Gardens flips the switch to its first light show of the season. This year it’s called “An Open-Air Holiday Light Show.”
Prepare to immerse yourself in a magical wonderland of “Lights in Bloom.” It’s Selby Garden’s 17th year, and on Thursday night they turned on more than two million lights.
“I felt like I was a five-year-old girl again, seeing the entire gardens light up,” Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce President, Heather Kasten said.
Selby Gardens partnered with Affairs in the Air to illuminate the gardens with glowing flowers, dancing trees giant butterflies and more.
“Now we have a honeycomb that goes 135 feet, that’s a beehive that you walk through,” Affairs in the Air Owner, Carolyn Babas said.
And we can’t forget the “Florida Reindeer.”
“We had to have Flamingos with reindeer antlers because we’re here in Florida and we need to have our own Reindeers,” Selby Garden’s VP External Relations Lynn Bates said.
It’s a Tropical Winterland here in Sarasota. And for some, it’s extra special this year.
“With all the heart-ache and things that we faced during 2020; to come here and see this beautiful garden, this beautiful creation lit up for Christmas; I don’t think there is anything in the whole area that will get you more in the mood than coming here to Selby Gardens to see the Lights in Blooms,” Kasten said.
Last year USA Today named this show among the top ten holiday lights show at botanical gardens around the country
“I just love to see their faces light up as soon as they walk in, they see those butterflies and they go (gasps) and that’s my favorite part,” Babas said.
Donors and sponsors got a sneak peek Thursday night.
“Our donors and our sponsors; we’re so grateful for their philanthropy,” Bates said. “They allow us to put on programs like this for our community as well as our outreach and education programs.”
“This is a magical place; Selby Gardens is a wonderful place for our community,” Sarasota chamber member, Mireya Eavey said. “Bring your children out here, they will love it, they will absolutely love it. You don’t have to go anyplace else to see something like this.”
If you want to make this a part of your holiday season, Selby Gardens encourages you to buy your tickets ahead of time. Remember, They’re limited to 50-percent capacity.
The Lights in Bloom show is open to the public this Saturday and will run through January 22nd for 20 nights of magic and wonder.
