Longboat lights up for the season

Longboat Key is planning on lighting up brighter and bigger this year. 

The sixth annual Light Up Longboat event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 at the Karon Pavilion at the Town Center Green. 

Join special guests Santa, Minnie and Mickey Mouse welcoming back snowbirds to Longboat Key after weeks of recovering after Hurricane Helene and Milton. As the first event back after the storms, Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips said they aim it to be a way to encourage community and normalcy. 

Co-hosted by the town of Longboat Key and the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, the free event will start by lighting up the new custom-designed tree during the traditional lighting ceremony on the Karon Pavilion stage, along with the classic oak tree canopy around the center. 

After the ceremony, local band The Big Z and Longboat musician Tim Michael McCaig will kick off a holiday concert for people to enjoy while perusing the many tables of local organizations. 

People can purchase food and drinks from four food trucks, along with gift cards and merchandise from local businesses. Longboat-based businesses and non-profits will also be there to discuss town happenings as the season starts after Thanksgiving. 

"This will be the perfect chance to support our small businesses," said Phillips. "Our residents need those businesses for the services they provide, so we must help them come back because they're equally a part of our community as the residents."

The Rotary Club of Longboat Key will be collecting unwrapped children's gifts for Hope Family services in Bradenton at the event. They asked for guests to bring donations to receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the Lazy Lobster. 

"It will be a bigger Light Up Longboat this year," said Phillips. "We hope it brings some joy and recovery and a sense of community back into people's lives."