Even in the heat, Punta Gorda has Christmas Spirit.

At this time of the year in Punta Gorda the term “season” has two meanings.  It is the Holiday season and tourist season.  Our city literally comes to life with the influx of snowbirds and tourists.  The quiet, hot days of summer have given way to Holiday Cheer. 

The residents and merchants of Punta Gorda go all out for all of the Holidays but Christmas is especially festive.  It seems as though everything is decorated from store fronts to seawalls to palm trees.  Just take a walk downtown or a boat ride through Punta Gorda Isles and you can’t help but get in the spirit. 

There is plenty of Christmas Cheer in the Punta Gorda Marketplace!

 

One of the unique traditions of Punta Gorda is the annual boat parade.  The skippers spend countless hours adorning their vessels with lights in every Christmas theme you can imagine and it doesn’t stop there.  All of the people on the boats are dressed in costumes.  The parade route winds through the canals of Punta Gorda Isles at night complete with police escort boats.  Folks lucky enough to live on the water invite friends in to enjoy the spectacle and others gather on the seawalls to share the experience. 

Truely a wonderful site to see, Christmas lights reflecting off the boats and off the water!

Out of the darkness come boats in all shapes and sizes with lights flashing, music blaring and everyone yelling Merry Christmas.  It is quite a sight and something you don’t want to miss if you have the chance to be here during season.   It is another one of the things that makes Punta Gorda living so special.  Happy Holidays!