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With a flip of the switch, hundreds of people who attended the first holiday celebration at Cape Harbour cheered as the community's first Christmas tree came to life.
The "tree" is a series of lights in the harbor, shaped to look like a traditional tree. The abstract tree will light up the night for the remainder of the holiday season.
"This promises to be the focal point of the entire community," Cape Harbour developer Will Stout said. "We're going to have thousands of guests and we want them to know that this is their gathering point. It's open to the public." The shops, restaurants and galleries welcomed guests November 17 with a kickoff holiday party. Merchants featured hors d'oeuvres and live music and many offered specials sales for customers. The night was the grand opening of the newest tenant, Harbour View Gallery, an artist cooperative that features the work of local artists.
Stout took visitors on a short tour of the new wedding pavilion that is available for wedding and party rentals. The pavilion overlooks the water, which offers a view of boats that potential buyers can tour, as well as the harbor. "It's a way to use the site," Stout said of the pavilion. "We want to make it a community center."
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With temperatures hovering in the 60s, Cape Coral resident Vickie Lynch and her husband came to the party and drank hot coffee to keep warm.
"I wanted to see all the new stores," Lynch said. Lynch listened to a vintage organ set up at one end of the promenade that featured dancing figurines.
"I've never seen anything quite like that," she said. John Kensek moved to Southwest Florida three months ago and came to the celebration with his wife.
"Everyone is so friendly," he said.
Kensek ate a hamburger and listened to the organ. The crisp air added to the holiday feel, he said.
"I'm trying to stay warm," he said. "I love it. I walk three miles every morning and at six this morning I went out in shorts and a T-shirt. Whew! I boogied. Tomorrow I'm wearing sweats."
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