The City of Groveland will host a weekend series of charming, socially distant, holiday events for the community to enjoy. This year’s 29th annual celebration theme is Hometown Heroes Christmas, geared to honor our first responders and war veterans. In an ongoing effort to keep our residents and community members safe, specific unique weekend festivities will require families to pre-register at www.eventbrite.com before attending.

The Hometown Heroes Christmas weekend events are as follows:

• Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus Photo Meet and Greet: Friday, December 4th, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the E.L. Puryear Building, 243 South Lake Avenue. Children are encouraged to bring their letter(s) to Santa to drop in the North Pole mailbox. Families are responsible for taking their own photos, no professional photography will be available. Masks are required inside the facility along with Eventbrite pre-registration before attending.

• Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus Photo Meet and Greet: Saturday, December 5th, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the E.L. Puryear Building, 243 South Lake Avenue. Due to limited spacing safety requirements, this is a second opportunity for families to take their photos. Masks are required inside the facility, along with Eventbrite pre-registration before attending.

• Live Musical Performances: Saturday, December 5th, 4:45 PM to 6:30 PM at Lake David Park, 450 South Lake Avenue. Food trucks will be available along with socially distant circles for those who desire to sit on the lawn and enjoy the musical performances.

• Tree Lighting Ceremony: Saturday, December 5th, 6:30 PM outside the E.L. Puryear Building, 243 South Lake Avenue. Due to safety and sanitary spacing requirements, the overflow of attendees will be able to view the tree lighting ceremony from Lake David Park.

• Second Friday Farmer’s Market: Friday, December 11th, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Lake David Park, 450 South Lake Avenue. Come support your local food trucks and unique craft vendors while listening to live, afternoon groovy musical performances.

• Groveland’s 29th Annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 12th, at 10:00 AM beginning at the intersection of Cherry Street and Indiana Avenue, and ending at the intersection of Magnolia Street and Iowa Avenue near the Grey Middle School field. In honor of our Hometown Heroes theme, World War II Veteran’s Glenn Turner and Jean Charron will be the Co-Grand Marshal’s for this year’s parade! Parade float winners will be announced immediately following the procession on stage, at the Lake David Park. For the safety and well-being of all attendees, there will be no distribution of candy from float participants to the crowd. Hand washing and sanitizing stations will be positioned throughout the parade route, along with socially distance markers to promote adequate spacing between families. The wearing of face masks is strongly encouraged for all parade viewers in attendance.

• Drive-In Movie Night: Sunday, December 13th, at 6:00 PM at Cherry Lake Park, 131 Wilson Lake Parkway. Cozy up in your pajamas with your family in your vehicles, and watch the charming popular Christmas film, The Polar Express, while enjoying food and snacks from our local vendors! Eventbrite pre-registration is required.

The City is excited to host the above series of fun, safe and family-oriented holiday events, to add to our community’s charm and cheer. Remember, limited space is available, so reserve your spot today! Only one reservation per family, per event, is required when visiting Eventbrite.com.

Interested in becoming a food vendor or parade float participant? Visit our website at www.groveland-fl.gov and select our Christmas Events Flyer in the news reel to view and download a parade float entry form. For additional assistance, send an email to parks-rec@groveland-fl.gov or call a team member at 352-429-2141 ext. 2603.

For more information, please view the City’s Hometown Heroes Christmas Flyer and follow the City’s Facebook page @CityofGroveland for updates.