By: Gracie Swind, Contributing Writer
The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel held their kick-off show of their annual Christmas event, Symphony in Lights, on Nov. 16, drawing in hundreds of guests.
Stilt-walking elves patrolled the streets, taking pictures with kids and getting everyone excited for the coming light shows.
Main Street was blocked off and lined with tents of vendors while a Christmas-themed train wove through the crowds carrying excited local children around the chilly plazas. The weather was perfect for the first day of a Christmas celebration, and all in attendance were bundled up in scarves and coats.
Toy soldiers wandered the streets, waving at kids and taking pictures with families young and old. Magicians, jugglers, and groups of tittering elves performed in the streets or wandered around greeting guests and preparing for the upcoming shows.
The streets of the outdoor mall were packed with performers and guests; the lawn in front of the trees was crowded long before the first show.
Ornament carts were positioned near small clumps of food trucks, selling hot chocolate and pretzels to frigid guests. Ropes of lights crisscrossed overhead between smaller streets and dangled down over the festivities.
A tiny ice hockey rink branded by the Tampa Bay Lightning was set up for kids to get a fun hockey experience, complete with a fake goalie to shoot pucks against.
The Shops at Wiregrass surprised their guests at the 6pm light show with a flurry of fireworks and snow.
Decorations and street performers spanned the intergenerational gap with their variety; a group of traditional Christmas carolers sang outside of storefront in plain view of sparkly elf juggling pins. The beautiful display of diversity showed that The Shops at Wiregrass made sure there was something for everyone at their kick-off night for Symphony in Lights.
Even with the cold weather outside, lots of the shops and restaurants had their doors open to welcome customers inside.
Popular dessert shops like Blondie’s Cookies rolled out Christmas-themed treats as guests flocked inside for a little something sweet. Some of the more well-known restaurants, like the always-busy 900 Degree Pizza, were swamped with customers, both for their inside and outside seating.
Symphony in Lights features an array of Christmas songs by the Tran Siberian Orchestra; the trees flash and glow in time to the songs.
Despite the festive atmosphere throughout the outdoor mall, the real center of interest was in the main plaza by the three massive Christmas trees. A huge crowd gathered starting in the early afternoon to claim the best spot to watch the light show and stage, where a small orchestra was assembled.
Premiere night for Symphony in Lights ran shows every half hour from 5 pm to 9 pm. Santa made a guest appearance on stage before each show. Songs from the Tran Siberian Orchestra set the pace for the flickering and flashing lights, wreathed around each light post and Christmas tree.
A shower of ‘snow,’ accompanying the second song of each show, delighted Floridian kids. Kids tried to catch the ‘snowflakes’ or simply stared in awe. Strong, crisp winds made the huge snowflake stars at the tops of the centerpiece trees wobble, and the guests huddle together to keep warm or break the wind.
By the 6 pm light show, night had fallen, and hall-goers were treated to a surprise display of fireworks after the light show had concluded.
Every alcove of the shops featured a touch of Christmas. Christmas lights wrapped around palm trees and carts selling customizable Christmas ornaments were available.
The Symphony in Lights shows happen every half hour from 6 pm to 9 pm until Dec. 31. Admission and parking are free. The outdoor mall is just 20 minutes from campus, so this is a great opportunity for Saint Leo students to experience a Christmas event nearby.
