Captiva Island Christmas
Captiva Island is just a short 1-1/2 hour drive from Naples–just perfect for a fun-filled day trip. During the holiday season, you’ll find the island decorated, lit up and welcoming of visitors. This year there are even more events planned as well as a new event: The South Seas Holiday Stroll.
South Seas Island Resort will open its gates to the public this holiday season, and it’s all for a worthy cause. During two weekends, South Seas Island Resort will host the South Seas Holiday Stroll where attendees can access the resort grounds and marina that will be aglow with lights, entertainment, arts and crafts, and visits with Santa.
From Dec. 12 to 15 and 19 to 22, South Seas will admit anyone who has purchased a $20 Captiva Village Coupon Book. Each book includes $500 worth of coupons from island businesses. It also include a ride on the Jolly Trolley which will run from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. to transport visitors from South Seas’ South Village to North Pointe, where they will exit near the Marina, where all the events, activities and entertainment will take place.
“This is such a fabulous opportunity for all ages to enjoy the perfect island holiday setting while raising much needed funds to help our local children,” said Dorothy Fitzgerald, a Sanibel Island resident and member of the Captiva Island Yacht Club who is chairing the Holiday Stroll. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from live entertainment to arts and crafts, games, S’mores and of course jolly old St. Nick. This holiday stroll is sure to become a new holiday tradition for families.”
All proceeds will benefit the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, a new 128-bed pediatric medical facility being built on the grounds of HealthPark Medical Center in South Fort Myers.
The Fourth Annual Captiva Holiday Village presents special themed weekends –fun filled extravaganzas of sight and sound, set against the backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico and evening sunsets. During the event weekends, visitors can enjoy everything from decorated golf cart and lighted boat parades to Junkanoo dancers, live music and even a Marching Mullet Parade.
A production crew from the Travel Channel filmed last year’s annual Captiva Holiday Village Golf Cart Parade as part of a proposed show called ‘Xtreme Xmas’ based on unique Christmas events across the United States.
“We were looking to showcase the best of the best across America but wanted to get away from the typical stories like the Radio City Rockettes or the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree in New York City,” said Travel Channel Creative Producer Nicole Dunn.
The show, which also featured a festival in Jennings, Louisiana, a parade in New Mexico and Trappist monks in Missouri making fruitcakes for the holidays, is expected to air seven to 10 times between this year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Each year, Captiva locals try to outdo their neighbor by extravagantly decorating their personal or rented golf carts in lights, garland, hats and even plastic flamingos. Fun, festive and sometimes gaudy outfits go along with the tradition.
To learn more about Captiva Holiday Village or to buy your Captiva Holiday Village Coupon Book, visit www.CaptivaHolidayVillage.com.