- December 5, 2025
Loading
Andreia Joaquim Silva and Lucas Joaquim Silva carefully held their candles during a moment of peace.
Mike Yoakum with Cornerstone Church greeted the audience and shared the history of Light Up Winter Garden.
Members of Resurrection Catholic Church stand tall as the pastor reads a passage from the Bible.
Mayor John Rees lit candles for Commissioners Lisa Bennett, Iliana Jones and Chloe Johnson.
Winter Garden City Commissioners Lisa Bennett Iliana Jones and Chloe Johnson worked together to light their candles.
Mary Katulic held her candle out for Winter Garden City Commissioner to light it.
Winter Garden City Commission Chloe Johnson went through the audience lighting other people's candles.
Tim Grosshans and Carol Grosshands flipped the switch, lighting up all of Plant Street.
Audience members sang along to the Christmas carols.
Tamala Alston, Leroy Alston, Alora McFadden and Alaisha Alston were all smiles at Light Up Winter Garden.
Lydia De Jesus and Esther De Jesus loved their face paintings.
Walker Mathison and Elina Moon with Flight Scene gave it all their during their performance.
Flight Scene's Jonathan Meadows, Brandee Lynne, Elina Moon and Walker Mathison were ready to rock the stage with their acapella performance.
Santa waved to people as they passed before taking photos with families.
Anderson, Noah, Shirlene and Anne Silva were all smiles with Santa.
Fernanda Silve and Lucca Dias took a moment to say hello to Santa.
Fernanda Silva and Lucca Dias took a moment to say hello to Santa.
Trey Hildebrant, Sarah Hildebrant, Jude Hildebrant, Bear Hildebrant, Maverick Hildebrant, Melody Rigdon and Tim Rigdon were all smiles at their first Light Up Winter Garden. The Hildebrants just moved to Winter Garden the day before the event.
Stacy Santana competed against Kai Santana in the reindeer ring toss. "I'm cooked," Kai Santana said.
Connor Clark and Jaxian Clark had festive balloon hats. Jaxian Clark, who wore a reindeer balloon hat, said Blitzen is his favorite reindeer.
Santa listened carefully as Olivia Cruz asked for a gymnastics Barbie house from him and Mrs. Claus.
Yukon Cornelius and Hermey from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" made an appearance at Light Up Winter Garden.
Millie Thompson and Ava Thompson were all smiles next to the giant soldier.
Carolers sang festive tunes.
The Church of the Messiah's praise band performed various hymns and holiday carols.
Winter Garden Mayor John Rees thanked everyone for participating in the annual Light Up Winter Garden.
Commissioner Lisa Bennett lit the candle of Valerie Neider.
People lit their candles to join in on a peaceful moment.
Several community members gathered outside City Hall for Light Up Winter Garden.
Lights were projected onto City Hall. The Merry Winter Garden Light Show will be shown on a loop starting at 6 p.m. on select nights in December.
Trey Hildebrant, his wife, Sarah Hildebrant, and their children, Jude, Bear and Maverick, and Melody and Tim Rigdon all walked down Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden taking in all the lights and sounds of the holiday season Friday, Dec. 5.
The Hildebrants just moved to Winter Garden Thursday, Dec. 4, and were thrilled to be at Light Up Winter Garden Friday, Dec. 5.
"It's like a Hallmark town," Trey Hildebrant said.
The community gathered for the annual tradition of Light Up Winter Garden to ring in the holiday season.
Festivities included live performances, games, visits with Santa, street performers, holiday photo stations, and of course, the flip of a switch by Foundation Academy Interim President Carol Grosshans and her husband, Tim, to turn on all the lights going down Plant Street.