‘Tis the season to celebrate! University Town Center (UTC) will officially kick off the holiday season on Saturday, November 9 with Santa’s Grand Arrival Parade and an after-party concert with platinum-selling singer/songwriter Cassadee Pope.
The festivities will begin at 5:45 p.m. with a heartfelt tribute to veterans. The parade prelude is held in collaboration with Patriot Plaza, a world-class, outdoor American military history museum provided by The Patterson Foundation, which will help shine the spotlight on a deserving local nonprofit that serves veterans and their families.
At 6:00 p.m., the merry celebration will ramp up with a gravity-defying tree lighting ceremony by renowned aerialists Nik and Erendira Wallenda. Following the lighting of UTC’s 50-foot tree and spectacular first light show of the season, the holiday parade will get underway hosted by 107.9 WSRZ’s Jones and Company.
This year’s parade, themed Illuminate, will feature more than 50 brightly decorated floats, marching bands, walking units, and, of course, Santa Claus arriving on his sleigh. After Santa’s grand entrance, the night sky will light up with a festive fireworks show.
The evening’s exciting grand finale will be an after-party performance by The Voice winner Cassadee Pope. The talented singer will perform an approximately 90-minute show from the stage on Cattlemen as guests are invited to dance on the street.
A portion of Cattlemen Road will be closed to thru traffic beginning at 4 p.m. Starting at 5 p.m., live DJs will entertain the crowd, plus there will be strolling holiday characters and giveaways. Families and friends can also enjoy Suncoast’s Largest Food Truck Festival in the Mall at UTC main entrance lot, as well as pop-up food stations and concessions in the West District at UTC in the area outside Rocco’s Tacos.
To make the evening even more merry, extra free parking areas have been added this year. Eventgoers are invited to park in any of the parking lots and designated parking areas throughout Nathan Benderson Park, including Regatta Island and the lot to the south of Homewood Suites.
The parade marks Santa’s official arrival to UTC and the opening of Santa’s Flight Academy, a one-of a kind, immersive experience inside the Mall at UTC in partnership with Cherry Hill programs. Kids of all ages will be able to meet Santa before stepping inside his 22-foot-tall sleigh, experience the magical snowfall, dance in Santa’s Magic Mirror and help Santa prepare his sleigh to deliver presents around the world. Cherished visits with the jolly man in red are available all season through December 24.
Other “Holidays at UTC” festivities include nightly light shows choreographed to music, dazzling décor at every turn and festive fun, including a real ice skating rink presented by Tampa Bay Lightning that opens Nov. 20; outdoor holiday movies every Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. starting Nov. 15; fireworks every Saturday at 9 p.m.; horse-drawn carriage rides; and so much more.
For more details and the full schedule of events, visit utcsarasota.com/holidays
