Selby Gardens' Lights in Bloom goes big for 14th year

Wednesday
Dec 20, 2017 at 10:43 AM Dec 20, 2017 at 10:43 AM

The 14th annual event features light displays and other winter holiday celebrations

Jimmy Geurts Entertainment reporter @JimmyGeurts

Lights in Bloom: 6-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and Tuesday-Dec. 30; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens; $25, $20 members, $7.50 children, free children under four; 941-366-5731; selby.org

Over nearly a decade and a half, Lights in Bloom has become one of Sarasota’s largest winter holiday happenings — and this year, it’s stepping up in a big way.

The 14th annual event, where Marie Selby Botanical Gardens opens its grounds at night and fills them with light decorations and other holiday celebrations, opens to the general public Thursday through Saturday and Tuesday though Dec. 30.

Selby Gardens senior director of special projects Roger Capote said the event can draw up to around 3,000 people a night, about double the number of visitors the already popular gardens have during the day.

Last year’s event featured around a million lights. This year will have just under two million, said Carolyn Babas, owner of Affairs in the Air, the Bradenton-based company in charge of the light decorations.

“This is far surpassing anything that’s been here in 14 years,” Babas said.

Affairs in the Air, which does about 550 weddings a year and other events including Selby Gardens’ Orchid Ball, came to Lights in Bloom three years ago. Longtime Lights in Bloom organizer Bob McComb wanted some help in setting up the lights.

When McComb decided to retire, Affairs in the Air was brought on to take over full-time. Each year the team, including Babas’ husband Phil, added more.

“One year, we did a little,” Babas said. “Next year, we did a little bit more. This year, we went a little wild. And next year, we kind of already have our ideas.”

Expansions and changes

This year will feature expansions and changes to favorite Lights in Bloom decorations. The “Florida reindeer” — flamingos with antlers — will grow in number from 12 to 100 and the butterflies will be roughly doubled from 14 to 31.

An approximately 80-foot tunnel of lights, which was made to resemble a wave last year, will be a caterpillar this year.

With all these lights, Lights in Bloom has also made a move to more environmentally friendly LED lighting. This year’s display will be about 90 percent LED, Babas said, with the plan to be 100 percent by next year.

“That was one thing that Selby did ask us when we did come on,” Babas said. “They said we really want to move ourselves to doing all LED, trying to lower that consumption.”

Setting up the light displays takes about eight weeks in the summer, followed by another six weeks leading up to Lights in Bloom’s opening.

Hurricane Irma’s effect on Lights in Bloom was minimal, mostly resulting in some downed trees that weren’t able to be used for decorations. Sarasota Jungle Gardens has its own popular Holiday Lights event, which celebrated its 15th anniversary last year, but was canceled this year because there was not enough time to prepare while cleaning up damage and debris from the hurricane.

Lights in Bloom will also have a more tropical theme this year, fitting with Florida’s warmer winter weather. Snowman decorations will be dressed in tropical clothing, while Santa will appear through Saturday at a surf shack, though he will still be wearing his red suit.

An ice cream vendor will be present along with the returning popcorn one, with hot cocoa, beer and wine also available for purchase. Selby House Cafe will be open with its full menu and Michael’s on East will have a grill with food and cash bar.

The event will also feature entertainment including popular local cover band soulRcoaster, balloon artist, face-painting and more. A trolley transporting people to Selby Gardens will be available from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at Sarasota Friendship Center.

There will be a Selby Experience pass available on Saturday only that costs $100 for adults and $30 for children featuring reserved parking, early admission, open bar, cocktail buffet and holiday desserts. And Selby Gardens’ New Year’s Eve Gala costs $250 for a private tour of Lights in Bloom before it closes, as well as a four-course dinner by Michael’s on East and fireworks viewing over Sarasota Bay.

Babas said the goal of Lights in Bloom is to showcase both the impressive winter holiday lights displays, and the beauty of Selby Gardens’ trees and other foliage that houses them.

“They still get to see the glory of the gardens, but it gives them that nighttime effect with lights,” Babas said.

Wednesday
Dec 20, 2017 at 10:43 AM Dec 20, 2017 at 10:43 AM

The 14th annual event features light displays and other winter holiday celebrations

Jimmy Geurts Entertainment reporter @JimmyGeurts

Lights in Bloom: 6-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and Tuesday-Dec. 30; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens; $25, $20 members, $7.50 children, free children under four; 941-366-5731; selby.org

Over nearly a decade and a half, Lights in Bloom has become one of Sarasota’s largest winter holiday happenings — and this year, it’s stepping up in a big way.

The 14th annual event, where Marie Selby Botanical Gardens opens its grounds at night and fills them with light decorations and other holiday celebrations, opens to the general public Thursday through Saturday and Tuesday though Dec. 30.

Selby Gardens senior director of special projects Roger Capote said the event can draw up to around 3,000 people a night, about double the number of visitors the already popular gardens have during the day.

Last year’s event featured around a million lights. This year will have just under two million, said Carolyn Babas, owner of Affairs in the Air, the Bradenton-based company in charge of the light decorations.

“This is far surpassing anything that’s been here in 14 years,” Babas said.

Affairs in the Air, which does about 550 weddings a year and other events including Selby Gardens’ Orchid Ball, came to Lights in Bloom three years ago. Longtime Lights in Bloom organizer Bob McComb wanted some help in setting up the lights.

When McComb decided to retire, Affairs in the Air was brought on to take over full-time. Each year the team, including Babas’ husband Phil, added more.

“One year, we did a little,” Babas said. “Next year, we did a little bit more. This year, we went a little wild. And next year, we kind of already have our ideas.”

Expansions and changes

This year will feature expansions and changes to favorite Lights in Bloom decorations. The “Florida reindeer” — flamingos with antlers — will grow in number from 12 to 100 and the butterflies will be roughly doubled from 14 to 31.

An approximately 80-foot tunnel of lights, which was made to resemble a wave last year, will be a caterpillar this year.

With all these lights, Lights in Bloom has also made a move to more environmentally friendly LED lighting. This year’s display will be about 90 percent LED, Babas said, with the plan to be 100 percent by next year.

“That was one thing that Selby did ask us when we did come on,” Babas said. “They said we really want to move ourselves to doing all LED, trying to lower that consumption.”

Setting up the light displays takes about eight weeks in the summer, followed by another six weeks leading up to Lights in Bloom’s opening.

Hurricane Irma’s effect on Lights in Bloom was minimal, mostly resulting in some downed trees that weren’t able to be used for decorations. Sarasota Jungle Gardens has its own popular Holiday Lights event, which celebrated its 15th anniversary last year, but was canceled this year because there was not enough time to prepare while cleaning up damage and debris from the hurricane.

Lights in Bloom will also have a more tropical theme this year, fitting with Florida’s warmer winter weather. Snowman decorations will be dressed in tropical clothing, while Santa will appear through Saturday at a surf shack, though he will still be wearing his red suit.

An ice cream vendor will be present along with the returning popcorn one, with hot cocoa, beer and wine also available for purchase. Selby House Cafe will be open with its full menu and Michael’s on East will have a grill with food and cash bar.

The event will also feature entertainment including popular local cover band soulRcoaster, balloon artist, face-painting and more. A trolley transporting people to Selby Gardens will be available from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at Sarasota Friendship Center.

There will be a Selby Experience pass available on Saturday only that costs $100 for adults and $30 for children featuring reserved parking, early admission, open bar, cocktail buffet and holiday desserts. And Selby Gardens’ New Year’s Eve Gala costs $250 for a private tour of Lights in Bloom before it closes, as well as a four-course dinner by Michael’s on East and fireworks viewing over Sarasota Bay.

Babas said the goal of Lights in Bloom is to showcase both the impressive winter holiday lights displays, and the beauty of Selby Gardens’ trees and other foliage that houses them.

“They still get to see the glory of the gardens, but it gives them that nighttime effect with lights,” Babas said.

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