Lake Mary Holiday in the Park draws county families, boosts vendors
Lake Mary’s annual Holiday in the Park took place the weekend of Dec. 5 in Central Park, featuring a light display of more than 1 million lights, a visit with Santa, a synthetic ice rink with paid admission, a holiday market and food trucks. The event, promoted as Lake Mary’s largest seasonal celebration and listed among top Central Florida family friendly weekend happenings, brought visitors from across Seminole County and created a concentrated boost in foot traffic for local vendors and nearby businesses.
Lake Mary’s Holiday in the Park returned to Central Park the weekend of Dec. 5 with a slate of attractions designed to draw families during the holiday weekend. Organizers staged a light display of more than 1 million lights, hosted a Santa visit, operated a synthetic ice rink that required paid admission, and offered a holiday market and food trucks. The event was promoted as the city’s largest seasonal celebration and was listed among top Central Florida family friendly weekend happenings for Dec. 5 to 7.
The combination of visual spectacle and market activity produced a one stop holiday destination that attracted families from throughout Seminole County. For local vendors and food truck operators, concentrated foot traffic over a single weekend represents a significant sales opportunity during a key retail period. For nearby retailers and restaurants, the event increased visibility and walk in customers on a weekend that otherwise competes with regional shopping centers and holiday programming.
Municipal events such as this have immediate economic implications. A large scale seasonal event can raise short term revenue for small businesses and generate ancillary benefits for lodging and transportation services when visitors travel from other parts of the county. From a public finance perspective, the city’s investment in lighting and programming aims to leverage tourist and local spending that may increase sales tax receipts and support vendor livelihoods in the short term.
There are also operational considerations for future editions. Concentrated crowds require traffic and parking management, public safety coordination, and clear vendor permitting to maximize economic benefit while controlling costs. Measuring outcomes matters. Tracking vendor sales, estimating attendance, and monitoring nearby retail performance would allow city officials to quantify return on investment and guide decisions about scaling the event in subsequent years.
Lake Mary’s Holiday in the Park underscored the role seasonal programming plays in Seminole County’s local economy. With a mix of entertainment and market activity, the event reinforced the potential for municipal festivals to boost small business revenue and draw regional visitors during the holiday season.
