Hundreds of thousands of holiday lights illuminate throughout Gainesville

Nov 20, 2020 8:00 am

Due to the pandemic, in lieu of traditional holiday activities in public spaces, the City of Gainesville is displaying hundreds of thousands of outdoor holiday lights at Bo Diddley Community Plaza, City Hall Plaza, Depot Park, the Historic Thomas Center & Gardens and throughout downtown.

For the first time, the gardens at the Historic Thomas Center glow with white and blue outdoor holiday lights. Red, white, blue and gold lights illuminate downtown’s Bo Diddley Community Plaza, and Depot Park is showcasing a festive candy-cane theme with red and white lights.

“We invite neighbors to enjoy an outdoor stroll under the City’s festive holiday lights while practicing social distancing and wearing facial coverings,” said Roxy Gonzalez, the City’s assistant director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs.

For the safety of neighbors who prefer to enjoy the holiday scenery while seated, social distancing circles are painted on the open lawn at Bo Diddley Community Plaza, and on the open lawn and hill at Depot Park.

“There are rotating food trucks and sweet-treat vendors at Depot Park every Friday through Sunday until the end of December,” said Gonzalez. “Come out and enjoy the occasion.”

For more information about Depot Park, please contact Cindi Harvey at HarveyCK@cityofgainesville.org; for more information about the Historic Thomas Center and Bo Diddley Plaza, please contact Leslie Ladendorf at LadendorfLL@cityofgainesville.org.