It's an annual tradition presented by The Graham Companies in Miami Lakes: The Festival of Lights, which brightens Main Street and kicks off the holiday season.
This year marks the 39th Annual Festival of Lights and there are things to do from morning until nighttime this Saturday, Nov. 23.
Families can gather downtown to enjoy the Miami Lakes Farmer's Market from 10 a.m. at Main Street and New Barn Road. Stores on Main Street will be open that day for shoppers to get a jump on holiday gift buying.
In the afternoon, the Festival of Lights begins with kids’ performances on two stages.
On the Main Stage by the fountain on Main Street, at 3:45 p.m. Miami Lakes K-8 Center students will perform a short play, “The Christmas Cookie Caper,” and sing songs, too. They’ll be followed at 5 p.m. by My Gym Miami Lakes’s Dancers. At 5:15 p.m., Quest Martial Arts Academy's students will demonstrate their discipline and from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Bob Graham Education Center Chorus will sing.
The big man of the night, Santa Claus, is set to flick a switch from the Main Stage at 6:30 p.m. to light up the street.
On the West Stage at Main Street and Bull Run Road, there will be dance performances by Arts for Autism at 4:30 p.m., followed by GiGi's Dance Academy at 5 p.m. From 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., a DJ will spin tunes.
At the Children's Corner on New Barn Road at Main Street, there will be lots of old school entertainment: Kids can write letters to Santa; make ornaments, color in drawings and snack on cotton candy and shaved ice. They can also get their faces painted.
At My Gym Miami Lakes, Santa House will be the place to take photos with St. Nick and write letters to him, too.
Life-size characters from kids' movies and cartoons will stroll through the crowd to greet visitors and there will be more opportunities for photo ops. To be a part of the Festival community, tag your pictures #MainStreetFOL on social media.
The day can be a teaching moment for kids, who can donate a new, unwrapped toy to benefit area children that will be distributed during the holiday season by Neighbors4Neighbors and Giving Gators.
It's all free, and there is plenty of free parking available, too.
At the end of the night when everyone is tired, there are lots of restaurants to rest weary feet and get a bite to eat, from pizza to sushi to burgers and tacos and more, at many price ranges. For more information about dining go to: mainstreetmiamilakes.com.
In addition to The Graham Companies, sponsors include Main Street Merchants; Clear Channel Outdoor; Neighbors4Neighbors; Giving Gators; HDS Companies, Miami-Dade County and The Miami Laker.