Miami Lakes has a new landmark: A two-story Christmas tree, decorated with lights and red, green, silver and gold balls. It stands at the corner of Main Street and New Barn Road.
The brightly lighted yule tree beckoned families who attended the 40th Annual Festival of Lights, presented by the Main Street Merchants and The Graham Companies.
Clive Smith photographed his wife Germaine in front of the towering tree.
“This is our first time coming,” she said. They are from Pembroke Pines and she is a new member of the Zonta Club of Miami Lakes.
“I think it’s great, very family-oriented with things to do and see,” she said. “It was nice to see Santa. “I’ve been a good girl this year, very good.”
Thousands of people strolled Main Street to enjoy the lights and holiday displays, watched their children make ornaments and write letters to Santa. They filled the audience around a stage where the Hialeah Miami-Lakes High Senior School Choir and dance groups performed.
Four generations of the Castro-Ditas family, from South Miami to Palm Springs North, gathered to see great grandchild Ava Rose Ditas, 4, perform a flamenco dance, or as she calls it, flamingo.
Ava Rose’s mother Denise Castro Ditas said she and husband Jorge Ditas have brought their family to the festival for the past seven years.
Ava Rose attends the Ani Mahia Dance Studio and her brother Anthony, 7, studies at Quest Martial Arts Academy, both on Main Street. Ava Rose’s reward for performing: cotton candy at the festival, her mother said.
“The best thing about this is bringing the community together, whether you’re family or friends,” she said.