by SC Reporter Reanna Haase
With what began as an event to discover small businesses has turned into a way for the businesses of Sanibel and Captiva to give back to their customers. After taking a year off due to COVID-19, the 37th annual Luminary Stroll on Sanibel and Captiva Island is back.
“It was intended originally to be a shop small event, and it has evolved since then to be a real community event,” said John Lai, the President and CEO of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. “It has (since) turned into more of a customer appreciation weekend.”
This night of celebration is open to everyone, Lai said people from places like Cape Coral and Fort Myers continue coming back to for the Luminary Stroll every year.
The weekend will begin on Dec. 3, Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island will be lined with white paper lanterns that will be lit right at dusk. There will be local businesses of all kinds showing their community spirit with things such as live music, Christmas decorations, sidewalk sales, and more until 9pm.
The stroll will move over to Captiva Island on Dec. 4 for a similar night of festivities. Paper lanterns will be lit at dusk from Captiva Drive all the way to Andy Rosse Lane until 9pm. Before the lanterns are lit, the night will begin at 3pm with a golf cart parade. Lai said everyone is welcome to watch or enter the parade contest and that he is very excited because this year NBC2 morning news anchor, Lisa Spooner, will be joining the judging panel as a celebrity judge.
“We have a golf cart parade, which is my favorite part. I hate to say that I have a favorite part, but I do,” Lai said.
Lai said to enter the parade you can register through Sunny Island Adventures at South Seas Island Resort, 5400 Plantation Rd., Captiva; there you will pay a $20 fee which will include golf cart for the parade. If you are planning on attending this night of fun, RSVP here.
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