Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online

TBO > News

'Magical Night' Draws People To Hyde Park Village

By JAMIE PILARCZYK

Published: November 24, 2008

TAMPA - Children and pets are posing for photographs beside the festive Hyde Park Village tree even though the 30-foot holiday landmark will remain unlighted until later this week.

It is a sign of the season — the traditional artificial tree in the upscale shopping complex just west of downtown — and one the community will celebrate Friday night when the tree's 500-plus lights illuminate the area for the first time this season.

Started by the Hyde Park merchants, the annual Enchanted Tree Lighting is a catalyst to bring people together and kick-start the holidays, said village spokeswoman Jennifer Lareau.

Steven Ashworth said he has seen the sky illuminated by the tree each of the dozen years it has been in place. This year the owner of City Street Sweets will serve hot chocolate — the same recipe of Swiss milk chocolate and whole milk he uses in his Hyde Park Village shop — for free, along with samples of candy cane and gingerbread flavored fudge.

"It's a draw to have something fun to do after Thanksgiving," said Ashworth, of South Tampa. "Most people do their shopping in the malls in the morning and then come in the afternoon to shop here and watch the tree lighting."

Also planned during the tree-lighting event are arts and crafts activities, balloon sculpting, face painting, pet photos by Downtown Dogs and a visit from St. Nick. Opera Tampa, Entertainment Revue, America Ballet and Karl & DiMarco will entertain the more than 1,500 people expected to attend.

Pottery Barn will sell baked goods with proceeds benefiting St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Carriage rides, chalk art and musical performances will continue through December.

"It's a magical night," Lareau said, "a night for people to still believe in Santa Claus."