By Sylvia Flores, Assistant Director Cultural & Human Services

On Saturday, December 5, 2009, the City of Sunny Isles Beach hosted our annual Winter Fest, at Samson Oceanfront Park. This event is hosted each year at the beginning of the holiday season, to celebrate this festive season. Weeks of preparation involved decorating Samson Oceanfront Park with over 70,000 lights, including pole decorations, snowflakes, and the city’s “Peace On Earth” globe. At 6:00pm, Mayor Norman Edelcup, along with Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler and Commissioner Gerry Goodman, counted down with the audience for the annual Park Lighting Ceremony, and flipped the switch to turn on the beautiful display of lights. These lights will remain at Samson Oceanfront Park throughout December.

Other activities at the event included the awards presentation for the youth sports program participants (cheerleading, soccer, and baseball), as well as a performance by the Junior Varsity cheerleaders. Guests could enjoy rides, games, arts & crafts, or pictures with Santa. A new addition to the event this year was the city’s first ever ice skating rink. This synthetic rink (made of polyester) was set up on the grass, and guests were able to rent ice skates for only $2, and enjoy the thrill of ice skating in South Florida. The rink was full throughout the evening, and everyone in attendance really got a kick out of this opportunity. This attraction was made possible by our generous sponsor, Lukes-Sawgrass Landscaping.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success, including our Public Works Department, our Police Department, and the Cultural & Human Services Department. For more information on this or other upcoming events, please call us at 305.792.1706.