Wellen Park | Holiday Events Round-Up

Complete with a Christmas tree lighting, a glow bike ride, a holiday movie, live music, and charitable gifting, Wellen Park’s Holiday Events are perfect for residents and visitors to feel the magic of the season. Get excited for everything Wellen Park has to offer this holiday season.

Salvation Army Angel Tree

The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of children in our community each year. Registered children’s new clothing or toy wish lists will be displayed in the Wellen Park Welcome Center from November 17th through December 5th. The angel tree will also be on display at Downtown Wellen’s Friday night concert and during Sunday’s Fresh Harvest Farmers Market. 

Learn more about how you can do your part to help every child experience the joy of Christmas morning.

Jingle Jam Golf Cart Parade

The fifth annual Jingle Jam will be held December 2nd and 3rd at CoolToday Park. The stadium will be transformed into a magical holiday wonderland with crafts, live music, carriage rides, a holiday craft market, and so much more — all perfect for the whole family. 

Jingle Jam’s annual golf cart parade will commence on Sunday, December 3rd at 5:30 pm with a decorating party right before from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Don’t forget to register for the golf cart parade that will make its way from CoolToday Park to Downtown Wellen, and learn more about Wellen Park’s Jingle Jam Watch Party.

CoolToday Park will also offer its third annual Beer Run on December 1st starting at 6 pm. Runners, joggers, and walkers will circle the concourse, enjoying a 10-ounce draft beer or soft drink at every quarter mile. Tickets are $25 and include a T-shirt and three beverages. Register for the Beer Run to get into the holiday spirit!

Glow Bike Ride

Be sure to register for our Glow Bike Ride on December 8th from 6 pm to 7 pm. Led by Kind Vibes Outfitters, deck out your bike in LED holiday lighting and dress in your most festive outfits! Meet by The Banyan House — Wellen Park’s landmark lakefront restaurant — before the race, and don’t forget to stick around after for live music by Discofox from 7 pm to 10 pm.

Habitat for Humanity Cottages for Kids Playhouse Display

Wellen Park has partnered with its builders and Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County to build kid-sized cottage playhouses that will be donated through Habitat for Humanity. The cottages will be displayed on Saturday, December 9th at Light Up Wellen!

Light Up Wellen! Tree Lighting & Holiday Celebration

Join us on December 9th (3-10:30 pm) for Light Up Wellen! Celebrate the season with ornament decorating, performances from local schools and volunteer groups, photo ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus, ice dancers, an ugly Christmas sweater/t-shirt dance party, hot chocolate at Foxtail Coffee, a tree lighting ceremony, live music from Discofox, and so much more! Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets, as there is limited seating. 

Don’t forget to RSVP to secure a FREE parking pass for this event. 

Weekly & Monthly Wellen Park Events

Keep in mind those holiday events, but don’t forget our regularly scheduled Downtown Wellen events to get active, enjoy live music, watch a movie on the Great Lawn, and more!

Group Fitness Schedule

From walking group meet-ups in Downtown Wellen to yoga on the Great Lawn, there are more than just a few ways to keep active throughout the community. 

• Every Saturday: walking group meet-up from 9 am to 10 am, cycling group meet-up from 10 am to 11 am, and yoga from 9 am to 10 am. 
• Every Monday: Zumba from 9 am to 10 am and running group meet-up at 6 pm.
• Every Wednesday: Tai Chi at 9 am in Downtown Wellen

Fresh Harvest Farmers Market

With everything from fresh fish, fruits, and veggies to baked goods and live music, The Fresh Harvest Farmers Market is the perfect Sunday activity, happening every week from 9 am to 1 pm. 

Fall Music Series

Residents and visitors are invited to attend Downtown Wellen’s live music performances every Wednesday through Sunday. Click here to take a look at our musician schedule. 

• Wellen Wednesdays: Under the Heritage Tree from 6 pm to 10 pm
• Thursday Tunes: Under the Heritage Tree from 6 pm to 10 pm
• Friday Night Live: Solis Hall Stage from 6 pm to 10 pm 
• Saturday Sounds: Under the Heritage Tree from 6 pm to 10 pm
• Sunday Groove: Under the Heritage Tree from 9 am to 1 pm

Outdoor Movies on the Great Lawn

On the third Saturday of every month be sure to bring your blankets and lawn chairs for an outdoor movie on the Great Lawn. Enjoy snacks and drinks from your favorite Downtown Wellen restaurants and food containers like Lakeside Bites, PopDawgs, and Claw & Co. — get excited for the next movie showing on December 16th with ‘The Polar Express.’

Cars & Caffeine

On the first Saturday of every month from 7:30 am to 10:30 am, Foxtail Coffee and the Antique Automobile Club come together to put on an informative, early morning event for people with a passion for automobiles. If you love cars and coffee, come out to the next meeting on December 2nd!

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