Wellen Park hosts Luminescence Festival May 26 in honor of Memorial Day

VENICE, Fla. (May 16, 2023) – Wellen Park invites the community to an evening of illumination and music Friday, May 26, in Downtown Wellen. The Luminescence Festival, from 6 to 10 p.m., marks the beginning of the Memorial Day holiday weekend with a moment of reflection as hundreds of glowing luminaries light up nearly 3 miles of shoreline along the Grand Lake.

The festival also celebrates the 80-acre lake’s ceremonial opening and includes signature jazz performed by Orlando-based Eighth Note Collective on the Solis Hall outdoor stage and a table-decorating contest as part of exclusive VIP experiences.

“We want to provide a meaningful way to bring the community together to honor our veterans and remember their loved ones,” said Christine Masney, vice president of marketing for Wellen Park.
“The Luminescence Festival will be a beautiful tribute, with the opportunity for attendees to personalize a luminary.”

Guests must register in advance to receive a lantern bag, marker, tealight and sand. Luminaries will be available for pick up from 6 to 7 p.m. on May 26 in Downtown Wellen during the event.

The festival begins at 6 p.m. with music by Eighth Note Collective, known for its dynamic twist on classical jazz. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for general admission seating.

Luminaries will be placed around the Grand Lake at sundown, along with a special lighted boat parade presented by the Venice Youth Boating Association. A magical display of projection art and live music will take place from 8:45 to 10 p.m. 

The Luminescence Festival’s VIP experience, available for reserved tables of two, four and eight, features a premium location on the event lawn and a chef-prepared picnic basket and wine from The Banyan House restaurant. VIP guests receive stemware, linens, plates, cutlery and a luminary and are encouraged to bring decorative items to design the ultimate tablescape.

An undercover and incognito local design professional will judge tables based on overall design and creativity. The grand prize-winning table receives a $250 gift card to The Banyan House and a case of wine. Three runners-up win $100 gift cards to The Banyan House and a bottle of wine. Picnic basket pick-up and table decorating begin at 5 p.m. at Solis Hall.

For general admission tickets, visit wellenpark.com/events/luminescence-festival-general-admission. For VIP experience tickets, visit wellenpark.com/events/luminescense.

About Downtown Wellen

Downtown Wellen is the region’s newest social and gathering spot, offering restaurants, boutiques, beauty services, and medical and professional offices. The downtown’s thoughtfully designed spaces create unique outdoor experiences – from intimate parks, a natural playground and a living room shaded by a decades-old relocated live oak tree to larger gathering spaces like the Great Lawn for community festivals, markets, celebrations and events, and the lakefront fountain and splashpad. Solis Hall features an outdoor stage, a lakefront patio and an easy flow from inside spaces to neighboring alfresco areas.

The pedestrian-friendly downtown emphasizes heartfelt connections to community and nature and celebrates a waterfront vibe with the 80-acre Grand Lake providing a scenic backdrop and opportunities for fishing and paddle sports. Visitors can enjoy time on the water and along downtown’s 3-mile lakefront trail with on-site bicycle, e-bike, kayak and paddleboard rentals at Kind Vibes Outfitters.

Also open is The Yard, offering a playful outdoor environment with a dining area, games and activities, and ultra-casual food and beverage choices served counter style from retrofitted shipping containers. The Yard features gourmet ballpark favorites from Atlanta Braves-affiliated Pop Dawgs and New England-style seafood at Claw & Co.

Located at 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice, Downtown Wellen can be accessed directly from Preto Boulevard and U.S. 41, just west of South River Road. A future downtown entry directly from U.S. 41 and Wellen Park Boulevard is currently under construction.

Learn more about Downtown Wellen and access a complete list of businesses at wellenpark.com/shop-dine.

About Wellen Park

Consistently ranked among the U.S.’s top-selling communities annually by prominent real estate consulting firm RCLCO, Wellen Park offers a mix of single-family and multifamily residential, commercial and recreational options. The community currently has approximately 9,500 residents, and at full buildout will have more than 50,000 residents and 22,500 homes within its three distinct districts: West Villages, Downtown Wellen and Playmore.

Wellen Park’s expanding residential choices include new-construction single-family homes in picturesque neighborhoods, a bundled golf and country club community, paired and attached villas, coach homes and condominiums. Rental options offer one- to three-bedroom luxury apartments and single-family homes, an apartment community for active adults 55 and older, and world-class independent, assisted living and memory care.

Wellen Park is close to top-ranked beaches and the area’s many attractions.

To learn more about Downtown Wellen and living at Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805, go to wellenpark.com or visit the Welcome Center at 12275 Mercado Drive in Venice, Fla. The Welcome Center is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact:

Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and PR, 239-275-5758, [email protected]