Oakland hosting drive-through Santa event

The town of Oakland’s annual Light Up Oakland/Santa Day event will look different this year, but it still will capture the magic of the holidays. This year’s celebration will be a “Santa’s Lane Drive-Through Christmas.”

Families are invited to drive through town from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, to greet Santa and his elves at the Town Center circle from the safety of their cars. Visitors will go home with a special gift direct from the North Pole (while supplies last). Families must line up in their vehicles at the West Orange Baptist Church, 200 S. Tubb. St., between 4 and 6:30 p.m. to participate in the event.

Walk-ups and gatherings at the Town Center will not be permitted. Safety precautions will be in place for staff and volunteers, including masks, sanitizer and hand-washing stations.

With more than double the lights of previous years, families also will be treated to a new display of twinkling lights illuminating the Town Center, Town Hall and the new Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center. A DJ will play festive music on the heritage center porch to get participants in the holiday spirit. 

Santa is scheduled to make his grand arrival in a one-horse open sleigh. His route will be posted at oaklandfl.gov and on the town’s Facebook page.

Lakeside Church is co-sponsoring the event.

Temporary roadblocks will be set up to allow Santa to travel from South Cross Street to West Sadler Avenue to North Tubb Street to arrive at the Town Center. Temporary roadblocks will be lifted after Santa has passed. Additional roadblocks will be in effect from 4 to 7 p.m. with Oakland Police present.