Christmas Card Lane -- Kiwanis Gift to Punta Gorda

Every year the Kiwanis of Punta Gorda ask Punta Gorda community businesses and organizations to participate in a Christmas display of giant Christmas cards that will adorn the lane in Gilchrist Park. These colorful, creative cards are prepared by professional and amateur artists, in some cases children. Last  Saturday, members of the Kiwanis overseen by Kiwani John Kruth installed almost 60 cards prepared by Churches, businesses, civic organizations, clubs, schools, various non-profit organizations and others.  Over the next month, this holiday gift to the community will be viewed by thousands of Punta Gorda residents and visitors.

The cards are also judged in various categories.  Here are this year's winners:

Amateur Artwork:

1 Punta Gorda Fire Dept


2 Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary


3 Lutheran Church of the Cross


Professional Artwork:


1 Peace River Distributing, Inc


2 Buffalo Graffix


3 Knights of Columbus




Most Unique:

Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary



Most Humorous:

Home Instead Senior Care



Most Artistic:

Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary



Best In Show Religious:

Lutheran Church of the Cross



Best in Show Non-Religious:

Punta Gorda Fire Dept

Here's a slideshow of this year's cards.  But to really appreciate the dynamic nature of these cards, go to Gilchrist Park and see them live.

Kiwanis Christmas Card Lane goes up in Gilchrist Park on December 4

Punta Gorda Christmas is just around the corner….and in keeping with the annual tradition, the Punta Gorda Kiwanis are sponsoring once again Punta Gorda’s Christmas Card Lane, the spectacular display of giant-sized Holiday Greeting Cards that adorn the pathway into Gilchrist Park.  Gene Murtha, Christmas Card Lane Coordinator, reports that registrations for this annual holiday event have been brisk.  He notes that there are many more entrants so far than this time last year.

The life-sized cards prepared on behalf of local businesses and organizations (churches, civic groups, schools, clubs, charities) by professional or amateur artists will be elevated for display on December 4.  Judging of the cards for ribbons will take place Sunday morning, December 5.   The lane can be viewed by car or on foot through the holidays.   

Here's a sampling of last year's event:  

There are still a few slots available for this year's Lane.  If you are interested in displaying a card for your business or organization, contact Gene Murtha at genemurtha@comcast.net.   

Let it Rain..Punta Gorda Kiwanis Install Christmas Card Lane in the Rain

Rain dampened holiday spirits somewhat this weekend -- Punta Gorda's Christmas Parade and the Lighted Boat Parade were cancelled. But heavy morning rains didn't stop civic organizations, businesses, churches and others from delivering their giant holiday card replicas to Gilchrist Park where a crew of Kiwanis and Mission Unity members dug holes, drilled posts and lifted the cards to align the lane in the park.


Kiwanis and Mission Unity arrived early Saturday morning as cards began to arrive at the park. Undeterred by the rain storm, Punta Gorda Civic Association representatives waited in the park from 7 a.m. hoping to get a good position for their over sized card . Soon thereafter pickups, vans and SUVs began arriving delivering the creations of their organizations, many of which had been worked on for several months.

Cards run the gamut from simple artistic designs or paintings with holiday messages to elaborate works with blinking lights and other ornamentation. Some were developed by professional sign or design companies, others by local professional artists, others by children or community groups working together. Humorous cards, like one from Burnt Store Grille which shows a waitress getting a stocking full of gifts as a tip from Santa, are among the highlights of this year's lane.

Christmas Card Lane is an annual project sponsored by the Punta Gorda Kiwanis, their holiday gift to the community. They will be displayed in Gilchrist Park until after the New Year's. View the slide show below to see some of this year's entries, better yet, to get the full impact, head down to the park and drive or walk through the lane.