Punta Gorda's 125th Anniversary Celebration Kicks Off Tomorrow during Gallery Walk

A month long celebration of Punta Gorda's 125th year begins tomorrow tonight during gallery walk downtown with an evening that will culminate in the lighting of the Downtown Merchants Association's Christmas Tree at Hector House Place, right near the spot where gentlemen gathered over 100 years ago to incoporate the City.

The festivities will kick off with the Punta Gorda City Council's  “Turkey Pardoning” at Centennial Bank, 401 Taylor St. at 5 p.m..


Among the events to either watch or engage in during the evening are:


•  A Chess Tournament. in which 30 Punta Gorda Middle School students will compete chess at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Herald Court Centre (117 Herald Court).  Issac Trabue, the town's founder, was an avid player of the game. 


•  A Lighted Bike Parade. Cyclists will ride the “Ring Around the City,” and then will head downtown via Marion Avenue.


• . Carolers and bagpipers will enterain.


• The Best Dressed Citizen. There will be a costume contest to judge the Best Dressed Citizen in his finest holiday or period attire. (The period being 1887-1901.)



• The Tree Lighting. Join Santa and Mrs. Claus to light the Downtown Merchants Association’s official tree at 7:45 p.m.

For more information on  Punta Gorda’s 125th Anniversary go to www.puntagorda125.com .