City wraps itself in decorations

DUNEDIN -- It's Christmastime in the city, and S. Claus has been working feverishly on "Operation Twinkle."

"This is our biggest and best year yet," said Sherril Claus. The good-natured treasurer of the Merchants Association of Downtown Dunedin and chairwoman of the Christmas Committee said she has taken a lot of ribbing because of her name over the past 50 years.

Operation Twinkle is Dunedin's effort to make the season extra bright and extra old-fashioned with big horses clip-clopping down the streets pulling carriages, strolling carolers, sugar cookies washed down with hot cider in shops along Main Street and gaslight poles decorated with white lights.

This year, after the City Commission requested more Christmas decorations, Dunedin went all out to celebrate the holidays with pipe band concerts, handbell choirs, craft shows, visits with Santa and a parade.

At the Dunedin Stadium, a giant illuminated Santa pitches a baseball to an elf. At Highlander Park, there are 37 Christmastime characters, and some of them move around, including one that looks like a big dancing bear.

"We're a small town," said Claus. "It's not plastic and slick."

Fifty local merchants this year "adopted" gaslight poles and decked them with more than boughs of holly.

"There is a pole decorated like a martini glass in front of the Chic-a-Boom Room," said Peg Cummings, program coordinator for Dunedin's Leisure Services department. "The top of the lamp is the olive."

Today, strollers can visit some of Dunedin's most beautifully decorated houses during the 33rd annual Holiday Tour of Homes, Boutique and Tea. Usually a sellout, this self-guided tour takes visitors through seven houses dressed up for the holidays. The hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tea is served at 11 a.m. Proceeds benefit the Dunedin Youth Guild (tickets are $15 in advance, $18 on event day. You can buy them at the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, 301 Main St. Call (727) 733-3452).

Santa comes to town during the free Holiday Boat Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony.

"He will come in on the last boat, and he will light the city's largest Christmas tree," Cummings said. "We hope everyone will come out and celebrate the holidays with us."

Decorated sailboats and motorboats launch from Marker One near the marina at 6:30 p.m. and sail south to Union Street and circle back. They will float past Edgewater Park at about 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Dunedin Concert Band and Sweet Adelines will perform carols, and children will cook s'mores on a grill.

-- Eileen Schulte can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com.

-- Editor's Note: Because of a production error, Friday's North Pinellas Times did not include the weekly Diversions page. That story appears here today.

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