“Christmas on Third” Tree Lighting in Naples

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A chance to see snow and meet Santa Claus on Monday in Naples to get into the holiday spirit with live music at the 45th annual tree lighting.

The Naples Police Department is shutting down 13th Street off the corner of Third Street in preparation for the tree lighting that will happen around 6:20 p.m.

Crowds, excited to see the spectacle, started filling the area at around 4 p.m.

The area where the tree lighting is happening was affected by Ian, which makes people all the more ready to celebrate.

Businesses around the tree lighting are also excited to see more customers than they would normally.

Elia Pitteri, a manager at Sea Salt restaurant in the area, spoke with WINK News about how the ceremony can be beneficial.

“It’s, for us, very important because it’s the beginning of the season a lot of people they’re gonna enjoy the show. We will have more than 300 covers tonight,” Pitteri said.

“We closed for five or six business day and after that, we didn’t have a lot of damage. So we replace all the carpet, we replaced the drywall inside,” Pitteri said.

However, Sea Salt neighbors won’t be as lucky as the restaurant.

Craig DeLongy, owner of John Craig Clothier explained Monday marks the first time it’s opened its doors since the hurricane more than six weeks ago.

“I don’t know how we pulled this off. I thought we wouldn’t be able to until middle of December, January,” DeLongy said.

Amazed to see how much his team came together just in time for Christmas on Third.

“They came in and did an incredible job with kind of drywall or wood, flooring, electricians, and just equally as important, our cabinet maker,” Delongy said.

There will be celebrations through Christmas and to the New Year in the Third St. South business district.

Watch the full Christmas on Third report above.

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