Menorah, Tree Lighting Nearly Canceled After Vandals Cut Lights: Sarasota Merchants

SARASOTA, FL — Thursday evening’s menorah and Christmas tree lighting at Selby Five Points Park, an annual holiday event in downtown Sarasota, nearly didn’t happen because of damage caused by vandals.

Vandals used a knife to cut the light wires “beyond repair,” the Sarasota Downtown Merchants organization shared on Facebook Wednesday night.

In a comment on the group’s post, Destination Downtown Sarasota said the lights were cut by homeless individuals in the area.

The group said it was expecting about 2,500 people to attend the beloved holiday tradition.

Just as they thought the event might have to be canceled, a local business stepped up.

“Tucker Enterprises saved the day!! The team worked late into the night to fix the Christmas tree lights,” the merchants group wrote.

Destination Downtown Sarasota said employees from the company volunteered their time and worked until 11 p.m. Wednesday night to fix the problem.

“A BIG shout out to Tucker Enterprises for going the extra mile and volunteering their time to help us out,” Destination Downtown Sarasota wrote.