Cold snap puts Floridians in the holiday spirit
TAMPA (FOX 13) - There are two kinds of Floridians: Those who love a snap of cold weather and those who don’t.
This week’s wintry temperatures seem to have gone a long way toward getting the Bay Area into the holiday spirit.
From the Winter Village in Curtis Hixon Park to the tree lighting in Centro Ybor, Tampa was alive Wednesday with holiday cheer.
Some folks snapped on skates and hit the ice.
“It’s very unique to be able to skate outdoors in Florida,” commented Madison Hester. “I love it, I love waking up and it’s like super cold outside. I don’t like waking up and it’s always so hot. It’s good because it’s Christmas time.”
The Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park boasts Tampa’s only outdoor ice skating rink. For some people, the cool ice and this week’s cold snap are a welcome change of pace.
“I think it’s beautiful because we don’t get to experience this often, so it’s a nice day,” Tampa’s Casey Gutwein said.
Meanwhile, people filled 7th Avenue in Ybor City to hear Christmas carols and watch as Mayor Bob Buckhorn counted down the lighting of the Centro Ybor Christmas Tree.
“I just really like Christmas, everything about Christmas, so I want to do all the parades. I want to do all the tree-lightings. I want to wear the antlers, just enjoy December,” said Tracy Bass, of Tampa. “I’m from Maryland so I like the cold weather. I’d rather it be cold in December. Here so it feels like Christmas.”
She’s not the only one. People packed in for the celebration, making for one magical night for everyone who welcomes the falling mercury.
“We’re from up north so this is nice,” said Roxanne Andujar. “It’s a little break from the hot, we love it.”
“I think it fits the holiday, it fits us going into December. To me, it feels good out here. We don’t get weather like this, every day,” Tampa’s Daven Padgett said.
And according to FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto’s forecast, we could be in for more wintry weather next week.