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Time To Light The Luminaries

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By ELIZABETH LEE BROWN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

CARROLLWOOD - A glowing tradition that started 40 years ago continues Monday when thousands of lighted paper bags line the streets of Original Carrollwood.

The Christmas Eve luminary spectacle was started in the mid-1960s by Grace Allen, wife of John Allen, the first president of the University of South Florida.

Allen, who died Sunday at age 99, approached the Carrollwood Civic Association about starting the southwestern tradition of decorating the community with lighted candles in sand-filled paper bags.

The association agreed, and since then homeowners have set out rows of candles along their front lawns on Christmas Eve to light up the neighborhood streets.

The 931-home Original Carrollwood subdivision covers the roads east of North Dale Mabry Highway, south of Fletcher Avenue, and around Lake Carroll.

The festivities begin at 7 p.m. when residents light the luminaries. Candles are left to burn through the night and into Christmas Day.

Mark Snellgrove, president of the civic association, said many families get in their cars and take a slow drive to see the community aglow. The display also attracts many families living outside the neighborhood.

"The lighting of the candles is probably less significant than socializing with the neighbors," he said.
Snellgrove also has heard of pilots making a point to fly over the neighborhood to see the holiday night display.

Residents buy the paper bags and candles at Carrollwood Pharmacy and scoop up a bucket of sand in the community's White Sands Beach.

Pharmacy owner Dan Fucarino said he ordered 42,000 luminaries for the annual event. The store has supplied the candles and bags since the tradition started.

Fucarino, who lives in Original Carrollwood, said members of a Boy Scout troop spend five to six hours in his garage each year putting together the packets that have 25 sets of bags and candles.

"It's awesome," Fucarino said of the display. "The vast majority of people do it. You could literally drive down the road without your lights on. It's so continuous. It's house after house."

Most homeowners set out about 25 bags. The civic association fills in the gaps by blanketing common areas such as the recreation center, elementary school and major thoroughfares with luminaries.

Reporter Elizabeth Lee Brown can be reached at (813) 865-1502 or ebrown@tampatrib.com.

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