MIDDLEBURG – On a big weekend leading up to Christmas, the Orange Park South neighborhood will celebrate its first big holiday event: The Apopka Drive Night of Lights.

The block-party-style Christmas event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 5-8 p.m. on Apopka Drive behind the Silos Shopping Center.

The family-friendly and fun affair will be chock-full of activities and events that children will enjoy, especially since Santa and Mrs. will be in attendance, along with other characters for a good Christmas story, including the Grinch and Buddy the Elf.

The Clauses will pose at a driveway. The North Pole’s favorite couple will be taking requests for photograph opportunities, along with, of course, hearing Christmas wish lists from both the naughty and nice children of Clay County who, along with their older peers, go on to make the community a special place.

But that’s not all. The event will include food trucks, a petting zoo and favorite Christmas-time drinks and snacks available for purchase such as hot chocolate, cotton candy and popcorn

Food trucks will operate from 5-8 p.m. and Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be onsite from 6-8 p.m.

Along with hearing wish lists and taking the time for photo opportunities that should make for a great vintage shot years down the road for families watching their young children that grow up. The Clauses also will be reading and reviewing handwritten letters from children.

Just like a scene out of the North Pole, a mailbox will be placed in the yard, with children being asked to write letters. And for photo opportunities, event organizers have even erected a giant sleigh for children and families to hop aboard, a testament further expressing the aurora of a snowy village filled with toy-making elves.

“We have a mailbox put up in the yard, where kids can put the letters that they write. You’ll get a letter back from Santa, guaranteed,” said event founder Matthew Mitchell.

If that’s not enough fun for the children, then throw in a few local pet goats for a meet-and-greet at the petting zoo, with children and parents can feed the goats with protein-filled peanuts and rub the animals’ heads with a loving and affectionate hand of warmth.

“We’ve got a bunch of things lined up for all ages. We’re going to make sure that everyone has a good time. It’s going to be a small-town energy where kids and families can come together, forget about their worries, and celebrate the Christmas season,” he said.

The event didn’t come without plenty of preparation and planning. Mitchell and other organizers have been busy since August, which included a tedious and community-dedicated process of getting neighbors’ support and setting up thousands of lights.

Several neighbors also will get in on the seasonal fun by hanging lights of their own. Numbers are picking up, but as it goes with all new neighborhood holiday traditions, it might take a little bit of extra effort to get every house on the street involved.

“I have hung about 65,000-70,000 lights on my house alone, and that doesn't include the others. You know, (people) are knocking on my door, wanting to get involved and help, so the energy is starting to pick up. And next year, we’ll hopefully start growing the number of houses that want to get involved,” Mitchell said.

“We’re excited that we can bless a couple of families in need with the money we collect. Our main goal is to make some families in the community happy through the Christmas holiday.”

In the meantime, residents are encouraged to see the lights that are already up.

To learn more about the event, visit www.facebook.com/LightsonApopka/.