LAKELAND, Fla. — The annual Christmas Experience was held in Munn Park Monday night. It features holiday performances from local singers and dancers.

What You Need To Know

  • Munn Park was the site of the annual Christmas Experience performance in Lakeland on Monday

  • The performance featured local singers and dancers

  • The event was held in a local theater during its first two years and has lit up Munn Park for the past three years

  • Vendors and food trucks were featured for the first time this year

"Brings the community together," said Marcy Maguire, who was there with her family to watch her daughter perform.

For three years, the Christmas Experience has lit up the park, but it started two years before that in a local theater.

"It keeps growing," said Ferdinand De Jesus, founding artistic director of the Fredi Dance Project.

Many of the performers are from Fredi and Ultimate Dance Center.

"It sets the tone in our little town for Christmas," DeJesus said.

Maguire's family has been coming to the event for three years.

"It's a family event. It's a great community event just to ring in the Christmas holiday," Maguire said.

This year, it was also a place to pick up last minute gifts. Vendors and food trucks were featured for the first time. The main draw remained the performance.

"I love to sing and bring people joy. It really warms my heart," said Carlin Hanks, 18, who performed as part of a group from Harrison School for the Arts.

De Jesus said it's his way of giving back.

"The thing that brought me to Lakeland was Christmas. I came for 'The Nutcracker', and I always felt a sense of sort of like a connectedness to everyone here," De Jesus said. "And my community of students and all the people that I impact, we're kind of like a big, community family. So, what better way for us to celebrate Christmas than to put on a free show in the park?"