By The Clermont Downtown Partnership (photos by Larry Oskin)

The Clermont Downtown Partnership recently hosted its annual Candy Cane Lane with dozens of craft vendors offering sweets, treats, holiday gifts and food trucks. Thousands of visitors packed the streets with masks and safe social distancing. Santa Claus was there for photographs, right next to the beautiful new City of Clermont Christmas tree. CDP is very thankful to United Healthcare as the major sponsor with Dyson Realty and Reformation Chiropractic, the City of Clermont and Lake County for their generous sponsorships. All of the participating vendors and DJ Eddie Craft, made this a very successful event.

Shop Small In Clermont! Explore all of the Downtown Clermont merchants for your year-end holiday gifts. They will all be celebrating Shop Small Clermont on Saturday, November 28. Many stores will have specials with cookies and candy for the kids.

Sunday Clermont Farmer’s Markets are back in action and growing bigger each week with dozens of safely spaced out food, craft and specialty vendors each Sunday from 9 AM to 2 PM. Farm fresh organic produce, seafood, Florida raised local beef, sweets, plants, coffees. teas, soaps, pastas, cheese, breads, crafts, artwork, seasonal gifts, music and entertainment make this a fun weekly event.

Clermont First Friday Food Truck Events:  The next one will be on December 4 from 5:30 to 9 PM. CDP will host many delicious vendors including Pizza in a Cone, Ritters Ice Cream & Frozen Custard, K&E Catering, Oshiimotto Japanese, Rubios Baja Grill, Lee’s Cheesesteak, Texas Spud, Barnwood BBQ, Willy T’s Seafood, Ponche’s Mango, Bao Houz and Jour d’ Crepes in December. Due to New Year’s Day, the First Friday New Year event will be moved to the Second Friday on January 8. There will be entertainment and music, while many stores will be open late. Everyone is encouraged to wear face masks and to use safe social distancing.

That’s A Wrap will be held Saturday, December 19 from 11 AM to 5 PM as a new CDP event to help support the Clermont community with beautiful gift-wrapping services by the CDP elves. 100% of the donations will go to charitably support our local Kiwanis Club. Bring your unwrapped gifts, before shopping. This event will be held at Not Just Dance at 737 West Montrose Street in Downtown Clermont 34711.

Explore The New Advantages Of Downtown Clermont! The CDP is a not-for-profit association of small business owners in and around the downtown Clermont area. The Clermont Downtown Partnership creates a positive community spirit with extra special events and business opportunities to celebrate Clermont. As a not-for-profit, the CDP and their members offer you the Sunday Farmer’s Markets, the spring Home & Garden Show, the Fall Harvest Festival, Candy Cane Lane Arts & Crafts Show, First Fridays, Music On Montrose, Mega Food Truck Events, Wine Walks, Beer Crawls and much more. Their special free community events bring thousands of local area residents and tourists to enjoy downtown Clermont each year. The money received from vendors and sponsors for Clermont Downtown Partnership events is also used to promote additional activities and marketing to help promote Downtown Clermont.

Join Your Clermont Downtown Partnership!  Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this great opportunity to network with other business owners, promote your business and to help our community by becoming an active member. CDP will be having a special membership event on Monday, January 11 with all-new levels and benefits with details to be announced soon. It’s time to get involved with their Marketing, Membership and Special Events Committees. CDP member meetings are normally held the third Wednesday of each month from 8 to 9:30 AM. For membership and sponsorship information, visit www.ClermontDowntownPartnership.com and contact Sandy Farnsworth 352-617-8788 and Sandy@ClermontDowntownPartnership.com. Or, email CDP President, Kimberly Grogan at ClermontDowntown@GMail.com.