Visits with Santa, Holiday Lights, Parades and Much More!
By Lori Leath Smith
For many years, our piece of Paradise has ignited the holiday spirit in each of us and allowed the season to come to life for the young and young at heart. With a unique blend of theatrical storytelling, musical notes and beautiful and whimsical Christmas lights, we are welcomed into a world of yuletide nostalgia and local flavor and personalities where reindeer fly, sugarplums dance in our heads and Christmas comes alive in our own area, coastal style. I invite you to explore the vast, unique holiday traditions, some many years in the making and new ones to delight our senses and usher in the “reason for the season” – the celebrated birth of Jesus, our Savior. Join FWB Life in some of these holiday celebrations where you can create some new family traditions of your own while rekindling your favorites.
You can visit St. Nick at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at his sleigh Weds. Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 6-8 p.m. Tap your feet to some of your favorite sing-along classics each Wednesday during the holiday edition of the Wed. Night Concert Series. Dec. 7 – Gateway Academy and Fort Walton Beach High School Choir; Dec. 14 – Niceville High School; Dec. 21 – Matt McCarty Band. Plus, visit with Santa from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 4 during Tuba Christmas! Visit baytownewharf.com.
Visit Santa at HarborWalk Village weekends until Dec. 18 from 1-4 p.m.
Visit Santa at Bass Pro Shop at Destin Commons through Dec. 24. There are also free games, crafts and a free 4-by-6 professional photo with Santa, as well as a free digital download. To book, visit basspro.com.
Jolly Jubilee, a festive celebration of the holiday season, happens every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Destin Commons through Dec. 24. Centered around the iconic 50′ Christmas tree, there’s magical free entertainment featuring Christmas carolers, local vocalist groups, student ensembles, theatrical groups and more!
It’s almost time for the Ice Skating Extravaganza at The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Fri., Dec. 2, 6-8 p.m. at the Baytowne skating pavilion. You can watch free, featured performances from well-known skaters at 6 and 7:30 p.m., who will also share tips and tricks. Before and in between the shows, lace up those skates and skate around with the pros. The Village of Baytowne Wharf’s ice rink is open through Feb.5. Hours vary daily. Visit BaytowneWharf.com.
It’s Fort Walton Beach Police Department’s biggest event of the year–Winter Wonderland 2022–Fri., Dec. 9, 2022 6-10 p.m. at Chester Pruitt Park, 15 Hollywood Blvd. NE. Bring a new, unwrapped toy which will benefit Toys for Tots. Stroll down Pallet House Ln., drink hot chocolate, meet Santa, and interact with your favorite local police department and businesses. Pallet houses will be decorated by the police department, city facilities, local businesses and charities! Each group decorates their own little holiday houses. There will be festive movies playing, local businesses present with games and giveaways, food trucks, music and much more!
“Keep a Little Christmas in Your Heart” with the Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus as they sing through a lovely and humorous collection of Christmas songs sure to get you into the holiday spirit. From traditional tunes like “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” to more modern hand-clapping toe-tapping pieces like “The Big Guy in Red” and “Jingle All the Way,” there is sure to be a song everyone in the family will enjoy. Shows: Fri., Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.; and Sun., Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. All shows held at Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium. Tickets: https://fwbc-chorus.square.site.
Movie lovers will delight in this year’s Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops: “Christmas at the Movies” being presented at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville on Fri, Dec 9 at 7:30 p.m. You’ll not want to miss the mix of film favorites from past to present as well as traditional holiday selections, featuring guest soloist Lakisha Jones, and the NFSO chorale and artists from our college community.
Grab all your slacker friends and come down to Deck the Halls Slacker Event at the Boathouse Oyster Bar, Sun., Dec. 11, 2-4 p.m. for a good cause. Individuals or teams will visit partner locations and put their skills to the test competing in activities such as hopscotch, hula hooping, toilet paper toss, corn hole and more. Slackers are asked to bring toys for charity in exchange for extra drink tickets. Cost: $30 in advance / $35 at the door. For more info, http://boathouseoysterbardestin.com/events.
Join Santa for a joyous Breakfast on Dec. 11, 17, 18, or 19 in Harborwalk Village’s Grande Ballroom, seating times at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Featuring a festive buffet of the Grinch’s Fruit Kabob Station, Cindy Lou Who’s breakfast items, Whoville Bakery and Max’s Donut Station, also enjoy a Create your own Christmas Chow station, letters to Santa, and visits with Santa. View Menu: https://bit.ly/3eHi56y. Kids: $18 | Adults: $25 plus Tax & Gratuity. Reservations required: (850) 424-0622.
Emerald Coast Theatre Company presents fantastic shows to get you in the holiday spirit! A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage by Charles M. Schulz, adapted by Eric Schaeffer with special arrangement by Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson. Sat., Dec. 3, 9:30 a.m., Sun., Dec. 4, 2:30 p.m., and Sat., Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical runs from Dec. 8 – 18. Thurs. – Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m., and Wed., Dec. 14, 2:30 p.m. Christmas Cabaret at the Boulevard will sing you into the Christmas spirit, Wed., Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 17, 2:30 p.m. Enjoy classic holiday songs and join in some carols as well. All will be held on the second floor of 560 Grand Boulevard in Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach. Purchase tickets online at emeraldcoasttheatre.org.
studio6twenty5 presents The Nutcracker Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m. at the Destin Community Center and features the studio6twenty5 Children’s Program as well as Adult/Open Division dancers. Staging, arrangement and choreography by artistic director Rachel Prescott, with original choreography by Shaye Smith; guest performances by Luminary Entertainment Company and choreography by Lydia Faith. Reservations are recommended with a suggested donation of $10/ticket with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the studio6twenty5 Children’s Program. Donations can be made at Will Call upon check-in. Reserve seats at studio6twenty5.com/events.
LJ Schooners’ 5th Annual Santa Paddle Parade is back Sat., Dec. 17, at Bluewater Bay Marina. All paddlers are welcome; if you can paddle it, bring it! Paddle on a stand-up paddle board, canoe, kayak, paddle boat or surf skis. Group photo is at noon with paddle starting at 12:10 p.m. when the group of Santa Clauses leave BlueWater Bay Marina and paddle East to Rocky Bayou Bridge, North to North Shore of Rocky Bayou and back to the marina. Registration ($30) includes your Sunny Santa Suit, which must be worn during the paddle. The first 75 to register are guaranteed Santa suits. Proceeds benefit Sharing and Caring of Niceville. To register, call Bluewater Bay Marina Ship Store at (850) 897-2821 or visit bluewaterbaymarina.com.
Bluewater Bay Marina will host its annual Christmas Boat Parade Sat., Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m. (Skippers meeting at 4 p.m.; parade staging at 5 p.m.) The parade course exits Bluewater Bay Marina north to Nelson’s Cove, around Rocky Bayou, south to the Rocky One marker and then returns to Bluewater Bay Marina. Boats must pre-register. After the Boat Parade, LJ Schooners Dockside Restaurant will host a Christmas party, with live music from Fathom, 7-10 p.m., and an ugly sweater contest at 9 p.m. For more information, email: frontdesk@bwb-marina.com
Sun., Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m., the annual 2022 Niceville Valparaiso Rotary Club Christmas Boat Parade, presented by Emerald Coast Marine, will feature a traditional display of fun onboard holiday-themed lights and decorations. Festivities include complimentary hot cocoa, a visit from Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the elves, provided by the Rotary. The parade route travels southwest from Emerald Coast Marine to Tom’s Bayou, past Lincoln Park, then east toward Lions Park, returning back to Emerald Coast Marine. Boat entries are $30 each. All proceeds raised will benefit Sharing and Caring Niceville. For more information, visit nicevillevalparaisorotary.org.
The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin will hold a special light show Wed., Fri. and Sat. nights Dec. 2-23 during the 12 Nights of Lights. The tree lights in the events plaza will dance and blink to music at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Visit BaytowneWharf.com.
Join Sinfonia’s Holiday Pops, featuring The Doo Wop Project Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. The Doo Wop Project boys will get you into the holiday spirit! Hear old-school holiday classics like The Drifters’ White Christmas, The Temptations’ Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, along with “Doowopified’’ contemporary hits like This Christmas and Last Christmas. It’s sure to be a jolly good time! Tickets at SinfoniaGulfCoast.org.
The Annual 2022 Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade is coming to town Monday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. and will start at the south end of Eglin Parkway and travel north to Uptown Station.
The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida presents the Yule of Yesteryear Annual Christmas Event Sat., Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Gather together to enjoy the carols and other festivities after the Niceville Christmas Parade ends for free admission to the museum, food vendors, craft vendors, walton guard reenactors, school choir groups, bake sale, raffle ticket prizes, letters to Santa and more! 115 Westview Ave., Perrine Park, Valparaiso.
The EO Wilson Biophilia Center will hold its Winter Extravaganza from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Dec. 10. There will be a special visit from Santa, a hot chocolate bar, food trucks, games, and more. Please bring any canned food and nonperishable goods you can spare.
Enjoy a memorable family holiday experience at LuLu’s (at the foot of the Mid-Bay Bridge) for its seventh annual Billy Claus free event Sun., Dec. 11, 1-3 p.m. Billy Claus is Santa’s warm weather-loving brother who lives in the Caribbean, but comes this way every year to help Santa during the Holiday season. The LuLuBelles are Billy’s version of Santa’s elves. Billy will pass children’s wishes on to Santa and will be available for photos. In addition to kid’s arts and crafts activities, there will also be a reading of the children’s book authored by Lucy Buffett, Billy Claus and the Spirit of Christmas. LulusFunFoodMusic.com/destin/ (850) 710-5858.
Put a little snark in your holiday spirit with The Mean One Dec. 16 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at 5 p.m. Meet the maven of mischief himself for a photo opportunity from 5-7 p.m., then enjoy a movie showing of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas starting at 7 p.m. – a Who-liday spectacular!
Visit the Festival of Trees at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin through Christmas Day, an annual event in the park at Grand Boulevard shopping center showcasing uniquely decorated Christmas trees from 12 local, non-profit organizations. Participating non-profit organizations compete to win cash prizes totaling $7,000 for beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Cast your vote for the People’s Choice award.
Enjoy free horse-drawn carriage rides around the Town Center at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin while taking in the Coastal White Christmas lights and the Festival of the Trees display. To add to the festivities, get a professional photo with Santa while listening to the seasonal sounds of the Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s Dickensian Carolers singing popular holiday carols, Dec. 2 – 17 Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 8 p.m.; Dec. 19 – 23 all week from 5 to 8 p.m.
Eden Gardens State Park will be illuminated Sat., Dec. 10, 5-8 p.m. More than 2,000 luminaries will light the garden paths of Eden Gardens at nightfall. The Historic Wesley House will be decorated for Christmas and visitors can see all the rooms decorated by local organizations from throughout the community. Music and carolers voices will fill the air throughout the evening and cookies and hot beverages will be provided by the Friends of Eden Gardens. The event is free and park entry fees will be waived from 5-8 p.m.
The Destin Harbor will dance with lights and cheer during the 36th Annual Destin Boat Parade Sun., Dec 11, 6-6:30 p.m. followed by a fireworks finale and fire spinning.
Main Street DeFuniak Springs brings back Merry Main Street! Free to attend, Merry Main Street boasts live music and theatrical performances, an outdoor market, food trucks, rides on the Choctaw Express Train, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, kids character appearances and more family fun – all taking place outdoors along Baldwin Avenue in downtown DeFuniak Springs. Events occur every Friday and Saturday until Christmas. https://bit.ly/MSD_MerryMain, Info@mainstreetdfs.org, (850) 296-9051.
Hosted by the City of DeFuniak Springs through New Year’s Eve, Chipley Park lights up with the annual Christmas Reflection Displays, a light display like no other in our area with more than 10 million lights reflecting on the lake and throughout the park. You can view the lights by walking, driving or even taking a horse-drawn carriage ride. Admission is $5 per person and children 5 and under are free. Fri.-Sat., 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.; Sun.-Thurs., 5:30-9 p.m. nightly. $5 per person, free for children under 5, Tues. discount for military; $10 for carload up to five people. Carriage rides are available on select nights. $10/person. (850) 978-2999.
