Tis the Season — Christmas events

Grand Boulevard Tree Lighting Ceremony

Grand Boulevard at Sandestin officially kicks off the holiday season during Grand Boulevard’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. Nov. 22 in Grand Park.
Kilwin’s Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream will provide complimentary hot cider, coffee and holiday treats.
Sinfonia Gulf Coast will perform an imaginative and innovative musical program.

Christmas at Destin Commons
Rockin’ Rockwell: A Modern Day Normal Rockwell Art Series will be held Satiurdays in the gallery exhibit between Panera and Talbots. Featured artists are Linda Kernick, Nov. 22; Billie Gaffrey, Dec. 6; Michael Fagan, Dec. 13, Robyn Patterson, Nov. 29, and Michael Granberry on Dec. 20. The artists will be at the Gallery Exhibit on their respective dates from 1 to 2 p.m.
Santa’s schedule at Destin Commons is 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 23 and 30; 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 28; and 1 to 8 p.m. Nov. 22 and 29.
In December, 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12; 1 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6, 13 15-18, 20 and 22-23; 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 7, 14, 19 and 21; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 24.

Evening of Giving
Silver Sands Factory Stores is making this holiday season brighter for not only 35 local charities but also for shoppers during the fourth annual Evening of Giving from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 23. Enjoy live entertainment and exclusive savings to benefit a variety of local charities from Pensacola to Panama City.
Tickets may be purchased for $5 from all participating charities or from Shopper Services, with all ticket proceeds benefiting the charities.
The evening begins at 5 p.m. with the first lighting of the Center’s 40-foot tree in the Courtyard in front of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH followed by the Holiday Lights In Concert.
Dig for Diamonds at San Gelato Café and Zales and support the Ronald McDonald House beginning at 4 p.m.
For a $4 donation, patrons can choose an egg, each filled with prizes such as Zales diamond jewelry, Universal tickets, gift baskets and other prizes donated by local businesses.
A nightly light and music Christmas performance, Holiday Lights in Concert, runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 23 through Jan. 1 in the Courtyard. The 30-minute light and music show offers background for photographs to commemorate the evening.
Santa flies in at noon Dec. 6 via Sacred Heart Hospital’s AirHeart helicopter. Children under 8 can dress in holiday costumes and join in the Santa Parade. Snacks, photo opportunities with Santa and a costume contest follow. All proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast.

Christmas Outdoor Decorating Contest
The City of Destin Holiday Committee will select the best Christmas decorations in three categories: Best Decorated Home (single homes, duplexes, mobile homes, etc.); Best Decorated Business (restaurants, shops, department stores, schools, professional offices, etc.); and Best Decorated Organization (entrances to condominiums, homeowner’s associations, golf courses, etc.). An additional plaque and category will be awarded for Best on the Harbor.
Judging will be held from Dec. 3 through Dec. 17 within the City Limits of Destin. Decorations music remain up through Dec. 28.
Winners will be announced Dec. 20 in The Destin Log and will be recognized by the Mayor during the January City Council meeting.
If you think someone’s decorations deserve special attention, call 650-1241 or e mail mwest@cityofdestin.com
Christmas on the Beach
Family photos with Santa Claus will be taken every Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 2 p.m. through Dec. 6 at The Crab Trap in Destin.
A $10 donation benefits the Destin Fire Rescue Foundation. Call 837-8413.

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops
Several fun activities for children will be available in Santa’s Wonderland. Free Weekend Family Activities will take place from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Customers can get a free 4 x 6 photo with Santa and his reindeer from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 12 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Extended hours begin Nov. 27. Photo and gift packages will also be available.

Sandestin’s Christmas on the Coast
Holiday fun comes alive in Sandestin with the following events:
•Holiday Fest with strolling Dickens Carolers, visits with Santa and crafts by Abrakaboodle from 12 to 4 p.m. Nov. 28-30. Call 267-8092.
•Holiday Movie Night presents “Fred Claus” under the stars at 7 p.m. Nov. 28. Bring a blanket.
•The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin presents the Village Tree Lighting from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Nov. 29 after Santa’s arrival. Call 267-8117. Enjoy other holiday activities including a special holiday fireworks display over the lagoon in the Village Events Plaza. Admission is free.
•Kringle Mingle Breakfast with Santa with two seatings at 8:30 and 9:309 a.m. Nov. 29 at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s. Make reservations at 837-9710.
•Dickens Christmas Carol performance beginning at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 5 through 20 in the Village Events Plaza.
•Ice skating rink will be open from 4 to 10 p.m. during the week, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 12 to 6 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 1. Cost is $8. Skates available for $2.
•Wednesday Night Holiday Concerts start at 6 p.m. and feature local school and church choirs performing holiday music. Admission is free.
•Claus and Paws takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at The Market Shops at Sandestin. Dress your “best friend” in holiday best and have photo taken with Santa. Fundraiser for R.U.F.F. Photos are $10 for one; $15 for two; and $20 for three.
•Santa Claus will be at The Market Shops from 12 to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20. Strolling Dickens Carolers from 1 to 4 p.m.
•The 10th annual Nautical Night of Lights Boat Parade will be held Dec. 13 at Sandestin Baytowne Marina.
•Annual Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Dec. 31 with live music and fireworks at midnight.

Santa’s Workshop
Uptown Station is working with The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge to bring Santa’s Workshop to Fort Walton Beach Nov. 28-Dec. 24.
Children can ride the Uptown Express Train from the train station in Central Park. On arrival at the Workshop, they can write a letter to Santa and post it in the Village Post Office, design an make their own cookie in Santa’s Sweetshop, visit all the Houses in the Gingerbread Village and see Santa’s Workshop.
All for a $5 donation to ECWR.
For a total donation of $12 to ECWR, kids can construct a toy with the Elves in Santa’s Workshop or for a total donation of $25 to ECWR kids can create their own stuffed bear in Santa’s workshop.
Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge will be running The Elf Training Camp throughout the period. For a donation of $10 an hour, parents can leave their children to take part in fun activities, while they go and shop in Uptown Station.

Outdoor Movie Night
Destin Commons presents movie night featuring a special viewing of The Polar Express at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 in Center Plaza. Kris Kringle’s Sweets & Treats general store will be open with favorite past-time goodies. Arrive early, and bring blankets and chairs.

Christmas Tree Lighting
The 22nd annual Christmas Tree Lighting, hosted by the City of Destin, will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Destin Community Center. There will be greetings from City Council members, performances by local groups and a visit from Santa Claus. Refreshments will be served after the tree lighting. This will be an outdoor event for the entire family. Donations of toys and canned foods will be collected for families in need. Call 654-5184 for more

Holiday on the Harbor Christmas concert
HarborWalk Village presents sounds of traditional Yuletide favorites with favorite bands from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Enjoy hot chocolate, holiday shopping, Santa and a harbor filled with enchantingly decorated boats.
•Dec. 5: South Walton High School Band, 6 p.m. and Jones and Company, 7 p.m.
•Dec. 12: Destin Elementary Chorus, 6 p.m. and Emerald Coast Community Band, 7 p.m.
•Dec. 19: TBA at 6 p.m. and Village Baptist Church at 7 p.m.

A Christmas Festival
The Christian Symphonic Band and Strings will open the holiday season with “A Christmas Festival” at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Navarre United Methodist Church and at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Wright Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach. The concerts are free with a love offering taken. Call 939-6552.

Dinner Theater
2nd Acts interdenominational drama group presents “Such a Night as This” at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5, 6 and 7 at Grace Lutheran in Destin.
Tickets are $10 and now on sale. Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance. Call 650-3303, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Santa at Silver Sands
Santa flies into Silver Sands at noon Dec. 6 on AIRHeart Helicopter. Children dress in holiday costumes and join the parade to the Courtyard for refreshments and photos. Proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast.

Holiday Doggy Fashion Show
The fifth annual Holiday Doggy Fashion Show will be from at 2 p.m. Dec. 6 in Center Plaza at Destin Commons. Registration is from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Have your family dog strut his stuff in his best holiday outfit. Prizes awarded. Registration fee is $5/dog with proceeds benefiting local animal organizations.

Christmas Craft Show
A Christmas Craft Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Destin Community Center. More than 40 vendors will display their crafts. Admission is free. Call 654-5184.

The Dirty Santa Ball
The Seaside Repertory Theatre will host The Dirty Santa Ball featuring Hotwire! at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Carillon Beach Ballroom.
Bid on designer Christmas trees decorated by nationally renowned designers and participate in the Dirty Santa raffle purchasing $5 tickets to win one of more than 20 great holiday prizes.
Tickets are $100; VIP tables for eight $1,000. Dress is semi-formal; ugly sweaters welcome.
For tickets and information, call 231-0733.

Christmas Tour of Homes
Stroll through time at the 18th annual Tour of Homes from 9 .m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in DeFuniak Springs. Tickets are $18.75/adults and $7.50/children 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased day of tour from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The DeFuniak Springs Visitors Center on Circle Drive and The Big Store on Baldwin Avenue. Call 892-3191.

Choral Society of Pensacola
The Choral Society of Pensacola presents the holiday classic Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, 13660 Innerarity Point Rd.
Messiah will feature the 60 singers of the Choral Society of Pensacola, the Choral Society of Pensacola Orchestra and four guest soloists — Carla Connors, soprano; Leslie Heffner, alto; Randall Black, tenor; and David Okerlund, bass.
Tickets are $15 for reserved seating, $12 general admission, and $5 for students. Call (850) 484-1806 to purchase tickets in advance or to inquire about group rates.
Tickets will be available at the door.

“Christmas on the Coast”
The Pensacola Children’s Chorus will present its annual production of “Christmas on the Coast” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Tickets may be purchased at the Civic Center Box Office, 432-0800, all TicketMaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at (850) 434-7444. Prices are $17, $27 and $29.

Holiday Food & Wine Walkbout
The Destin Rotary Club will present its 6th annual Food & Holiday Wine Walkabout from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 7. Legendary’s HarborWalk Village and Emerald Grande will host the charity event.
The event is open to the public and will host food tastings from area restaurants, paired with premium wines from the South’s leading wine distributors, all for a $40 ticket donation with proceeds benefiting The Destin Rotary Scholarship Fund and other educational projects.

Sounds of the Season Christmas concert
The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will present its annual Christmas concert, Sounds of the Season “One Night, One Child” at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Village Baptist Church in Destin.
A 160-member community choir representing five local Destin churches will collaborate with sacred and Christmas classics for this holiday concert, including the Village Baptist Children’s Choir.
Destin United Methodist Church, Destin Assembly, First Baptist Church, Grace Lutheran Church and Village Baptist Church will perform on stage with special musical soloists, quartets and ensembles.
Admission is a donation of a new unwrapped child’s toy to be distributed among the participating church’s outreach ministry to less fortunate children. A love offering will benefit the Tom Rappazini Scholarship Fund.
Call 650-2226 or visit online at www.mattiekellyartsfoundation.org

“Christmas Countdown”
The Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus presents its Christmas production of “Christmas Countdown” at 8 p.m. Dec. 12; 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 13; and 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Fort Walton Beach Municipal Auditorium.
Tickets can be purchased at PS Gifts in Fort Walton Beach; Diamond Works in Mary Esther; Connect with Flowers in Shalimar; Bayou Books in Niceville; and My Favorite Things in the Market Shops at Sandestin. Admission is $12 adults and $10 seniors and children.

Freeport Live Nativity
The third annual Freeport Live Nativity will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 19-21 on the lawn in front of the gazebo at Hammock Bay’s Town Center. Call 835-9824 or 502-9918.

Christmas Parade
The City of Destin’s 23rd annual Christmas Parade will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 13. The floats will start at Downtown Destin Shopping Center and travel down U.S. 98 to Stahlman Avenue. For those who wish to put a float in the parade, applications are free and available at the Destin Community Center. Applications must be turned in no later than Dec. 5. This year’s theme is “Holly Jolly Christmas.” Call 654-5184.

Breakfast with Santa
The 11th annual Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by the Van R. Butler Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 13 at the school in Santa Rosa Beach. Cost is $6 per person in advance or $7 at the door.
Santa will arrive at 9 a.m. on a South Walton Fire Department fire truck to visit with the children. Be sure to bring a camera.
The event is a fundraiser focused on fun for the entire family with breakfast cooked and served by the Butler dads, crafts for children and a chance to bid on gingerbread houses and silent auction baskets.

Destin Boat Parade
The Destin History and Fishing Museum will host the Holiday on the Harbor-Destin Boat Parade Dec. 14. Festivities will be held that afternoon all along the harbor and the parade will start at 6 p.m.
Entry forms are available at the Museum, Destin Community Center, City Hall, Destin Chamber and at many harbor businesses or visit www.destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org. Call 837-6611.

Peter White Christmas
Peter White Christmas will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. Tickets available at 729-6000 or on-line at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.