Tis the Season: Your Christmas Calendar
Holiday Lights in Concert
The Holiday Lights in Concert spectacular is back at Silver Sands Premium Outlets from 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 1. This visual presentation features a display of colorful lights synchronized to all-time favorite Christmas songs.
Santa’s Arrival
Catch beads, stuffed toys, and candy as Santa makes his grand entrance to the Destin harbor on a Pardi Gras float from 12-4 p.m. Nov. 23 at HarborWalk Village. Kids will enjoy free activities and can visit with Santa Claus while having their picture taken by HD Action Photography. Costumed Dickens storybook characters entertain throughout the day.
Old Time Holiday
Turn on the town and welcome the holidays with caroling, Santa’s arrival and carriage rides at the tree lighting at 6 p.m. Nov. 23 at South Barrett Square in Rosemary Beach. Following the tree lighting, the town center merchants will have refreshments.
Santa Claus Weekend
Bring in the holidays Nov. 23 and 24 at Baytowne Wharf. The Here Comes Santa Claus Weekend includes the annual Village tree lighting, a holiday movie, and, a visit from Santa Claus.
• Nov. 23: A family movie, “Arthur Christmas,” under the stars at 7 p.m. • Nov. 24: Welcome Santa as he lights the Village Christmas Tree at 6 p.m. followed by the choreographed light show, 12 Nights of Lights, and fireworks over the lagoon.
Turn on the Town
The Merchants of Seaside welcome the holidays with events for the entire family on Nov. 23 and 24. Grab your blankets and head down to the Seaside Amphitheater at 7 p.m. Nov. 23 for a holiday edition of Central Square Cinema featuring a Christmas comedy on the lawn.
The annual South Walton Holiday Parade begins at 4 p.m. Nov. 24 in front of Seagrove Plaza and continues down Scenic Highway 30A with holiday floats. The parade ends in Seaside as Santa arrives. Parade participants should meet at the Seagrove Plaza at Garrett Realty no later than 3:15 p.m. with decorated entries.
The celebration continues with Turn on the Town at 5 p.m. as Santa Claus and the kids sing and light the Christmas tree. Take photos with Santa from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
HarborWalk
Celebrate the season at HarborWalk Village with Santa and friends from 12-4 p.m. on the main stage. Enjoy Sweets and Treats with Santa from 9-11 a.m. on Starbucks balcony and make gingerbread and Christmas crafts. Cost $10/adult and $5/child. Children under 3 free. Costumed Dickens Carolers stroll from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A Holiday Show featuring Ron Adams and The Yat Pack begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 24. This event is free and open to the public.
Breakfast with Santa
Bring the kids to Santa’s Workshop from 8-10 a.m. Nov. 24 at Town Hall in Rosemary Beach. Includes a continental, bagged breakfast, a professional color photo with Santa and a special goodie bag from Gigi’s. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
Holiday Market
Get a jump on holiday shopping from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 at booths on Town Center lawns in Rosemary Beach
Hometown Christmas
The 23rd annual Hometown Christmas will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 24 — rain or shine — at the Walton County Fairgrounds on Hwy. 83N. The annual shopping event features activities for children, food, entertainment and hundreds of unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for every taste. For booth space reservations or general information, call 892-7830.
A Coastal Christmas
The City of Fort Walton Beach and the FWB Chamber have joined to provide a festive holiday beginning at 4 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Fort Walton Beach Landing, 139 Brooks Street. Santa will arrive by fire truck for pictures with all the good boys and girls and the City of Fort Walton Beach Dance Department will be on stage with their presentation of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” plus local church and high school choirs.
There will be face painting provided by Fantasea Faces and the City Cares Fundraising Team’s Concession area will have hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn, hot dogs and soft drinks available for purchase. Local businesses are invited to sponsor and decorate a Christmas tree for the Coastal Christmas Festival of Trees. Tree sponsorships are $75/Chamber members; and $100/non-Chamber members per 8 foot live tree, which includes a stand, a sponsorship sign, and a spot at the Landing. Organizations are responsible for decorating their own trees. Decorated trees will be sold, via silent auction bids, to benefit their selected non-profit organizations.
The Holiday Beach Parade returns with two size divisions and prizes will be awarded. Entry forms can be found at fwbchamber.org. There is a $35 entry fee per vessel. Call 833-9575 for more information.
Santa’s arrival
Don’t miss the arrival of Santa at Silver Sands from 12-2 p.m. Dec. 1. Children are invited to greet Santa as he arrives and join in a fun parade to the courtyard by Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th for refreshments and complimentary photos.
Christmas Tour of Homes
Partners in Progress presents its 2012 Annual Christmas Tour of Homes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 in DeFuniak Springs. The tour features five homes and includes a narrated tour aboard the Lil' Trolley which emphasizes Historic Circle Drive and the area around Lake DeFuniak that served as the campus of the original Florida Chautauqua.
Tickets sold day of tour from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at DeFuniak Springs Visitors Center, 1162 Circle Drive. Adults are $18.75+tax; children under 12 are $7.50+tax; babes in arms, free. Call 892-2448.
santafest
Belk’s first-ever santafest will be held from 12-3 p.m. Dec. 3. Customers are invited to bring the kids to their local participating Belk store where they can meet Santa, create a wish list and enter a drawing to win a $50 kids wardrobe with three winners per store.
The festive event will feature holiday crafts and other activities designed especially for kids. Refreshments will be served, including beverages by Keurig, MoonPies and candy canes.
Christmas Open House
The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center will hold its annual Christmas Open House from 12-4 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum. Included are a free admission day, children’s games and crafts, home-baked goodies and other refreshments, local history, and the decorated Camp Walton Schoolhouse which turned 100 years old this year. The Garnier Post Office Museum and Civil War Exhibit building will also be decorated for an old-fashioned celebration. Call 833-9595.
Handel’s Messiah
The Choral Society of Pensacola will perform the holiday classic, Handel’s “Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 3131 Hyde Park Road in Pensacola, and at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Gulf Shores United Methodist Church, 1900 Gulf Shores Parkway.
Tickets are $20/reserved seating and $15/general admission. Student tickets are available only for the concert at St. Paul Catholic Church and are $5. Tickets will be available at the door one hour prior to performance time for both concerts. To purchase tickets, call 484-1806.
Wednesday Night Concerts
Enjoy a special holiday edition of the Concert Series from 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays in December in the Events Plaza at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.
Sounds of the Season
The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will present their annual Christmas concert, Sounds of the Season, at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at Village Baptist Church.
Admission is a donation of an unwrapped child’s toy to be distributed among the participating church’s outreach ministries. A love offering at intermission will benefit the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s “All Kinds of Art” program, a children’s educational outreach for the literary, performing and visual arts.
Call 650-2226 or visit www.mattiekellyartsfoundation.org
Singing Christmas Tree
First Baptist Church of Niceville presents the 27th Singing Christmas Tree, “The Hope of Christmas,” at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 9.
Tickets are for a $1 donation per ticket. Tickets may be obtained at the church office or by mail. Please include your 1st and 2nd choice of presentation, ticket money and a self-addressed stamped envelope when ordering by mail at 622 Bayshore Drive, Niceville, FL 32578. Call 678-4621.
Destin Christmas Parade
The City of Destin hosts its 27th Annual Christmas Parade beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 8 at Downtown Destin Shopping Center at U.S. 98 and Main Street. It will proceed down Harbor Boulevard to Stahlman Avenue. The theme this year is Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Call 654-5184.
Christmas Tour of Homes
The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and Trustmark Bank present a Christmas Tour of Homes from 8-5 p.m. Dec. 8. Kick off the holiday season with a festive tour of selected, beautifully decorated homes in Destin’s gated community of Kelly Plantation off U.S. 98.
The tour begins at the Kelly Plantation Owners’ Clubhouse with light refreshments, Christmas carols sung by the Opus One Choir of Niceville High School and tour map distribution. Patrons can then travel leisurely to enjoy the holiday décor showcased in these homes on tour.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event and can be purchased at www.MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org/tickets.htm or in Destin at Today's Boutique, Kitchenique, Risa's Interiors, McCaskill and Company, Sarah Carolyn; in Fort Walton Beach at PS Gifts; in Niceville at Bayou Books; or at Trustmark Bank branches (Destin, Miramar Beach, Gulf Place and Seagrove Beach). Call 650-2226. Destin Boat Parade
The 26th Holiday on the Harbor Boat Parade begins between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Festivities will be held that afternoon all along the harbor. The parade can be viewed from docks and restaurants from HarborWalk Village. A fireworks show will light up the sky at the end of the boat parade. Call 837-6611.
Elf Ride
The Fifth Annual South Walton Elf Ride begins at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 as participants bike, walk or skateboard from the Seaside Post Office in Seaside to the S.W.F.D. Watercolor Fire Station.. Adults and children meet at 1:30 p.m. Each family is asked to bring at least one gift to benefit the South Walton Fire District’s Angel Tree.
There will be a bike decorating contest, fire truck tours, Santa and refreshments. Bruno’s Pizza will donate pizza to the participants at the WaterColor Fire Station on CR395. Call 502–0017 or email southwaltonelfride@yahoo.com.
A Victorian Christmas
A festive night of Victorian holiday traditions with Christmas carols, jolly dancing, decadent desserts, heavenly wassail and a special visit from Father Christmas will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 in the McIlroy Gallery of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. A Victorian Christmas features the college’s Madrigals Singers, Belle Voci and the NWFSC Dance Ensemble.
Seating is limited. Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased in-person or by phone from the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office at 729-6000. All proceeds go to the NWFSC Fine Arts Scholarship fund. Online ticket sales are not available for this event.
Santa at the Harbor Children can visit with Santa Claus from 12-4 p.m. Dec. 15, 16, 22, and 23 at HarborWalk Village. Pictures are available through HD Action Photography.
Holiday Lantern Parade
The Third annual Baytowne Holiday Lantern Parade will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 with paper lanterns in the shapes of iconic symbols of the holiday season. Individuals and groups are invited to participate by making their own paper lanterns. Sandestin Homeowners will light up their golf carts and join in the fun as they pass by with parade treats. Call 267-8186.
Holiday crafts
The Walton County Extension Office will host a holiday craft event from 3-5 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach. Bring the entire family for an afternoon of fun decoration making. RSVP by Dec. 12 at 892-8172.
The Nutcracker
Ballet Conservatory and Destin School of Music and Dance present the annual production of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 2 p.m. Dec. 22 in the South Walton Beach High School Auditorium, 645 Green Trail in Santa Rosa Beach. The program features more than 80 local dancers.
Order tickets early at www.FloridaBalletConservatory.com or call 837-1133. Tickets are $15/reserved seating and $20/cash only at the door. A Classic Christmas
Bass Pro Shops’ Santa’s Wonderland, A Classic Christmas, returns for its fifth year with a more than 3,500-square foot Christmas village full of games, activities and crafts for the whole family through Dec. 24.
With both animated and live elves, nutcrackers, reindeer and more, the village offers an old-time model train area, remote control trucks, a laser arcade, a soft gun range and slot car racing. Activity tables give children opportunity to write a letter to Santa, color and do fun crafts every day of the week — all free.
Santa will be in residence from 3-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 12-5 p.m. Sundays.