CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST 2016 (Dec. 7)
“Oh, by gosh, by golly, It’s time for mistletoe and holly …”
Holiday Concert Series
Listen to favorite holiday classics, see a festive light show and visit with Ole' St. Nick from 7-9 p.m. Dec. 7, 14 and 21 on the Events Plaza Stage at Baytowne Wharf. Event is free.
Visit with Santa
Kids, bring your wish list and visit with Santa Claus on HarborWalk Village’s main stage and receive a special treat from 12-4 p.m. Dec. 10-11, 17-18.
A Dickens Christmas
Emerald Coast Theatre Company will present its revised holiday show “A Dickens Christmas, A Ghostly Story,” throughout weekends in December. The production opens Thursday, Dec. 8, and runs through Saturday, Dec. 24, at the new ECTC performance space, 560 Grand Boulevard, Upstairs, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Matinees are 2 p.m. Sundays. A Saturday matinee performance designated for special needs families is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. and a special Saturday matinee has been added for Saturday, Dec. 24 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $15 for students. Not recommended for children under 5. To purchase tickets or make a tax-deductible donation, visit emeraldcoasttheatre.org or call 850-684-0323.
Holiday Pops
The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra's 30th Season continues with the annual Holiday Pops concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Mainstage Theater of the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center in Niceville. Ring in the season with all your holiday favorites as the NFSO is joined by the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale, NWF State College Madrigal Singers and Belle Voci Women's Ensemble. Tickets are $25 and $18 with NWFSC students eligible for one free ticket on a space available basis.
Breakfast with Santa
Ring in holiday cheer and have breakfast with Santa Claus from 8-11 a.m. Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18 at Grande Vista Bar and Grill at the Emerald Grande. For reservations, ring 424-0621.
Annual Christmas Parade
The City of Destin’s 32nd Annual Christmas Parade will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 10. This year's theme is “A Fishing Village Christmas.” Floats will start at Downtown Destin Shopping Center (Old Time Pottery) and travel west down Harbor Boulevard (Hwy. 98) to Stahlman Avenue. Please stand on the north side of Harbor Boulevard to watch the floats.
Breakfast with Santa
A benefit breakfast will be held from 8:30-10 a.m. Dec. 10 at The Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard Bistro in Miramar Beach. Fifty percent of all sales will go to Food For Thought Outreach. Children will receive a free small keepsake photo with Santa. Email contact@howardhsp.com for more information.
The Niceville Christmas Lady
The Christmas Lady’s annual show, “Animation in Motion” is open once again in the old K-Mart building, 1140 E John Sims Parkway in Niceville. The show is open from 6-9 p.m., 7 days a week through Dec. 27.
This year’s show features several new theater sets and backdrops along with live performances by local talent, Christmas karaoke, character actors, storytellers and, of course, Santa. Our collections of animated dolls, nutcrackers, angels and the miniature Christmas Village all have new additions for you to explore. And don’t forget the trains. Most importantly, at the center of the whole display is the central story of Christmas — the birth of Jesus.
Taste of the Holidays
Whole Foods Market store will host a festive Taste of the Holidays sampling event to savor the season from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10. Holiday favorites across all departments, as well as a mix of healthy holiday options, seasonal wines and specialty coffees will be available to sample.
Smooth Jazz and Jingle Bells
"A Peter White Christmas," the annual smooth jazz holiday show, is set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWFSC in Niceville. All seats are reserved, with front section seating at $80 and general admission $40. Order online at www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org, Seabreeze.fm or call 729-6000.
Holiday Bazaar ArtWalk
The Market Shops at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort hosts the Holiday Bazaar ArtWalk from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 10. Held in conjunction with the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, the inaugural ArtWalk will include an artist marketplace, live music by the Fort Walton Beach High School Valhalla Choir, shopping and dining with Market Shops merchants and children’s activities. The Market Shops will come alive with artists displaying and selling their original, handmade quality pieces.
12 Nights of Lights
Enjoy a festive light show every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. through Dec. 30 in the Events Plaza at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.
Billy Claus and The LuLuBelles
Enjoy a memorable family holiday experience at LuLu’s Second Annual Billy Claus and The LuLuBelles free event at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at LuLu's Restaurant at the foot of the Mid-Bay Bridge. Billy Claus is Santa’s warm weather-loving brother who lives in the Caribbean but comes this way to help Santa during the holiday season. The LuLuBelles are Billy’s version of Santa’s elves.
Billy will visit with the children to hear their wish list to pass on to Santa. Billy and the LuLuBelles will be available for photos with the children. In addition to kid’s arts and crafts activities, there will also be a reading of Billy Claus and the Spirit of Christmas children’s book written by Lucy Buffett.
30th Annual Destin Harbor Boat Parade
The Destin harbor will be dancing with holiday lights and cheer during the annual Destin Harbor Boat Parade beginning at 6 p.m. Dec. 11.
Holiday Harbor Hop
For a $5 donation or more to Food For Thought, guests will hop Dec. 11 to three of the harbor’s restaurants on a complimentary shuttle provided by Sunshine Shuttle and Limousine. Each stop will include live music, food and drink specials. Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House will be the first stop from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with live music by Continuum, followed by AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar from 1:30-3:30 p.m. with live music by Austin Jennings, and finally Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer from 4-6 p.m. with live music by Justin Yawn. The Hop ends with the Harbor boat Parade.
Jazz Concert
The Northwest Florida State College Jazz Ensemble presents its fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Mainstage Theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at the college's Niceville Campus. Admission is free with no ticket required. Theater doors open at 7 p.m. The ensemble will perform a variety of traditional and new jazz favorites as well as holiday selections.
Rocky Mountain Christmas Show
James Garrett performs his special Rocky Mountain Christmas Show, a Tribute to John Denver, at 8 p.m. Dec. 14-23 at The Rockett Theater on the second level of HarborWalk Village. Tickets are $25/adults with kids 12 and under free. Group rates for 15 or more are $15/each. For concert and ticket information, call 417-527-6598. Tickets will also be available at the door one hour before showtime.
Christmas Luncheon
The Fort Walton Panhellenic's Annual Christmas Luncheon will be held at11:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at 790 on the Gulf, 2996 Scenic Hwy. 98 at Crystal Beach Drive. Ordering from the menu. RSVP at 678-640-1146 or 862-0327 by Dec. 13.
Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Annual Holiday Concert
The Manhattan Transfer headlines Sinfonia’s annual holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Destiny Worship Center and features orchestral arrangements of seasonal classics paired with exhilarating vocals. Tickets are $45 for preferred (floor) seating and $29.50 for balcony. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call 460-8800.
Children's Fiesta
United for a Good Cause Inc., a tax exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization, hosts its 12th Annual “Emerald Coast Christmas Miracle” Needy Children’s Fiesta from 2-7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island. The event will be a fun-filled “Latin-Flavored” party open to needy children and families regardless of race, ethnicity or creed. Activities for families with special needs kids will be held from 1–2 p.m., providing them an opportunity to enjoy the activity before the general public comes in.
Everything will be free at this party including new toys for all that attend, food, games, DJs, singers, church choirs, clowns, magicians, dance contests for bikes and more. Free coats courtesy of the United Way’s “Coats for Kids” program will also be given out. Santa and his hard-working group of elves will all be there to ensure all the kids get a new toy. Visit www.unitedforagoodcause.org or call 368-3505 for information.
Arts and Crafts Christmas Market
The Arts & Design Society's members host their annual Arts and Crafts Christmas Market through Dec. 17 at the Art Center, 17 First Street, SE, in Fort Walton Beach. An assortment of gifts, including jewelry, paintings, clay works, decorations, photographs, and note cards, are all created by the members. Visit http://artsdesignsociety.org. or call 244-1271.
HH Arts Christmas Market
HH Arts will hold its Arts and Crafts Christmas Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 23 at 100 Beal Parkway SW in Fort Walton Beach. There will be a variety of art, jewelry, ornaments, cards, photographs, clay works, concrete, mosaic and crushed glass picks and driftwood/glass mobiles all created by local artists from the Emerald Coast. Call 218-2155.
Holiday Baking
A Holiday Baking Class, led by Chef Jim Shirah, will be held for ages 8-14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21 at the Destin Community Center. The fee is $40/residents and $50/non-residents. Each student will learn how to bake and take home several holiday cookies, treats, and more. Please register early or call 654-5184 for more information.
Community Dinner
Destin United Methodist Church will hold its 3rd annual Christmas Day Community Dinner at noon Dec. 25 at 200 Beach Drive. Walmart provides the turkeys; Publix the hams. Bertulo’s, La Famiglia, 790, Fudpuckers, Harbor Docks and Crab Island Cantina provide the dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, mac & cheese and salad.
New Year's Eve Street Party
Dine, drink and dance into the New Year throughout HarborWalk Village from 6 p.m. Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1. Enjoy live music in the restaurants as well as two firework shows and the 9th Annual Ball Drop descending over the harbor.
Baytowne Countdown
The Village of Baytowne Wharf will rock in the New Year with a free end-of-the year celebration. Our family-friendly early evening starts from 6-8 p.m. with face painting, kids activities, and a fireworks display at 8 p.m. Ring in 2017 with an evening to remember, with two breathtaking fireworks displays and dance the night away with live music till 1 a.m.
Geek Lights on the Corner
The Christmas lights and music show performances will be held through Jan. 1 at the corner of Bluewater Boulevard and Antiqua Way in Bluewater Bay. Shows begin on the hour and half hour starting at 6 p.m. with the last show starting at 9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Donations will benefit the United Service Organization (USO) Northwest Florida. Check FaceBook.com/GeekLightsOnTheCorner for up-to-date information.