Today is a national day created to remind families to recycle their Christmas trees rather than burning them or tossing them on the curb. One way is to search Earth911’s recycling solution to see where you can recycle a tree near you. You can also be sure to make use of each part of the tree. Strip the pine needles to use the wood after allowing it to thoroughly dry out; you can use the wood for fires, carving, and more crafts. Even the pine needles themselves can be utilized! Collect the needles, place them in a large bowl filled with cold water, and gently rub the needles to wash off dust and other debris. You can then use the needles to make sprite-flavored natural soda or tea! Visit Ms Shi & Mr He’s pine needle recipe page here for details, warnings, and recipes!
Category: Arts & Crafts
30A Farmers’ Market
The last 30A Farmers’ Market will be next Thursday, December 29th. Come by Rosemary Beach for an end-of-the-year holiday market. It will run from 9 am to 1 pm. Please note that the market will be CLOSED on December 25th and January 1st. Follow the Facebook market page here for more information on 30A in 2023.
Candy Land Christmas
Come out to the Watersound Town Center Farmers Market this Friday, December 23rd for Candy Land Christmas! From 5:30-7:30 PM, there will be a plethora of family-friendly holiday activities for everyone to enjoy while completing last-minute holiday shopping. There will be a Santa meet and greet, face painting, train rides, a bounce house, slides, hot cocoa, food trucks, live music, and more! The market itself will feature clothing, jewelry, gifts, and more. Be sure to bring cash and card for purchasing.
A Hanukkah Celebration!
Join James Weldon Johnson Park, Gili’s Kitchen, Catering and Bakery, and the Jacksonville Jewish Center for their annual celebration of Hanukkah and its related traditions. Totally Lit! A Hanukkah Celebration will be hosted in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. There will be live music, storytelling, crafts, dreidel games, traditional baked treats like sufganiyot, and the lighting of the Memorah. Beer and kosher wine will be available for adults. Totally Lit! will be held on December 20th at James Weldon Johnson Park from 4:30-7:30pm. The Menorah lighting ceremony will be at approximately 6:30pm.
The event is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit the Facebook event page HERE for more information.
Jingle Bell Express
This upcoming weekend is your last chance to ride the Jingle Bell Express in Panama City. On Friday and Saturday evening, the Express will be taking visitors between Historic Downtown Panama City and St. Andrews. The Jingle Bell Express will run from 5-8 PM each night, with various pick-up and drop-off points in Downtown and St. Andrews. The Express is FREE and family-friendly! Each passenger is gifted with a cookie made from scratch by the local bakery, Who’s Got Time. The Panama City A Capelle Chorus will be singing carols on the Express, and visitors are encouraged to join in. The ride will feature gorgeous views along Beach Drive; keep an eye out for historic houses decked out for the holidays and the beauty of Christmas lights reflecting on the water. Explore both St. Andrews and Downtown to enjoy light displays, horse-drawn carriages, Christmas parades, and local shops filled with holiday cheer.
Cottondale Christmas Festival
The annual Cottondale Christmas Festival is here! Today from 10am to 2pm, come down to the quaint town of Cottondale for a fun family event. The parade will begin at 10am for viewers. The lineup will take place on Thomas Rd. beginning at 9 am., pulling out onto Willow Street., then turning left on HWY 90 parading in front of Cottondale High School. The Festival will run from 11am – 2pm at the Community Center. There will be inflatables, games, Santa, crafts, music, and food!
Call (850) 352-4361 or visit the City of Cottondale website here with questions or to learn more.
Sneads Christmas Parade
The Classic Christmas Memories Parade is happening tomorrow at 4pm! There will be a Santa’s mailbox set up at City Hall, so parents be sure to have your kids get their letters written. There will also be an opportunity to hand let’s directly to Santa himself after the parade. A table will be set up for kids to write letters at the parade itself.
After the parade, hang out and enjoy the Sneads parade festival, or head over to Three Rivers State Park for their annual Vintage Campers display. Entry to the Vintage Campers show is $3 per vehicle. The event will feature cool vintage campers, crafters, and artisans. If you decide to hang out in Sneads, there will be plenty of fun to be hand! The Parade Festival includes free hotdogs, chips, and drinks. There will also be a countdown to the lighting of the Town of Snead’s Christmas tree. Kids activities such as a bounce house, connect four, blow-up basketball, an arts & crafts station, and more will be available. Parents don’t forget to bring your cameras for those pictures with Santa!
Christmas Arts & Crafts in the Park
This coming Saturday, December 10th, is the annual Christmas Arts and Crafts in the Park. Held at Dorothy B. Oven Park in Tallahassee, the show features all handmade arts and crafts by local vendors. There are still vendor spots available; email artsandcraftsinthepark@gmail.com for a vendor application. Admission to this craft show is FREE. Please know that they are collecting canned and staple foods at the event for a local food pantry. The event will run from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM (CST). Stay up-to-date with the event by responding to the Facebook event page here.
The Elfin’ Craft Show
Coming soon to the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, The Elfin’ Craft Show!
When: December 10th from 10AM to 4PM
There will be food trucks, over 75+ local vendors, live music feat. DJ Felix, arts & crafts, and more! Come get your holiday shopping started and enjoy a lovely Florida winter day. Entry and parking are FREE for this event. Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page here.
Christmas Around the World in Monticello
Come out to the “Most Haunted Small Town in the U.S.” on December 2nd for their annual Monticello’s Downtown Christmas. The town leaves its spooky past in October and creates a fantastical winter wonderland event every December. The only city in Jefferson County, Monticello hosts this annual festival to welcome visitors and thrill local residents. The theme of this year’s event is “Christmas Around the World.” There will be festivities happening all day including the Christmas Light parade, tree lighting, visits with Santa, live entertainment, vendor marketplace, and a kids’ village! Local shops and restaurants will also be open for business. Come out and enjoy the ambiance of a small-town winter holiday! Learn more by visiting the Monticello Downtown Christmas website here.