New Year’s Eve at Wakulla Springs

Ring in the New Year with pizzaz at The Lodge at Wakulla Springs this Saturday! From 5:30 PM – 12 AM, The Lodge will be hosting an exclusive New Year’s Eve celebration. There will be live music by Hot Tamale and Garnet & Soul. Additionally, a delectable menu will be offered including firecracker shrimp, filet au poivre, chocolate lava cake, and more!

The price is $70 per person (plus tax & gratuities) to enjoy the entirety of the event including the full menu. However, there is also a $25 option that includes the music, ambiance, and small bites. Call 855-632-4559 to RSVP today! Visit the Facebook event page here for more information. 

Countdown Downtown

Looking for some family fun to ring in the new year? Come to Cascades Park Amphitheater for Countdown Downtown! Starting at 6pm on December 31st, the festival has TWO separate fireworks shows. The 7pm showing is perfect for families with young children. The 9:45pm show is perfect for all ages. There will also be live music, food trucks, activities, a photo booth, and more. Beverages are allowed but please note the event is BYOB. The event is FREE to everyone but bring cash/card for the food trucks and activities. Visit the event website HERE for more information. 

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. 

Christmas City

Today is the last day of Christmas City by Sunland Center. From 6-8 PM tonight, visit Sunland Ranch in Marianna to enjoy a night of Christmas lights, live entertainment, food vendors, and wagon tours. Sunland is asking for a $5 donation per car to help fund the Christmas City event. For more information, contact them by phone at (850) 482-9373. 

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!