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.
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.
