Jingle All the Way to the Forgotten Coast for Festive Holiday Events

December is almost here, and we’re getting ready to deck the halls across Franklin County. After all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year on Florida’s Forgotten Coast!

From late November through December, our coastal communities host a bounty of festive, family-friendly holiday events. From tree lightings and parades to lighthouse climbs and Christmas concerts, these gleeful activities are sure to get you into the spirit of the season.

We hope you’ll join us for some or all of these jolly holiday events:

Apalachicola Christmas Celebration

Friday, November 29
Join us in historic downtown Apalachicola for an old-fashioned Christmas celebration! Presented by the Apalachicola Chamber of Commerce, the Apalachicola Christmas Celebration lights up the day after Thanksgiving at 4 pm. During this exciting event, the streets will be lined with luminaries, carolers will fill the air with seasonal melodies and the entire town will be overflowing with holiday spirit. Our guest of honor will arrive at Riverfront Park by shrimp boat at 4 pm—yes, we’re talking about SANTA! Good St. Nick will be at the park all evening to hear all the children’s Christmas wishes.

Apalachicola’s shops will stay open late for the festivities, and The Orman House Museum & The Raney House Museum will be decorated for Christmas and open for tours. Check out this year’s “Tide & Seek” oyster shell painting booth as well as the “Santa Says…Read” booth, which will provide an age appropriate book for each and every child who visits Santa. We hope you’ll be there with jingle bells on!

Small Business Saturday

November 30
When the Thanksgiving feast is over, it’s time to kick off your holiday shopping! Why fight crowds at the mall or big box stores when you can find unforgettable gifts in a relaxed setting here on the Forgotten Coast? From Apalachicola and St. George Island to Carrabelle and Eastpoint, you’ll discover an array of charming boutiques, antique stores and art galleries brimming with rare treasures, handmade goodies and one-of-a-kind holiday presents.

All Franklin County communities will be participating in the Small Business Saturday campaign on November 30. This holiday season, we encourage residents and visitors to SHOP LOCAL, SHOP SMALL! Come on down to the Forgotten Coast to take advantage of phenomenal sales and promotions on Small Business Saturday.

Santa’s Lighted Golf Cart Parade

St. George Island, Thursday, December 5
Join us with your golf cart for the Santa’s Lighted Golf Cart Parade on St. George Island. Decorate and light up your carts for this festive event.

Palm Tree Lighting

St. George Island’s Lighthouse Park, Thursday, December 5
Ready to light up your Christmas spirit? Join us at St. George Island’s Lighthouse Park on Thursday, December 5 to view the festive display of holiday lights on the Cape St. George Lighthouse, Visitor Center and along Franklin Boulevard. This fun-filled event will feature games for the kiddos, face painting, carolers, hotdogs and cookies, visits with Santa plus the lighting of the palms around dusk.

Super Santa Sales Event

St. George Island, Friday, December 6 – Sunday, December 8
Get ready for Super Sales on St. George Island. Participating businesses will have fantastic Christmas Sales all weekend long. As an added Super Santa Bonus, free gift wrapping will be available daily from 1 PM until 4 PM for items purchased on the Island during this event (receipt required). Below is the schedule for locations for gift wrapping:

• Friday – The Beach Pit
• Saturday – Doc Myers Grill
• Sunday – Harry A’s

Eastpoint Christmas Celebration

Friday, December 6
Head down to Franklin County on Friday, December 6 for the annual Eastpoint Christmas Celebration. This joyful parade kicks off at 4 pm behind Seller’s Plaza, runs down Highway 98 and takes a right at Fisherman’s Choice. The parade ends at Eastpoint Pavilion, where Santa will be waiting with yummy treats and toys for all the good girls and boys.

Holiday Fresh Market in Apalachicola

Saturday, December 7
Searching for unique holiday gifts and goodies for those special folks on your list? That’s exactly what you’ll find at the Holiday Fresh Market! Presented by the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce, the holiday market allows shoppers to browse in a hassle-free environment in a beautiful, outdoor setting. Buy hand crafted Apalachicola specialties, such as baked goodies, artwork, wood carvings, pottery and hand knitted goods. It’s one-stop holiday shopping!

INConcert Series: Tallahassee Bach Parley

Apalachicola Trinity Episcopal Church, Sunday, December 8
Catch the holiday spirit at A Baroque Era Christmas, the first concert of the Ilse Newell 2019-2020 season. During this moving musical performance, The Tallahassee Bach Parley will perform French Noels by Michel Corrette and Marc-Antoine Charpentier, the “Christmas Concerto” by Arcangelo Corelli and a Christmas sonata by Georg Muffat. A reception will be held at Trinity’s Benedict Hall after the show.

Holiday Full Moon Lighthouse Climb

Carrabelle’s Crooked River Lighthouse, Thursday, December 12
The Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle will host a special Holiday Full Moon & Sunset Lighthouse Climb on Thursday, December 12 at 5-7 pm. Climb to the top of the tallest lighthouse on the Forgotten Coast to take in breathtaking views of the bay under the glow of the sunset and the rising full moon.

The Crooked River Lighthouse will also host a Holiday Open House during this event. Enjoy holiday shopping, hot cider and other refreshments in the gift shop and listen to live music with Afro-Cuban drumming by “Cinco Mas Cervezas.” It’s certain to be an unforgettable holiday experience!

Holiday on the Harbor

Carrabelle Riverfront, Saturday, December 14
You don’t want to miss this favorite Forgotten Coast Christmas event! Sail down to Holiday on the Harbor in downtown Carrabelle to enjoy seasonal music and holiday shopping at our downtown shops and festival vendors. Grab dinner at one of our fabulous local restaurants and treat yourself to decadent goodies from our vendors. Throughout this merry celebration, there will be tons of fun holiday activities for the little ones, including visits with Santa. At dark-30, watch the Boat Parade of Lights along the Carrabelle River followed by a dazzling Fireworks Show Finale.

INConcert Series: Bay Area Choral Society

Trinity Episcopal Church, Sunday, December 15
If you’re a fan of the Christmas classics, mark your calendar for December 15 at the Trinity Episcopal Church. This special Bay Area Choral Society concert will feature familiar holiday harmonies, including “O Come, O Come Emanuel,” “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” “Still, Still, Still/The First Noel” and others. The program will conclude with Frederic Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” A reception will be held at Trinity’s Benedict Hall immediately after the concert.

Ready to catch the Christmas spirit on Florida’s Forgotten Coast? Plan your holiday getaway today.