Destin, Florida – As Fort Walton Beach and Destin reveal an active calendar of Christmas 2024 celebrations, the holiday mood is taking over the Emerald Coast. Full of classic appeal and modern, interesting events, the schedule guarantees a variety of celebrations catered to both residents and visitors.
With the “Light Up The Night” Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, the season formally started in Fort Walton Beach. The ceremony commenced at Fort Walton Beach Landing Park with tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.
Monday, December 2 will see the Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade lighting the community with holiday cheer. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the parade will run Eglin Parkway from First Street to Hughes Street. Winter Sports, the year’s topic, should infuse creative floats and energetic acts, so revitalizing the annual legacy. Visitors and residents are urged to line the parkway and enjoy the celebrations.
Including a nostalgic element, Saturday, December 7 will be the Old Fashioned Christmas celebration held in the Camp Walton Schoolhouse. With butter churning and traditional décor, this open house at the Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center provides a window into a bygone past. Families will find this ideal trip since all Heritage Park museums have free entrance and Temple Mound Museum offers special savings.
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The 2024 Winter Wonderland at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds will transform the space on December 6 and 7 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening. Designed by the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, this event showcases a village of Christmas homes constructed from repurposed pallets and adorned by neighborhood organizations.
Youngsters can have bouncy houses, Gellyball, and Santa and the Grinch visits. A new project lets kids decorate igloo dog houses, which will be given to nearby animal shelters. New toys or pet supplies will earn participants raffle tickets, which will be used to assist Emerald Coast Toys for Tots as well as Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
The Santa’s Firehouse Cruz-Thru Toy Drive will be held Saturday, December 14, at Fort Walton Beach Fire Department. By donating new, unwrapped toys, this event offers unique opportunity to drive through the fire station, meet firemen, and help the welfare of nearby children.
Destin, with its own Christmas Parade on December 14, is not going to be overshadowed. Celebrating the city’s 40th birthday, Stahlman Avenue will be the destination for the procession from the Destin Methodist Church under their “Flashback to 1984” theme. To take in the procession, spectators are advised to assemble on the north side of Harbor Boulevard.
The Holly Jolly at the Harbor and Holiday Boat Parade on Sunday, December 15 will wrap the holiday celebrations in Destin. Celebrated at Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park, the event offers hot chocolate from 3 to 5 p.m., seasonal music, kid-friendly crafts, cookie decorating, and Starting at six p.m., the Lighted Boat Parade will follow with an amazing fireworks show at Harborwalk Village.
The Destin Library welcomes families to a unique Brunch with Santa on Saturday, December 7, from 10:30 a.m. till noon. Capturing the happy attitude of the season, this free event will offer a warm environment for youngsters to see Santa and enjoy a festive brunch.
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The holiday celebrations at Fort Walton Beach and Destin this year are meant to promote community pride and enjoy the seasonal delight across all ages, so guaranteeing that the Emerald Coast shines brilliantly this Christmas.
