Eating holiday foods, watching holiday shows and visiting Santa are just a few of the ways you can make the holidays special. Here’s your guide to some of the holiday events in this area going on through the end of this month.
The Landing Tree Lighting Ceremony (on Friday, November 24th at 7PM) will be the 20th held in the Jacksonville Landing’s center courtyard. The 10-year-old son of the Landing’s owner picked this year’s tree from a farm in Sugar Mountain, North Carolina. Jacksonville citizens voted to determine the color of the lights on the tree, which will remain a well kept secret until the night of the ceremony. Mayor John Payton and Bonnie Sleiman have the honor of lighting the tree. A child’s chorus and orchestra from the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts will entertain. The evening will be rounded off by a spectacular display of fireworks, courtesy of the city. You’ll also want to visit the Landing on Saturday the 25th for the Annual Light Boat Parade. Watch as the dazzling boats, decked out in holiday style, pass you by.
Check out the glittering display at the St. Augustine Nights of Lights (November18th - January 31st). More than two million tiny white lights glow along the ancient streets. Call (904) 825-1004 for more info or just go to the website at www.visitoldcity.com.
First Coast Winter Lights (weekends till December 31st) features about one-mile of lighted Christmas magic. You can drive the route and listen to Christmas music on a special FM station. The Reynolds Park Yacht Center (Green Cove Springs) will also be presenting a holiday village as part of First Coast Winter Lights. Expect live reindeer, an ice-rink, a maze, large screen movies, a marshmallow roast, a chance to visit with Santa and much more.
It opens from dusk to 10:30 PM beginning Thanksgiving weekend, November 23rd - 26th, and succeeding weekends through the end of the year. Admission is $18 per car and tickets will be available at area Wachovia Bank branches and at the gate. Reynolds Park is on Florida 16, east of U.S. 17 on the south end of Green Cove Springs.
Amelia Island Plantation will host its annual Holiday Light Celebration on November 24th from 6 to 9 PM by the Spa & Shops at Amelia Island Plantation. Santa will arrive to light more than 30,000 holiday lights. Get cozy in a carriage ride, sip cocoa, beer or wine as you relish a night of entertainment and holiday cheer.
Santa and Mrs. Claus on San Marco Square are a featured part of the Holiday Magic (December 1st) event in the San Marco area. Festivities commence at 4PM, but Santa and Mrs. Claus don’t make their appearance until 6PM. Children will be able to get their photo taken with Santa until 9PM. There will be seasonal dessert samplings from the area’s restaurants, carolers, carriage rides, complimentary gift wrapping and much more.
Santa’s Big Red Christmas Train will be part of the St. Augustine Nights of Lights. It’s a special sightseeing excursion that offers holiday music and a city tour. Go to www.redtrains.com for more information on the various tours and tour costs or call (904) 829-6545.
If you’re looking for a bit of that gingerbread holiday spirit, look no further than the Southside Rotary’s Gingerbread House Extravaganza (Wednesdays from November 22nd to January 5th). The gingerbread display is located at the Avenues Mall, just outside of Dillard’s within the mall. Admission will be a donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children (3 to 16), children two and under are admitted free. Proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House, HabiJax and the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville Charities. For more information visit the web site at www.rotarycharity.org.
On the Nutcracker Tour of Homes (November 24th-December 3rd from noon to 4PM daily) you’ll have the chance to view six lavishly decorated World Golf Village homes.
There are three home and architecture centered tours in St. Augustine. First, enjoy dreams of Christmas past at the Homes for the Holidays Nights of Lights Tour (November 22- December 31). For reservations call (904) 823-9722 or email msstaugvil@bellsouth.net. November 24th through January 27th, you can experience the Nights of Lights Heritage Tour in enclosed comfort with narration by well-trained guides. For reservations call (904) 825-0087 or (904)829-1122. See the oldest surviving Spanish Colonial house during Holidays at the Oldest House (from November 24 – January 7). For more information call (904) 824-2872 or visit www.oldesthouse.org.
Stop by the Mayberry Momma Book Signing (November 25th 2-4PM) for the first book signing of The Mayberry Momma’s Food for the Soul and Body at the beautiful, historic Inn on Charlotte in St. Augustine. The owner of the Inn, Lynne Fairfield, will be cooking a selected recipe from the book for guests to enjoy. The book is $17.50. Call (904) 829-3819 for more info.
Why not relax this year and take your family to Thanksgiving Dinner at the Casa Marina Hotel. As usual, it’s lavish, but at only $34.95 it beats cooking at home. Children 5-10 are half price and children under 5 eat free. Enjoy a gorgeous view of the Atlantic on the outdoor Verandah or take a seat in the Grand Dining Room. For more info call (904) 270-0025.
The Christmas murder mystery, A Christmas to Die For, will be on stage at Professor Plum’s Playhouse on Blanding through December 30th. Call (904) 772-7707 for reservations.
If song revues get you in the mood for the holidays, you should get a ticket for Marie Osmond’s Magic of Christmas, which will be here for one night only on November 30th. Tickets are $25.00 to $55.00 plus applicable service charge, presented by the FCCJ Artist Series. Charge by Phone (904) 632-3373 or order online at www.artistseries.fccj.org. For more details about the show read story on page 19.
Jacksonville Beaches Fine Art Show (December 2nd -3rd 10AM-5PM) at Latham Plaza in Jacksonville Beach across from City Hall, will be showcasing some of the established artists in the area. Tim Bullard (potter), Kim Coy (jewelry artist), Ed Kitzis (watercolors), Heather Blanton (photography), Kathy Frosio (acrylics) and many more will be displaying and selling their works. The art show will include a collection drive for Toys for Tots. Attendees are encouraged to donate a new toy for a deserving child in the Jacksonville area.
Take a trip to St. Augustine for the annual Fall Arts & Crafts Festival on November 25th through the 26th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Start your holiday shopping by perusing the booths featuring art made from lace to limestone and crayons to crystal. For more information call (904) 824-2310.
Callahan Lions Club annual Turkey Shoots are 7 PM Saturdays through November 25th at the clubhouse on U.S. 301. For more information, call (904) 879-3737.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving! For events starting in December, pick up this paper next week for our special holiday events issue.
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