Seaside hosting holiday fun Nov. 25 and 26

November 11, 2011

Enjoy a holiday movie Nov. 25 and then Turn on the Town with parade and Santa Nov. 26

Location: 30A and Seaside Amphitheater

The holidays are a spectacular time to visit the Emerald Coast and Seaside makes it even more special with their annual “Turn on the Town” celebration, November 25th & 26th. The fun includes a beach-themed Christmas parade, the arrival of Santa & Mrs. Claus and the lighting of the entire community. This is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season in beautiful Seaside.

The festivities begin on Friday, November 25th at 7 p.m. with their holiday edition of Central Square Cinema featuring the remake of a family classic Christmas flick guaranteed to have you laughing on the lawn. Grab your blankets and head down to the Seaside Amphitheater with a giant mug of hot cocoa for this holiday movie under the stars.

The holiday fun continues on Sat., Nov. 26th with the Seaside Farmers Market from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The market features a variety of local vendors featuring fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products, native plants and even some special holiday treats. Stop by and see our friends behind Raw & Juicy in the Amphitheater.

Then grab your spot along 30A for the Annual South Walton Christmas Parade. This Seaside and 30A tradition begins at 4:00 PM in front of Seagrove Plaza. Residents and visitors share in the glory as participants march 1.5 miles down Scenic Highway 30A from Seagrove decked in their Christmas best on festive holiday floats. The parade ends in Seaside as we welcome our special guest to town aboard a vintage fire truck.

Parade participants should meet at the Seagrove Plaza at Garrett Realty no later than 3:15 p.m. with decorated entries. Registration for parade participants is required; please visit www.seasidefl.com/holidayparade to download a registration form.

The celebration continues with Turn on the Town at 5 p.m. as  Santa and Mrs. Claus come to the stage in the Seaside Amphitheater. Santa, the master of ceremonies for the evening, will invite all of the kids to join him in front of the stage to have a sing-a-long before magically brightening up the town. Then, the countdown begins in unison to “Turn on the Town” and right on cue the magnificent 24 ft. tree lights up and all of downtown Seaside is illuminated with bright, holiday lights! Following the lighting, make sure bring your camera and have your picture taken with the jolly man from 5:30 – 8 p.m.

In an effort to give back to those who are facing tough times this holiday season, Seaside and the Seaside Associated Stores will be holding a canned food drive to benefit Caring & Sharing of Walton County. The drive begins Wednesday, November 23rd and will run through Sunday, December 18th. For every donation of 5 or more canned food items, the Seaside Associated Stores (Pizitz Home & Cottage, Perspicasity, Seaside Classic, Seaside Beach and Seaside Kids) will extend a coupon for 20% off all regular priced merchandise. This is a great opportunity to help stock the shelves of Caring & Sharing, while at the same time getting an amazing deal on your holiday gifts.

And just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Seaside Farmers Market will offer a special holiday market on Wednesday, November 23rd from 2 – 6 p.m. Pick up your fresh ingredients to make the Turkey Day feast even more spectacular and support our local farmers and producers.

There’s no better time to get a jump on holiday shopping. Seaside’s eclectic mix of art galleries, fine and funky apparel, toys and more, make it easy to find that perfect present for everyone on your list.

Events are made possible by the arts and entertainment fee collected by The Merchants of Seaside. For more information on our community & events, please visit us online at: www.seasidefl.com. You can also find our all of our event details and engage in the conversation about Seaside by becoming a fan on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/SeasideFlorida.

ABOUT SEASIDE
The Town of Seaside is a gulf front community located on Scenic Highway 30A between Destin and Panama City Beach, Florida. Founded in 1981, this renowned New Urbanist town is the flagship cultural center of The Beaches of South Walton. Seaside has over 400 homes and cottage rentals, and more than 50 specialty retail shops and restaurants. Seaside’s thriving town center includes civic, cultural and educational institutions; a public charter school, an inter-faith chapel, a repertory theater and The Seaside Institute. Parks, a swim and tennis club, and an amphitheater provide year-round recreation and entertainment.