THE INCREDIBLE, INFLATABLE, HOLIDAY BALLOON LODA ARTWALK - Fri 6pm-9pm, Cathedral Square, downtown Mobile
Visit Cathedral Square for a hand-crafted balloon-sculpted wonderland courtesy of City of Mobile Parks & Recreation. Come downtown to show your support of local artists, arts organizations, and downtown businesses at this fun, family-friendly event. CLICK HERE
ROLL MOBILE: JINGLE ALL THE WAY HOLIDAY SKATE - Sat 6pm-11pm, Mobile Civic Center
Are you ready for a special Holiday Edition of #RollMobile?
Entry Fee: $2 or a New Toy for Our Toy Drive (Children 5 and Under are FREE). Free Parking in the Civic Center Lot! DRESS UP AS ELVES or your favorite winter holiday character and snap pics at our Holiday Photo Ops! SKATE ALONGSIDE MRS. CLAUS to holiday beats spun by our Festive DJ. Food and Beverages will be offered, including a cash bar for Adults. Limited Skate Rentals Will Be Available for $4. CLICK HERE
PENSACOLA CHRISTMAS PARADE- Sat 5:15pm, downtown Pensacola
This event that draws over 50,000 people each year, including nearly 100 entries, and eight bands from Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, and New Orleans. The parade also features the nationally renowned Blue Angels flight team and a host of organizations from around the region. CLICK HERE
LULU’S LIGHTED BOAT PARADE- Sat 4pm, Lulu’s Gulf Shores
The boats with leave LuLu's Gulf Shores and Homeport Marina at dusk and head to the Wharf in Orange Beach, boats will be visible along the canal from Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. CLICK HERE
**** Moved to Dec 18 **** PIRATES OF FISH RIVER CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE- Sat DEC 18 5:30pm, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Start planning your dock party, or find a spot to watch from! Starts at 98 Bridge in Weeks Bay; We will turn around north of 32 bridge. CLICK HERE
CHRISTMAS ON THE RIVER BOAT PARADE- Sat 4:30, Grand Mariner Restaurant & Marina, CLICK HERE
MISTLETOE MARKET & SARALAND PARADE- Sun 9am-4pm, Saraland Municipal Complex; Parade at 2pm
Mistletoe Market and the Saraland Christmas Parade have been moved to SUNDAY due to weather. Mistletoe Market is a craft show and vendor fair hosted by the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce with over 50 booths of unique gift items, pics with Santa, gift wrapping, family fun, food and more! CLICK HERE
SPANISH FORT CHRISTMAS PARADE- Sun 2pm, Eastern Shore Centre, CLICK HERE
SEMMES CHRISTMAS PARADE- Sun 2pm, CLICK HERE
FLORA-BAMA SANTA DROP- Sat 11am-2pm, Flora-Bama Lounge, Perdido Key
See Santa skydive onto our white sandy beaches, then jump in line in the tent for Santa pics! Beginning at 11AM, prior to Santa's arrival at Noon, we'll have kids crafts, games, live music featuring holiday tunes for the kiddos, face painting, juice and sweet treats - best of all, it's all FREE! CLICK HERE
MOBILE BALLET’S THE NUTCRACKER- Sat 2:30pm and 7:30pm; Sun 2:30pm, Mobile Civic Center Theatre
Mobile Ballet is excited to bring the community’s beloved holiday tradition of The Nutcracker to the Mobile Civic Center Theater in December. The highlight of this year’s production of The Nutcracker is the return of Mobile Ballet alumna and former New York City Ballet soloist Kathryn Morgan, dancing the role of Sugar Plum Fairy on her hometown stage. CLICK HERE
THE MOBILE SYMPHONY presents JOY TO THE WORLD!- Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm, Mobile Saenger Theatre
MSO’s annual Christmas concert is a Gulf Coast tradition. Plan to bring the family! CLICK HERE
PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL- Fri/Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2:30pm, Playhouse in the Park, Langan Park, Mobile
The Playhouse will present the immortal Dickens’ classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Just in time for the holidays, this marvelous musical treat follows Ebenezer Scrooge through one fateful Christmas Eve, as he learns to love his fellow man. CLICK HERE
CHRISTMAS ZOOBILEE - Sat/Sun 10am-4pm, Gulf Breeze Zoo
Christmas ZOObilee includes winter-themed bounce stations, live music and entertainment, a Candy Cane Market full of gifts, sights, smells, and tastes of the season, including unique gifts from local artists and delicious holiday treats. Fun for the entire family, Christmas ZOObilee wouldn't be complete without a visit from the jolly man in a red suit. Weekends with Santa is the perfect opportunity to hand-deliver last-minute Christmas letters while snapping a treasured photo with Saint Nick in his sleigh. The Grinch will be in attendance also for photos. CLICK HERE
CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST- Fri/Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm, Pensacola Saenger Theatre
Christmas on the Coast is a staple of Pensacola's holiday season. This larger-than-life perennial spectacular is packed full of the best sounds of the season. Frequently nominated as one of the best annual events in town, this is the best way to kick off your December! CLICK HERE
THE CHORAL SOCIETY OF PENSACOLA HOLIDAY SING-ALONG - Sun 5pm, Rex Theatre, Pensacola
You know the tunes, we’ll display the words on the big screen, and the Women’s Ensemble will lead the hour of music-making. In addition, you’ll hear a couple of numbers performed by special guests from the Gulf Coast Chorale. Come enjoy holiday treats, snap selfies with Santa – and let the music of the season spark your holiday spirit. CLICK HERE
CHRISTMAS AT THE EXPLOREUM- Sat 10:30am-3pm, Gulf Coast Exploreum, downtown Mobile
Have a holly, jolly holiday at the Exploreum's annual Christmas event! Experience some winter-time fun, and explore our STEM Wonderland exhibit at this family-friendly event!
11:00am: A Very Airbus Christmas
11:30am: Snowflake Science Animal Pavilion
12pm to 12:45: Melting Snowmen
1:30pm Penguin Egg Race
2:00pm to 2:30pm Peppermint Playdough
General Admission for non-members. Free for members. Everyone pays member pricing for PCI Digital Dome movies. CLICK HERE
CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR- December 12, 14 - 16, 19 - 263:00 PM & 7:00 PM, Beau Rivage Theater, Biloxi
Check off everyone's wishlist this season with high-kicking precision Christmas dancers in the Broadway-style holiday tradition. Get into the holiday spirit with Christmas classics, world-class singers and special appearances from Santa and his friends - perfect for the whole family! CLICK HERE
BRANDON BENNETT - AN ELVIS MY WAY CHRISTMAS - Sat 8pm, IP Casino Biloxi, CLICK HERE
MAGIC CHRISTMAS IN LIGHTS- November 26 to January 5, open nightly (closed December 25 and January 1), Bellingrath Gardens, Theodore.
In this Gulf Coast holiday tradition, guests stroll through a dazzling light display that features more than 1,100 set pieces, 3 million lights and 16 scenes throughout the Garden estate. In addition, the Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and enhanced with beautiful poinsettias. CLICK HERE
CHRISTMAS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS- November 12 – January 7, open nightly 5:30pm – 10:00pm, rain or shine, Hank Aaron Stadium, Mobile
See over one million lights synchronized to traditional and newer, rocking Christmas music played through your own car stereo. Pack your vehicle full of friends and family to enjoy the show and continue your Christmas tradition with us! CLICK HERE
LEGENDS IN CONCERT CLASSIC CHRISTMAS- Nov 17-Jan 2, Wednesday through Saturday at 7pm with additional 3pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
The all-new Classic Christmas will pay tribute to music royalty including Celine Dion, Karen Carpenter, Young Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. CLICK HERE
THE NORTH POLE AT OWA- Fri/Sat/Sun 1pm-4pm and 5pm-7pm, Downtown OWA
Pack your bags and grab your winter coats, because we are headed to experience the North Pole in Downtown OWA! This year, Santa will be a little closer to home. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Santa will be welcoming guests of all ages to his home away from home. Kids and families will be able to participate in Christmas crafts with Santa’s Elves while waiting to grab a photo with the jolly man himself! CLICK HERE
WINTERFEST PENSACOLA - Nov 26-Dec 24, Government at Palafox, downtown Pensacola
Experience the Polar Express Tour, the Grinch Tour, a Cajun Christmas, as well as photos with Santa or the Grinch! Plus, catch the preshows every night! Sing and dance along with your favorite characters as we kick off each tour! Preshows are free and open to the public. CLICK HERE
WALES WEST ARCTIC EXPRESS- Fri/Sat/Sun, Wales West Light Railway, Silverhill, AL
Looking for kid friendly family fun for the weekend?? Come ride the Arctic Express to the North Pole to see Santa! Your ticket includes a ride to see Santa, FREE Toy, mini train ride, tractor ride, and more! CLICK HERE
1940’s RADIO HOUR- Fri 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm, Mainstage, Pensacola Little Theatre
A different time is evoked in this marvelously theatrical show, a live broadcast of The Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade from the Hotel Astor's Algonquin Room on December 21, 1942. The spirit of that bygone era when the world was at war and pop music meant "Strike Up the Band" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is accurately captured as the harassed producer copes with a drunk lead singer, the delivery boy who wants a chance in front of the mic, the second banana who dreams of singing a ballad, and the trumpet playing sound effects man who chooses a fighter plane over Glenn Miller. CLICK HERE
Photo: Getty Images