30th Annual MAGIC CHRISTMAS IN LIGHTS - Nightly 5pm-9pm, EXTENDED THROUGH JANUARY 10th , Bellingrath Gardens & Home, Theodore
The season is beginning earlier than ever and continuing nightly through January 6th, to give guests even more time to experience the wonder of the season. The show features more than 3 million lights, 1,100 set pieces, and just under 20 themed scenes, transforming the 65-acre Gardens into a glowing winter wonderland. CLICK HERE
PENSACOLA MARDI GRAS KICK-OFF CELEBRATION- Sat 5pm, Seville Quarter, Downtown Pensacola
The official Kick-Off will begin inside Seville Quarter at 5 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 3rd. Floats will be parked on Jefferson St. south of Romana St. all the way down to Zaragoza, and Government Street between Palafox and Tarragona Streets.
After opening ceremonies with the Royal Processional, a Second Line Processional of Royalty will walk the float route and bless the floats. CLICK HERE
A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL - 7:00 PM Performances | Dec 23 – 24, 26 - 27; Beau Rivage Theater, Biloxi
Based on the beloved holiday film and best-selling book, the hit Broadway musical comes to life in this heartwarming and hilarious telling of nine-year-old Ralphie Parker and his unwavering quest to score his ultimate Christmas gift, an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. CLICK HERE
CHRISTMAS AT BICENTENNIAL PARK DRIVE-THRU LIGHT DISPLAY- Dec 1st- Dec 23rd, Bicentennial Park, Stockton
Experience “A Christmas Kingdom: Lights, Wonder, and Tradition” at
Baldwin County’s FREE drive-thru light display, featuring thousands of
brilliant lights, festive scenes, and fun for the whole family. CLICK HERE
PENSACOLA WINTERFEST- Nov 21- Dec 24, Plaza Wonderland, Downtown Pensacola
Downtown Pensacola comes alive with song and dance, arts and crafts during the holidays, with “Peanuts Tour,” “Polar Express Tour”, “Scrooge Tour” and “The Grinch’s Merry Match” . Pensacola Winterfest's tours and photos with Santa take place in Plaza Wonderland at the corner of Government Street and Palafox Place. Snow and music starts at 5:30 on Fridays, 5:00 on Saturday and Sunday, on all Tour nights. CLICK HERE
THE NORTH POLE at DOWNTOWN OWA- Fri 6pm-9pm; Sat/Sun 1pm-7pm, Dec 19, 21-23; Downtown OWA, OWA Parks & Resort, Foley
Gather the family for holiday moments with Santa! From capturing photos with the big man himself to playing Reindeer Games, the North Pole is filled with festive fun for the whole family. Free to attend; 1 free photo (personal photography not permitted). CLICK HERE
ICE SKATING RINK AT THE WHARF- Mon-Fri 4pm-10pm; Sat 10am-10pm; Sun 12noon-8pm, Nov 14-Jan 19, The Wharf, Orange Beach
Let us bring winter to you! Grab a pair of skates and glide, spin or fall into the season on real ice. CLICK HERE
WALES WEST LIGHT RAILWAY ARCTIC EXPRESS- Daily 4pm-9pm, through Dec 24; Wales West RV Park and Light Railway, Silverhill
All aboard the 2025 Arctic Express at Wales West Light Railway! Guests will ride "Dame Ann", an authentic steam locomotive, through amazing lights, decorations, Christmas music, and SNOW on the way to the North Pole. You take home your own holiday family picture with Santa and each child gets a special TOY. Refreshments, mini train rides, hay-less hayride, playgrounds, and bounce house included in your ticket. Enjoy the snowball cannon for a slight fee. CLICK HERE
BUBBLES AND BEATS - Sat Dec 27, 10am-2pm, Downtown OWA, OWA Parks & Resort, Foley
The ultimate kids New Year’s celebration is back in Downtown OWA! Join the ultimate street party filled with bubbles, music, and activities everyone in the family can enjoy. Dance through the day at the Disco Dome Party or pop into fun at the Bubble Foam Party! With free hands-on crafts and entertainment for children of all ages, Bubbles & Beats is the perfect way to close out the year with your loved ones! CLICK HERE
MOONPIE OVER MOBILE and Noon Year’s Eve Drop- Wed Dec 31
11am-1pm, Mardi Gras Park; 7:30pm Riverview Plaza; 8:30pm, Main Stage, Downtown Mobile
Live music. A second line. A MoonPie in the sky. And the whole night is free. New Year’s Eve doesn’t get better than this!
The fun kicks off early with the Kids Zone at Mardi Gras Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., including the beloved MoonPie Noon Year’s Eve Drop for families at noon. In the evening, the Best Decorated Umbrella Contest returns at 7:30 p.m. in the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Courtyard, complete with a street party performance by The Jukebox Brass Band. After the cutting of the World’s Largest MoonPie, the Jukebox Brass Band will lead a lively second line parade to the Main Stage and perform at 8:45. Red and The Revelers will perform at 9:30, then at 11pm, it’s the headliner, Morris Day & the Time, bringing their signature blend of high-gloss showmanship,
infectious energy, and Minneapolis funk to the Main Stage to close out the year in style. Then at midnight, the giant MoonPie drops from the top of the RSA Trustmark Building, joined by a fun pyro display. CLICK HERE
KIDS’ CONFETTI DROP - Wed Dec 31 10am-2pm, Main Street, The Wharf, Orange Beach
Perfect for little ones with early bedtimes, this family-friendly celebration brings the fun hours before midnight. Enjoy inflatable thrills, festive face painting ($10), camel rides ($10), balloon creations, and plenty more. Then, watch the sky sparkle as confetti cannons burst at Noon—creating a colorful, joy-filled countdown the whole family will love! CLICK HERE
REELIN’ IN THE NEW YEAR- Wed Dec 31 5pm-12 midnight, Main Street, The Wharf, Orange Beach
Dance into the night with live bands, family-friendly fun, and grown-up good times. All the excitement is building up to a magical midnight moment featuring The Park Band, the dazzling marlin drop countdown, and a fireworks finale! CLICK HERE
PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA presents CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR! - Wed Dec 31, 7pm, Pensacola Saenger Theatre
Vocalist Michael Andrew returns to ring in the New Year with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and a tribute to the Rat Pack, featuring favorites such as Come Fly with Me, Ain’t That a Kick in the Head, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, and more. CLICK HERE
NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS ON PENSACOLA BEACH- Wed Dec 31, 11:59pm, Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
Ring in the New Year with a dazzling firework display over the Santa Rosa Sound! Sponsored by Escambia County Tourist Development Council, this fireworks display is one of the largest on Florida’s Gulf Coast and will start at midnight, filling the sky with vibrant colors as we say goodbye to 2025 and welcome the New Year. CLICK HERE
2026 POLAR BEAR DIP- Thurs Jan 1, 12noon-3pm, Paradise Bar & Grill, Pensacola Beach
Kick off 2026 with a splash! The annual Polar Bear Plunge, hosted by Paradise Inn/Bar & Grill, invites daring participants to take a refreshing dip in the Santa Rosa Sound. Registration opens at noon, with a $15 cash fee per person that includes a commemorative t-shirt. A $10 donation option is available for participants who’d like to join without a shirt, and there’s a $5 Cub Club option for kids in fifth grade and under. Proceeds benefit the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, so come out, make a splash, and support a great cause! CLICK HERE
FLORA-BAMA POLAR BEAR DIP- Thursday Jan 1, 12 noon, Flora-Bama Lounge, Perdido Key
Dive into the new year at Flora-Bama’s Polar Bear Dip at high noon on New Year’s Day. Thousands gather on the beach behind Flora-Bama in costume, swim suits and some even in wet suits to feel the brisk salt water on their face. Those who fully submerge will get a free drink and a free New Year's lunch of ham, black-eyed peas, and collard greens. This event is free and open to all ages. CLICK HERE
PALAFOX MARKET- Sat 9am-2pm, TWO LOCATIONS: Martin Luther King Jr Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand, Pensacola
Join us every Saturday, rain or shine for farm-fresh produce, plants, flowers, baked goods, hand-crafted works of art, sculpture, fresh tea and coffee, delicious food and spices, hand-blown glass, ceramics and much more at the event that was named Florida's Best Farmers Market by Southern Living magazine. CLICK HERE
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