What better way to celebrate the 2023 December holidays and ring in the New Year than with some fun, local, and family-friendly events! Of course, there’s lots of Christmas cheer happening this month, and many of these activities are free or support a good cause. We’ve curated this list of the most interesting and fun-sounding winter-themed kid-centered activities we could find (whew could we have fit any more hyphens in that sentence??). Check out our Destin December events round-up below!
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides At Grande Boulevard – Miramar Beach
Every Friday and Saturday Night til December 30
From their website: “Enjoy complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides around the Town Center while taking in the Coastal White Christmas lights and the Festival of Trees display. To add to the festivities, get a professional photo with Santa while listening to the seasonal sounds of “Rock Around the Christmas Tree” Musical Revue from Emerald Coast Theatre Co.”
Free. From 5-8pm.
A Visit With Santa At The Library – Destin
December 1
From their website: “Have a holly jolly evening with the Destin Library at our annual visit with Santa. This event is open to all ages.” PLEASE NOTE: the library will be closed from December 4-31 due to carpet installation so will not be holding their usual holiday movie screenings or other family-friendly events later this month.
Free.
FUNBOX at Pier Park Mall – Panama City Beach
Now through December 31
If you’re looking for an activity that has nothing to do with December holidays, but everything to do with fun and burning off your children’s endless energy, this is the one. From their website: “The world’s biggest bounce park has come to Pier Park! Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience! Featuring Mountain Challenge, Battle Beam, Gumball Gallop, Obstacle Cource, Ninja Wall, 23-Foot Slide, Chill Zone, and much more.”
Visits with Santa – Destin
Every Saturday and Sunday til December 17
Celebrate the season with a visit to Saint Nick and the Letter to Santa Station! Each family that stops by will receive one FREE 4×6 photo and magnet. Even better, for every letter written to Santa during the event, HarborWalk Village will donate $1 to Food for Thought. Food for Thought is a non-profit whose mission is to remove the negative impacts of hunger, and empower a child to get the most out of their education and development by providing them weekly access to healthy, easy-to-prepare meals. Sounds like a win-win way to teach your children the spirit of true generosity and the Reason for the Season!
Free.
Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting – Freeport
December 2
Join the citizens of Freeport for their sunset Christmas parade! This year’s theme is “The Many Faces of Christmas” and the route winds through town, ultimately ending at City Hall. Once there, enjoy the official tree lighting ceremony, plus live music, food vendors, photos with santa, festival of trees, and more!
Free.
Pictures With A Penguin At Gulfarium – Fort Walton Beach
December 2-3, 9-10, 16-24, 26-31
From their website: “Looking for the perfect photo opportunity for your 2023 Holiday cards? Look no further! On select dates throughout the holiday season you can get a picture with one of our adorable African penguins! Slots for these photos are limited, so book yours today! Photo includes a festive holiday display, and of course, one of our African penguins!”
$15/picture. Each additional group or photo variation is an additional $15 charge and is subject to availability. Photos taken on your own personal device by a staff member or trainer so you will not be required to make an additional purchase of the digital rights.
Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade – Fort Walton
December 5
The public is invited to gather along Eglin Parkway to watch the parade and cheer on their favorite characters, marching bands, and maybe if they’re lucky catch some candy?? Be sure to stay til the end because Santa will be making an appearance on the final float! From the city website: “The annual City of Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade is coming soon. Map out a place for you and your family to watch and please review the upcoming road closures planned for December 4th. The street closures will begin around 6:00 pm with the parade route starting at 6:30 pm We hope to see everyone there!”
Free. The route goes along Eglin Parkway from First Street to Hughes Street.
Grand Chanukah Celebration At HarborWalk Village – Destin
December 7
Whether you celebrate Chanukah, or want to educate your children on other December traditions that are celebrating across the globe, this event is sure to be a fun one for the kiddos. There will be live music, potato latkes, gelt drop, doughnuts, Chanukah souvenirs, and activities for children of all ages. Come for the festive music, and have some holiday treats!
Free.
Ice Skating Extravaganza at Baytowne Wharf – Miramar Beach
December 8
From their website: “Baytowne on Ice is hosting its annual Ice-Skating Extravaganza featuring two performances by professional ice skaters on Friday, December 8th at 6pm & 7:30pm. Both shows are free. Between the shows, lace up those skates and skate around the ice with The Pros!” Be sure to check out the Baytowne Wharf website linked above for more info about all their December family friendly holiday events including a nightly tree lighting and Wednesday holiday concerts like Tuba Christmas featuring a visit from Santa!
This particular event is free. Operating hours for the ice rink vary per day, with extended hours on the weekends. $13 for a 90 minute skate and $3 skate rentals. Season passes can be purchased at the Baytowne Wharf Neighborhood Association Office during business hours.
Destin Christmas Parade – Destin
December 9
The City of Destin will be holding its 39th annual Christmas Parade once again! This year’s theme is “A Christmas Vacation” and is sure to be a festive experience for participants and spectators alike.
Free. The floats will begin at the Downtown Destin Shopping Center and travel west down Harbor Boulevard (Hwy 98) to Stahlman Avenue. Spectators are asked to stand on the north side of Harbor Boulevard to watch the parade.
Breakfast With Santa At HarborWalk Village – Destin
December 9+10 and 16+17
From their website: “Don’t be a Grinch! Join us for a joyous Breakfast with Santa on December 9th, 10th, 16th or 17th from 8:00am to 12:00pm in the Grande Ballroom. Featuring a festive buffet of the Grinch’s Fruit Kabob Station, Cindy Lou Who’s breakfast items, Whoville Bakery, and Max’s Donut Station! Stop by the Grinchmas Cookie Shop, Letters to Santa Station, and Visit with Santa.”
$25 per person plus tax and tip. Reservation required through website linked above.
Destin Boat Parade – Destin
December 10
Join the Destin History and Fishing Museum on the Destin Harbor for a festive evening of fun and holiday cheer. There will be a lighted boat parade, entertainment along the harbor, a fireworks finale, and more!
Free. Public viewing from docks and restaurants west of Grand Harbor Condominiums.
Chanukah Celebration on 30A – Rosemary Beach
December 10
If you missed night one of Chanukah, it’s okay – there’s 7 more! Gather round just before sunset to watch the giant menorah lighting and enjoy some music, kids activities, and refreshments.
Free.
Photos With Santa – Seaside
December 15-21
Santa in Florida? Yes, even the Big Guy needs a beachside vacation sometimes, and what better place to get in some R&R before the biggest day of the year for this North Pole native than in our very own Seaside! Santa will be set up here every day for photos so be sure to stop by to snap a pic with him before he hops in his sleigh and jingles all the way home!
Free. At the Lyceum Tree, located between Seaside Yacht Club and Cabana by The Seaside Style.
Winter Fun For Everyone at Emerald Coast Science Center – Fort Walton Beach
December 20-22 and 27-29
Looking for a way to keep your kids entertained during winter break from school? The ECSC has six days of themed activities and interactive entertainment sure to keep your kiddos busy! There will be an augmented reality coloring experience, a Creature Feature in the Reptile Room, DIY snowball launchers, an immersive Winter Wildlife Wonderland, sciPad winter games, and more!
All activities included with general admission, which costs $12 Adults, Children ages 3-17 and Seniors 60+ $10, Children 2 and under, and ECSC member are free. 10% discount for Military with active ID. RSVP via their website is required.
New Year’s Eve Celebration – Seaside
December 31
If you’re looking for a family-friendly end of year celebration, or a way to ring in 2023 without having to stay up til midnight to watch the ball drop, here’s a fun event to check out! There will be arts and crafts, face painting, a live performance by Monsters of Yacht, and fireworks!
Free. In Central Square and the Amphitheater Stage.
Baytowne Countdown NYE – Miramar Beach
December 31
Here’s a slightly early NYE celebration for slightly older kids. From their website: “You don’t want to miss The Village of Baytowne Wharf’s end-of-the-year celebration! Ring in 2024 with a night to remember featuring live music and two breathtaking fireworks displays at 8pm & midnight. Enjoy a family friendly evening from 6-8pm with face painting, kid’s activities, and music from DJ Q$ on the Baytowne LIVE stage. Finish off the family-friendly festivities with our first fireworks display at 8pm. The fun doesn’t stop there! Dance the night away with LIVE music from Bay Kings Band at 7pm until 1am, on the Events Plaza Stage! End the night with a spectacular midnight fireworks show. There is no better place to ring in 2024!”
Free. *21 & over after 10pm. 20 & under must be accompanied by a legal guardian after 10pm.
New Years Eve Beach Ball Drop – Panama City Beach
December 31
From their website: “Come to Panama City Beach on December 31st to enjoy not one but two great opportunities to welcome in the New Year. The streets of Pier Park are closed off to traffic as thousands of revelers enjoy free live music, entertainment, fireworks, and good cheer. For those too excited to wait until midnight, or for those fans of New Year’s Eve who want to conduct the countdown twice, there are separate Beach Ball Drops at both 8:00 p.m. and midnight. Families with young children and adults looking to stay up until after the calendar page actually turns both have options about how best to celebrate the New Year with thousands of other revelers close to Panama City Beach’s pristine waterfront and many amenities. On the way to midnight, bands perform for the gathering crowd, anticipating the countdown to 2024 when a huge, glowing beach ball is lowered to signal the start of the New Year, and another great fireworks display.”
Free.
Harborwalk Village: New Years Celebration – Destin
December 31
If you’ve got older kiddos who want to stay up til midnight to ring in the New Year, this event could be a fun one to check out together. Gather at the Destin harbor for live music, dancing, sparkling cheer, fireworks, and a midnight ball drop to mark the start of 2023!
Free.
However you choose to celebrate the spirit of this season (and hopefully it’s with some of our picks on this Destin December events round up!) we here at Destin 30A Moms wish you very happy holidays, and all the best for 2024!
