The South Walton Holiday Guide 2008

(updated Monday, December 15)

I absolutely adore this time of year. The holidays tend to bring out the best in human beings.  We get to collectively focus on something else in December and the weight of life lifts temporarily as we get busy with Christmas, Hanukkah, and/or Kwanzaa preparations and celebrations. 

We reconnect with family.  We become philanthropic.  We throw parties.  We dress up in sparkly outfits.  We cook sweets and turkeys and hams.  We drink egg nog and hot chocolate.  We tell mythical stories about flying reindeers and elves to our delighted children.  We give, and receive, gifts.  We listen to holiday music.  We put up pretty lights.  We decorate our homes and businesses.  I mean, it is such an Awesome. Time. Of. Year!

There is no shortage of holiday activities in South Walton to get you into the spirit.  This little community pulls out all the stops during the holidays to accommodate and entertain both locals and the thousands that visit us.  Here is the info you need to know to celebrate the holiday season in South Walton.  Here's one to good cheer!

(Hint: Bookmark this page as I will continue to update it through the holidays as information comes in).

**NEW** Local Charities

• Toys For Tots Drop Off Locations
  
  • PREMIER PROPERTY  10343 E. County Hwy 30A Seacrest Beach
  • CHERRY PEPPERS 3906 US Hwy 98 W Santa Rosa Beach
  • DESTIN REAL ESTATE COMPANY 3305 W. County Hwy 30A Santa Rosa Bech
  • DOOLEYMACK CONSTRUCTORS OF NWFL 122-2 Bishop-Tolbert Road Santa Rosa Beach
  • GRAYTON COAST PROPERTIES 133 DeFuniak Street Grayton Beach
  • 30A RESORTS LLC 170 E Scenic 30A Grayton Beach
  • SEAGROVE SELF STORAGE 4927 E CO Hwy 30A Seagrove BEach
  • SOUTHERN BEACH REALTY 1131 Mack Bayou Santa Rosa Beach
  • SUNSHINE MORTGAGE 3925 W. County Hwy 30A Suite F Santa Rosa Beach
  • BARRY VETERINARY HOSPITAL 29 South Shore Drive Miramar Beach
  • BEEF O BRADYS 9375 US HWY 98 Market Shops at Sandestin
  • PELICAN REAL ESTATE 42 Business Centre Miramar Beach
  • REMAX PARADISE PROPERTIES 12815 HWY 98 W #106 Miramar Beach
  • STARBUCKS Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin
• Caring and Sharing (see below) / North American Family Institute “Angel Tree” at The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) to benefit local children
  The Angel Tree is available Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please stop by Station 3/Headquarters, located at 911 North CR 393, Santa Rosa Beach, where there will be 200+ Angels waiting to be chosen. All gifts will need to be returned before Thursday, December 17, 2008. If these times are not convenient for you, please call Diane Brown at 850-267-1298 for special time arrangements.  For more information, please call Diane Brown at Station 3/Headquarters, 850-267-1298.

• Caring and Sharing of Walton County
  A Member Agency of The United Way of Okaloosa - Walton Counties, the purpose of Caring and Sharing of Walton county is to provide food, clothing, medical, prescriptions, utilities, shelter assistance in emergency situations, and other miscellaneous needs to those in the local community. 
  **I was told they could not provide a list of local businesses who are designated drop off locations so check directly local businesses or drop off your donations at one of the following Caring and Sharing offices:
  
  • Caring and Sharing - North Walton county
    1122 N 9th St # A, Defuniak Springs, 850-892-7656
  • Caring and Sharing - South Walton county
    112 Lynn Dr, Santa Rosa Beach 850-267-2866.
• Food For All Program at Publix Grocery Stores
  During the holiday season, Publix embraces the Food For All campaign. The funds raised are used to support programs designed to fight hunger on a local, regional, national and international level. Funds raised stay in the communities in which they were raised.  Throughout Publix's campaign, customers can contribute to the fund by purchasing contribution cards in varying amounts. In 2007, Publix customers and associates donated more than $1.6 million to the effort.
  Stop by a local Publix for more information or to donate. 
  Publix at WaterColor
  110 Watercolor Way (WaterColor Crossing), WaterColor - (850) 534-4565
  Publix at Grand Boulevard
  725 Grand Blvd, Sandestin (Grand Boulevard at Sandestin)- (850) 622-3772
• Donation/Thrift/Second Hand Stores
  
  • Goodwill 3223 US Highway 98 W, Santa Rosa Beach - (850) 622-0784
    
  • Haven House Thrift Store 3384 US Highway 98 W, Santa Rosa Beach. Phone: 850) 267-1061

Purchasing a Tree

• South Walton Montessori Academy Annual Tree SaleSelling Trees, Wreaths and Roping.  Delivery available Call 850.532.1653 for information or to order or visit www.southwaltonmontessori.com.
• Publix at WaterColor
  110 Watercolor Way (WaterColor Crossing), WaterColor - (850) 534-4565
• Publix at Grand Boulevard
  725 Grand Blvd, Sandestin (Grand Boulevard at Sandestin)- (850) 622-3772
• Home Depot (Destin)
  4385 Commons Drive West, Destin 32541 (850) 650-4175
• *NEW* Eastern Lake Nursery - LIVE TREES
  4808 E County Highway 30A, Seagrove Beach (850) 231-2150
• U-Cut Strickland-Davis Christmas Tree Farm (DeFuniak Springs)
  1602 County Hwy 183 North, DeFuniak Springs 32433. Phone: 850-951-1005. Open Monday - Saturday 8-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm.
• U-Cut Jeffery Christmas Tree Farm (Panama City)
  2816 Kingswood Drive, Panama City, FL 32405. Phone: 850-769-6510. Directions: 4 miles west of Fountain, Florida on Silver Lake Road. Open: Monday to Friday 12:00 to 5:00, Saturday and Sunday 9:00 to 5:00.

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Holiday Meals

• Seafood
  
  • Shrimpers Seafood Market 4444 US Highway 98 W, Santa Rosa Beach. Phone: 850 267-1159
  • Goatfeathers Seafood Market 3865 W County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. Phone: 850-267-2627
  • Goatfeathers Seafood Market - East 4042 E County Highway 30A, Seagrove Beach. Phone: 850-231-4004

• Turkey
  
  • Free range (10-22lbs.) and Certified Organic (8-16lbs) at For The Health of It MUST BE PRE-ORDERED so call A.S.A.P.  2217 W County Highway 30A, Blue Mountain Beach. 
  • Phone:  (850) 267-0558

• Pastries
  
  • Alys Beach - Buche De Noel Traditional Cakes.  Call 850.534.5500 for information or to order.

Holiday Activity & Events

• Ice Skating at The Baytowne Wharf
  Open through February 1. $8 entry, $2 skate rentals.  Hours of operation are:Monday-Friday 4-10pm; Saturday 11-10pm; Sunday 12-6pm. The rink is closed from 4-5p.m. for resurfacing of the ice on Saturdays and Holiday hours. Phone: 850-267-8180.
• A Christmas Carol at Baytowne Wharf with the Seaside Repertory Theatre
  Friday and Saturday evenings throughout December at the Village Events Plaza.  Multiple nightly shows starting at 6pm.  Enjoy three 30 minute adaptations of the enduring Charles Dickens classic. Call 850-267-8117 for more information.
• December 6 Northwest Florida State College Show Choir at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, 3pm Grand Park in the Town Center will be the center of holiday excitement as the Northwest Florida State College Show Choir – the Soundsations – perform a  90-minute Las Vegas style floor show of singing and dancing will include Latin, jazz, inspirational, rock and holiday classics. In addition, Santa Claus will make an appearance on the boulevard to greet children and take complimentary pictures in front of the 50-foot live Norwegian Christmas tree in Grand Park.
• December 6 Santa Flys In On Helicopter at Silver Sands Factory Stores, noon
  Silver Sands Factory Stores has partnered once again with Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast for Santa’s Arrival to the Center via the AIRHeart helicopter just east of Starbucks. All children will be invited to dress in festive holiday costumes and follow Santa in a festive parade to the Courtyard, led by a South Walton Fire Department truck. Following the parade will be refreshments, complimentary photos with Santa in front of the Center’s 40-foot tree and a holiday costume contest. This is an annual event that benefits Sacred Heart Hospital. For more information, call (850) 654-9771.
• December 6 Alys in Winter Wonderland at Fonville Press, 3:30-530pm
  Santa, annual tree lighting and cookie decorating with a holiday performance by the Gulf Coast Choir.  Participants are encouraged to bring a toy or canned good item to share with those who are less fortunate. Donations will be accepted at Fonville Press until December 14th. Call 850.213.5500 for information.
• December 7 & 8 The Ecumenical Choir of South Walton "The Winter's Night", 3-7pm
  Christ the King Episcopal Church, 480 N. 393, Santa Rosa Beach (1/2 mile north of HWY 98).
  Refreshments after each performance. Please bring a canned food item.  For information, call 850-267-3332.
• December 13 The Dance Theatre of Northwest Florida performance of The Nutcracker at South Walton High, 3pm  Visit www.dancetheatrenwfl.com for information and to purchase ickets.  Phone: 850-837-1133.  South Walton High School is located at 645 Greenway Trail (off of Hwy 331 S) in Santa Rosa Beach.
• December 13 10th Annual “Nautical Night of Lights” Lighted Boat Parade at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin,  5:30-10pm
  The boats - lit up and decorated for the holidays – will travel from their starting point in the middle of Choctawhatchee Bay back to the Baytowne Marina. For more information or if you are interested in participating in the parade, call Baytowne Marina at (850) 267-6168.
• December 20 Winter Market at WaterColor in the Town Center, noon - 7pm
  Traditional, Festive Outdoor Market reminiscent of a traditional German Christmas market, where a variety of vendors display merchandise and crafts in a street fair setting – making the sites, smells and sounds of the season come alive with holiday spirit. Highlights of the event will include live music, an eclectic mix of holiday gifts, delicious food, drinks and more.
• December 20 Christmas Candlelight Open House at The Wesley House at Eden State Gardens, 5-8pm
  Enjoy the traditional walk through the luminaries to the Historic Wesley House to view the beautiful holiday decorations. Inside, visitors will be greeted by a group of local young people singing Christmas carols, as well as two accomplished harpists. After the tour is completed the Friends of Eden will be providing refreshments in the pavilion. Free and open to the public although donations are alway greatly appreciated. For more information, call 850-231-4214.
• December 22  Menorah Lighting at Rosemary Beach | North Barrett Square | 5:30pm

Comments

[Lisa]

Shoreline Church (the really cool church that meets at the RAVE movie theatre) is expanding to 30-A. Starting Sunday, December 14, at 6 p.m. there will be weekly services at PJ's Coffee and Tropical Smoothie in Blue Mountain Beach at the corner of 30-A and 83. Shoreline is having a Beetle's theme Christmas celebration called Let It Be Christmas! Come rock in the holidays with Shoreline!