Locals and snowbirds alike have plenty to choose from when celebrating this holiday season.  It’s a season of peace, gratitude, and reflection, and what better place to celebrate than on the beautiful Emerald Coast.  From Christ-centered festivities to visiting with Santa and taking in the beautiful holiday light displays, below are a few family-friendly holiday festivities worth checking out in the Destin/30A area this season.

Worship Services – He’s the reason for the season and in addition to Sunday services, this month there are some special options around Christmas – In Destin, you can checkout Shoreline’s Star Wars Christmas series following a hero’s journey on Sundays through December or the annual Christmas Eve service on December 24th at 5pm.

Slow afternoons and Local Meals – There’s nothing better than having relaxed and family-filled days.  Black Bear Bread Co in Grayton Beach is our go-to for coffee and breakfast.  A lunch option we love is Pazzo Italiano in Destin. Dinner options are endless, with several local restaurants offering special holiday meals through the end of the year!  You can find more of our favorite local restaurants on a recent blog post here.

Santa – You can find Santa everyday at the Destin Commons in Bass Pro Shop through December 24th – He’s also been spotted at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin on Saturday afternoons and on weekends at Harborwalk Village.  You can also find festive holiday displays in nearly every community along 30A. For added fun take a drive through some of our favorites – Alys Beach, WaterColor, and Seaside, all known for magical holiday light displays! 

Baytowne on Ice – With the ice skating rink open every afternoon through February 1st, Baytowne Wharf is the perfect place to take the family for some active fun.  In addition to ice skating, every Wednesday in December there is live music during the Holiday Edition concert series, including visits with Santa! For a special treat complete with real snow, be sure to head there the morning of Saturday, December 21st for Winter Wonderland!

Capture the Memories –  The holidays are a great time to get family portraits you can cherish long after the season has passed.  We still have a handful of sessions available in December so reach out today to secure your preferred date!  You can also find our holiday card options here (which have a turnaround of 5 business days – choose quickly to get them in time for Christmas)!

Relax –  Most of all, we love to plan time to just relax and enjoy the holidays!  As the year comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to take a break, reflect, and appreciate all that you have, in the company of your loved ones!

What do you always do in Destin during the holidays that we didn’t mention?  Drop us a comment so we can add it to the list!