I love Christmas! I love the decorations, lights, shopping, the holiday food, and the parties. Most of all, I love Santa. If you feel the same way, then your opportunity to have a picture with Santa Claus in downtown Pensacola is here. Santa will be at the Escambia County Government Building, 223 S. Palafox Friday through Sunday until the 25th. Admission is free, and Santa's elves will be serving hot chocolate and assisting the photo process. Call 850-583-1365 for details.
One of the fun events you only see by living close to the water is the Lighted Boat Parade on Pensacola Beach. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. December 2nd from the Sabine Marina and will make its way around to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. After the parade, Santa will greet children and other fans at the Quietwater Shell. Stick around for the firework display that begins at 8:00. Shaggy's will be hosting a pre-parade party for kids and their families from 4:00 to 6:00.
The Pensacola Christmas Parade in Downtown Pensacola will be beginning at 5:30 on December 9th. This annual event has grown tremendously over the years and now draws over 50,000 people to downtown streets. This year's parade features more floats, bands, and fun than ever. Come early; parking is more difficult to find in the dark. We love to go out afterward for a late dinner, but I would suggest making reservations to avoid a long wait.
December brings a lot of fun activities to the area between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Sometimes there are too many events to choose. The final Gallery Night for 2017 on December 15th is an easy choice. The mild fall weather this year makes a fun time even better Gallery Night closes traffic between Garden and Main Streets so you can meander thru the art, artists, food, and friendship. A good time for all.
