USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Vol. 24, No. 50
December 11, 2024
By Ashlee Delaphan
T
he bells are ring-a-linging, the stars are brightly shining and the cool air is nipping at your nose. Everywhere you go, holiday cheer is spreading and warming hearts all over the Pensacola area. Whether you’re a local or fresh off a train from Whoville, Pensacola is home to many festive celebrations. So, take in all the seasonal fun that our beautiful city has to offer at some of these can’t-miss events. Hop in the car with friends and family to check out dazzling displays of twinkling lights, or visit downtown Pensacola and experience the magic of Winterfest. From reliving timeless classics re-created for the stage to hand delivering letters to Santa, there are plenty of festive holiday events to keep the whole family excited throughout the season. Pensacola Children’s Chorus presents Christmas on the Coast December 13, 14 and 15 The Pensacola Children’s Chorus presents the dazzling Christmas on the Coast holiday concert at the Saenger Theatre December 13 through 15. This heart-warming show will be sure to lift your spirits and bring you hearty laughter as talented young vocalists sing your favorite Christmas tunes and touch on the chaotic side of Christmas—ugly sweaters, regifting, last-minute shopping and everything in between— that makes this time of year so special. This angelic choir will bring you many different cultural songs and traditions celebrated throughout the season. For tickets and information, visit pensacolasaengartheatre.com or pensacolasings.com. Holland Farm’s Christmas on the Farm Saturdays & Sundays through Dec. 17 Take a train to the North Pole and hop on a hay ride to visit Santa right here in Milton! Holland Farms is hosting Santa this year with a whimsical Christmas bash. Have your picture taken on Santa’s lap while telling him what you want under the tree or get up to some mischief with the naughty Grinch. Don’t forget to grab
some of their famous boiled nuts and visit all the friendly animals to spread the holiday cheer. Each paid admission includes a craft to decorate. For tickets and more details, visit hollandfarmsonline.com. Pensacola Winterfest Daily Through December 24 Winterfest is back in action this year with its popular lineup of holiday tours, parades, photo ops and more until the night before Christmas. Hop on a festive trolley and follow the Christmas spirit with the Grinch, the Polar Express and Ebenezer Scrooge. The Grinch is trying to steal Christmas in an all-new Christmas tree heist! Attendees are invited to capture the naughty Grinch before he gets away. Be sure to dress in your best Seussian costume for the chance to win a free train ticket. The Scrooge Tour will have you follow Scrooge on an adventure to Christmas Past, Present and Future with a few more ghosts along the way, and the Polar Express Tour will have you dancing in your seat with steaming hot chocolate and believing in Christmas magic. Snap a few photos with Santa Claus after you tell him your Christmas wishlist and snap some with the Grinch—but be careful! If you tell him what you want for Christmas, he might snatch it from under your tree. For more information and ticket purchases, visit pensacolawinterfest.org. Sowell’s North Pole Daily Through December 25 There’s no need to face freezing temperatures to see the North Pole when Sowell’s has created their very own North Pole here in the panhandle. Sowell Farm’s North Pole event boasts a magical light show of over one million lights. Under the lights hop on a train ride, take photos with Santa, or enjoy a camel ride. Elves will be hard at work making hot chocolate, popcorn, and other snacks for the family to enjoy. Entry is $20 per vehicle. Visit sowellfarms.com for more information. Gulf Breeze Zoo’s Christmas ZOObilee December 7, 8, 14 and 15 Gulf Breeze Zoo is hosting its sixth annual Christmas ZOObilee on select
SummationWeekly.com
weekends this December. There will be something for the entire family to enjoy, such as live music and entertainment, winter-themed bouncy houses, tasty holiday treats and unique gifts from local artists in the Candy Cane Market. There will also be a visit from the big man in a red suit, Santa Claus and Whoville’s favorite green man, the Grinch. Don’t forget to hand-deliver a letter to Santa before taking pictures in his sleigh. Watch out for photobombs from the zoo’s silliest animals when taking grumpy photos with the Grinch! There will also be a chili cook-off from 11 am to 2 pm and a dance party at 1:30 pm to get those Christmas jitters out. The Gulf Breeze Zoo will be open from 10 am to 4 pm during the holiday season. Tickets are $10 per member and can be purchased online at gbzoo.com. PLT A Christmas Story Dec 13 through December 22 Relive the Christmas classic at Pensacola Little Theatre following young Ralphie Parker’s timeless quest for a Red Ryder BB gun in 1940s Indiana. Adapted for the stage by Philip Grecian and Jean Shepherd, laugh, sigh, and cry with the Parker family as Ralphie navigates through childhood’s most significant challenges, all in the pursuit of the ultimate Christmas wish. Don’t miss A Christmas Story, an enduring holiday classic that speaks to the child in all of us. Tickets are available now on the PLT website or by calling the Box Office at 850-432-2042. Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade December 14 The Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade celebrates 42 years on Saturday, December 14, in downtown Pensacola. This highly anticipated holiday event will start at 5:30 pm and will be livestreamed on WKRG.com. The Christmas Parade will have over 50 floats parading the town and performances by high school marching bands from Escambia County and Pace and Milton High Schools. The Pensacola Runners Association has collaborated with the Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade for the annual Downtown Parade Christmas Dash.
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
The 1.2-mile race will be held immediately before the parade and will use the same route as the parade. The Blue Angels flight demonstration crew will also be featured during the parade, so there will be Christmas cheer everywhere you look. All proceeds will go towards the local high school band’s booster organization. For more information about the Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade, visit the website coxpensacolachristmasparade.org and Facebook at facebook.com/ PensacolaChristmas. Studer Community Institute’s Gingerbread House Competition December 14 Get the chance to join the fun for a great cause with Studer Community Institute’s Gingerbread House Competition on December 14. As a fundraiser for early brain development initiatives, this public event will have plenty of familyfriendly winter activities, gingerbread houses displayed, photos taken with Santa, and more holiday entertainment. Enter your spectacular gingerbread house for a chance to take home $2,000. The Gingerbread House Competition will be held at the SCI Building lobby at 220 W Garden St. All proceeds will go to SCI’s Early Brain Development Efforts. For more information, visit facebook.com/StuderInstitute. Ballet Pensacola Presents The Nutcracker Dec 20, 21 and 22 The Pensacola Ballet presents the highly anticipated performance of The Nutcracker at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre in December. Follow along with Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to defeat the evil Mouse King and watch her transform into a Sugar Plum fairy right before your very eyes. Ballet Pensacola brings together breathtaking choreography alongside Tchaikovsky’s spectacular musical score to bring The Nutcracker to life. Performances of The Nutcracker will take place December 20, 21 and 22 at the historic Pensacola Saenger Theatre. Tickets range from $50 to $85 and can be purchased online at the website ticketmaster.com or in
person at the Saenger Theatre Box Office in downtown Pensacola. For more information, visit the website pensacolasaenger.com. White Tie Rock Ensemble A White Tie Christmas December 20 Don your old skinny jeans and Eagles band tee for The White Tie Rock Ensemble’s holiday tribute concert featuring the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and many other favorites at the Pensacola Bay Center on December 20 at 8 pm. See the artists that will send you back in time with a performance that pairs a magnificent performance with nostalgic videos. A White Tie Christmas show combines the familiarity of classic rock with a symphonic orchestra for a brand-new sound. Have a wonderful Christmastime with the White Tie Rock Ensemble. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster. com. For complete show details, visit pensacolabaycenter.com. New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Pensacola Beach December 31 Ring in the new year on the beach with the Pensacola Beach Chamber as they host a fireworks show at precisely midnight on New Year’s Eve. Watch the magical and colorful fireworks paint the sky over our gorgeous white, sandy beach. Spectators may watch from Pensacola Beach or the Santa Rosa Sound. Bring a sparkle to your kids’ eyes and watch this light display to wrap up the end of 2024. Visit the website pensacolabeach. com for more information. Pensacola Symphony Orchestra presents Celebrate the New Year! December 31 The Saenger Theatre will come alive with music this New Year’s Eve. Feel the rhythm of the new year come through jazz vocalist Sydney McSweeney and vocalist and trumpeter Byron Stripling, who will join the orchestra for a night of swinging, energetic and addictive music. Tickets start at $25. For more information, visit pensacolasymphony.com ■
visit SummationWeekly.com