Ring in the Christmas season with these Okaloosa County holiday events

Devon Ravine, Northwest Florida Daily News
·3 min read
Santa encourages the crowd to help get the tree lit during last year's Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at the Destin Community Center. This year's ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Avenue.
Santa encourages the crowd to help get the tree lit during last year's Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at the Destin Community Center. This year's ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Avenue.

► Destin will host its 36th annual Christmas Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Destin Community Center. This will be an outdoor event for the entire family, with a visit from Santa Claus and entertainment provided by the Destin Elementary School Chorus. Donations of one non-perishable food item will be collected for families in need. The community center is located at 101 Stahlman Ave., Destin. For more information call the Destin Community Center at 850-654-5184.

Santa waves to the crowd during the a past Christmas parade in downtown Crestview. This year's parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
Santa waves to the crowd during the a past Christmas parade in downtown Crestview. This year's parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

► “Sweet Treats of Christmas” is the theme for this year’s Christmas Parade in Crestview, which is scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The parade begins at Main Street and Martin Luther King Jr, Avenue and travels north along Main Street, ending just past the Okaloosa County Courthouse.

Santa waves from atop a fire truck during last year's Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade. This year's Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Santa waves from atop a fire truck during last year's Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade. This year's Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

►  The Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade is scheduled for Monday at 6:30 p.m. The parade starts at First Street and Eglin Parkway and travels north up Eglin Parkway to Hughes Street.

The Niceville High School Eagle Pride band performs in last year's Niceville Valparaiso Community Christmas Parade along John Sims Parkway in Niceville. This year's Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.
The Niceville High School Eagle Pride band performs in last year's Niceville Valparaiso Community Christmas Parade along John Sims Parkway in Niceville. This year's Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.

► The annual Niceville-Valparaiso Community Christmas Parade is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.  "Imagine Peace on Earth" is the theme of the parade, which is sponsored by the Niceville-Valparaiso Rotary Club.

The parade begins at Palm Boulevard and John Sims Parkway, moves west to Partin Drive and then north on Partin Drive to the judging area between the Niceville Children’s Park and Ruckel Middle School.

Parade visitors are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys; volunteers with the local Toys for Tots toy drive will be collecting them at the start of the parade.

Mackenzie Goen, right, and Grace Sally, left, dance with others to holiday music during the Town of Shalimar's annual lighting of the Christmas tree celebration last year. This year's tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 Cherokee Road in Shalimar.
Mackenzie Goen, right, and Grace Sally, left, dance with others to holiday music during the Town of Shalimar's annual lighting of the Christmas tree celebration last year. This year's tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 Cherokee Road in Shalimar.

► The Town of Shalimar is holding its their Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Town Hall on Dec. 10. The event starts at 5 p.m. with a countdown to the tree lighting at 6 p.m. There will be Christmas cookies, hot chocolate and sandwiches (while supplies last), as well as face painting. The ceremony will include performances by Choctawhatchee High School's jazz band and Indianettes dance team. Also, Santa has confirmed that he will be making an appearance again this year.  Shalimar Town Hall is located at 2 Cherokee Road, Shalimar.

A woman and her dog show their festive spirit during a past Christmas Parade in Destin. The city's 38th annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.
A woman and her dog show their festive spirit during a past Christmas Parade in Destin. The city's 38th annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.

► Destin's 38th annual “Elf on the Shelf” Christmas Parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Dec. 10. The parade will begin at U.S. Highway 98 and Beach Drive, traveling west down US 98 to Stahlman Avenue. Spectators are asked to stand on the north side of Harbor Boulevard to watch the parade. At no time should parade spectators enter the street area. We ask that parents and guardians closely monitor their children and keep them out of the street at all times.

The Destin Holiday Lighted Boat Parade made its way through Destin harbor Sunday night.
The Destin Holiday Lighted Boat Parade made its way through Destin harbor Sunday night.

► Destin’s 36th annual Holiday on the Harbor Lighted Boat Parade is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 on the Destin Harbor. Decorated boats will begin the parade on the east end of the harbor and cruise past Margaritaville at HarborWalk Village where judging will take place. The parade will be visible from docks and restaurants along the harbor west of Grand Harbor Condominiums. The parade will wrap up with a fireworks show over the harbor sponsored by HarborWalk Village.

Story revised Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2022

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Community Christmas events set for early December across Okaloosa County