December 4th: Christmas Open House at Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum

The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center will hold its Annual Christmas Open House at the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum on Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can visit all the city’s museums admission-free and enjoy a day of children’s crafts, old fashioned games and toys, light refreshments, local history, and view the beautifully decorated Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum which will be 110 years old next year. The Garnier Post Office Museum and Civil War Exhibit building will also be decorated for an old-fashioned celebration with activities and refreshments throughout the day. Activities include butter-churning and sampling.

The Heritage Park & Cultural Center is located at 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE. For more information, please contact Museum Programming Coordinator Michael Weech at 850-833-9595 or mweech@fwb.org. The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center is a cultural services division of the City of Fort Walton Beach and is committed to providing area historical educational programming.

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December 4th: Jingle Bell Jog

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December 6th: Christmas Concert

7 p.m. at Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Dr.: The North Okaloosa Community Band’s Christmas Concert, including ensembles from the Crestview High School Band. Selections include pieces from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas; On That Night All Was Silent, a new setting of Silent Night; How the Grinch Stole Christmas featuring Dan Haman singing You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch; and A Christmas Festival, a compilation of Christmas favorites arranged by Leroy Anderson. A Mayor’s Cultural Series program. Free, donations gratefully accepted.

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December 6th: Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade

The 2021 Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade will take place on Monday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m. along Eglin Parkway from First Street to Hughes Street. This year’s theme is Christmas Characters! The public is invited to gather along Eglin Parkway to watch the parade and cheer on their favorite characters. Anyone interested in having a float in the parade can download the application HERE.

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December 9th: Cruisin’ Into Christmas Festival of Trees

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December 11th: Destin Christmas Parade

The 37th annual “Jingle Bell Rock” Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 11th,
2021, at 10 a.m. The floats will begin at the Downtown Destin Shopping Center and travel west down Harbor
Boulevard (Hwy 98) to Stahlman Avenue. Spectators are asked to stand on the north side of Harbor Boulevard
to watch the parade. For those who wish to participate in the parade, please email Recreation@cityofdestin.com
to request an application. Applications must be received no later than Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, and
can be dropped off in person to the Destin Community Center (101 Stahlman Ave), faxed to 850-654-8998, or
email to recreation@cityofdestin.com. In lieu of an entry fee, each applicant must donate a toy, which will be
given to a local charity. All donations can be dropped off at the Destin Community Center.
Please call 850-654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.com for more information.

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December 17th: Toys for Tots Toy Drive

Join us for a fun night of giving on December 17 as we collect new, unwrapped toys to help bring a smile to children in need this Christmas. All proceeds will benefit the Toys for Tots Program. The night will include music, food trucks, Santa, raffles and more! The event is from 6-9 p.m. at the Fort Walton Beach Police Department located at 7 Hollywood Blvd. NE. Walk through a winter wonderland of decorated pallet houses, lights and displays created by our police officers.

What: FWB Police Department – Toys for Tots Toy Drive
When: December 17 from 6-9 p.m.
Where: 7 Hollywood Blvd. NE

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December 18th: Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America Honoring the 1800 Veterans at Beal Memorial Cemetery
Help us Remember The Fallen, Honor Those That Serve and Teach The Value Of Freedom
$15 Minimum Donation For Each Wreath Requested For Beal Memorial Cemetery

Wreath Placement Day – Saturday 18 December 2021 9am
Donations Can Be Made By Check To Veterans Tribute Tower Wreaths Across America
C/O Magnolia Grill
157 Brooks Street SE
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548

For more information contact Daquiri Champion At 850-582-7062 or champion.daquiri@gmail.com

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December 19th: Niceville Valparaiso Christmas Boat Parade

Organizers of the 2021 Niceville Valparaiso Rotary Club Christmas Boat Parade are pulling out the plugs and planning for a big holiday splash this year.

Slated for Sunday, December 19 beginning at 5:30 pm, the annual Christmas Boat Parade – presented by Emerald Coast Marine and staged at its onsite marina facilities – will feature not only a traditional display of fun onboard holiday-themed lights and decorations, but also the big Splashboards Media Boat with its 30’ jumbo screen that will be docked and playing popular Christmas movie snippets and favorite tunes. Festivities also include meal specials at The Locals Waterfront Eatery, plus complimentary hot cocoa, a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and the elves, provided by the Rotary.

“We invite boaters and the community at large to join us for this year’s holiday boat parade,” said Rotary co-organizer Brian Gwinnup. “We are developing some cool new judging categories and are putting together some awesome prize packages. We hope to produce a very special and memorable evening on the waterfront for all to enjoy.”

The parade route travels southwest from Emerald Coast Marine to Tom’s Bayou, past Lincoln Park, then east toward Lions Park, returning back to Emerald Coast Marine.

Boat entries are $30 each. All proceeds raised will benefit Sharing and Caring, a local 501c3 that coordinates community efforts to meet the emergency needs of families in the Niceville-Valparaiso-Choctaw Beach area.

For more information about boat parade entry/registration or for sponsorship opportunities, contact Rotary Parade Chair Brian Gwinnup at (850) 218-6381 or email nicevalrotary@yahoo.com. Information is also available at the Rotary website: www.nicevillevalparaisorotary.org

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