By Nanette Wiser
HOLIDAY REVELS Walk off that Thanksgiving dinner with visits to Tampa Bay’s holiday extravaganzas. At Christmas in the Wild ZooTampa, you will be thrilled by Tampa Bay’s largest light displays, festive treats, jolly wildlife encounters (penguins), holiday shows, live seasonal music and more. Take the kids to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens and ride the Holly Jolly Express train and visit Santa in his workshop. At Legoland, holiday character experiences, light displays and sweet treats beckon. There’s also a Winter’s Village in Curtis Hixon Park sparkling with lights, ice skating and more. In Pinellas County, the Florida Botanical Gardens lights up nightly, Enchant Christmas takes over Tropicana Field with ice skating and Santa sightings and the St. Pete Pier hosts magical events with annual downtown Menorah and Christmas tree lighting.
Under a canopy of twinkling lights on Amelia Island, the annual Dickens on Centre festival (Dec. 7-10) will once again transform historic downtown Fernandina Beach into the largest Christmas Market in Northeast Florida. The free event offers an immersive Victorian holiday experience featuring stages adorned with entertainers, vendor booths decked with holiday gifts, music filling the air, and shops bustling day and night with good cheer.
HISTORIC HOTELS During the holidays, Orlando’s Gaylord Palms is Christmas central. Closer to home, we have beautiful historic hotels with holiday flair and special menus including the Don CeSar, the spectacular newly relaunched Vinoy Resort (Lottie’s desserts!), Hollander Hotel and Fenway Hotel. One of my favorites is Avon Park’s “gracious lady,” The Hotel Jacaranda. It is listed on the National Historic Register and the epitome of Southern repose, visited by Babe Ruth, Clark Gable, and other celebrities. Today, the hotel radiates unequaled elegance with comfortable, spacious guestrooms, a sprawling veranda, complimentary breakfast, a Sunday grand buffet and lunch/dinner served Tues.-Fri in the restaurant. It’s a perfect spot to refresh after a visit to nearby Bok Sanctuary and other Orlando attractions.
SARASOTA FESTIVALS Sarasota boasts world-class destinations and entertainment such as Selby Gardens, The Ringling Museum, St. Armands Square, Asolo Theater and Van Wezel. There are also dozens of free festivals worth a day trip. At JD Hamel Park at Gulfstream and Main Street, the Sarasota Fall Fine Art Festival runs 11/18-19 10am-5pm and the Sarasota Food Truck Rally & Music Festival tunes up 11/24 4-10pm, 11/25 11am-10pm and until 6pm 11/26. At Siesta Key Pavilion, enjoy the Seafood & Music Festival 12/1 noon-9pm, 12/22 11am-9 pm and 12/3 until 6pm.
On 12/2-3 10am-5pm, Lakewood Ranch Holiday of the Arts on Main St features painting, sculpting, jewelry, photography, candles, scented oils, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, mixed-media, woodworking, and more art pieces. The 2nd annual Bradenton Riverwalk Holiday of the Arts 12/16-17 10am-5pm showcases original artwork by 100+ artisans.
MAGIC & MUSIC This year’s Miami Beach Classical Music Festival celebrates the magic of the season at the Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights at The Gabriel South Beach, a fabulous art deco hotel located along the lively Ocean Drive 12/15-16 at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30pm. The holiday season is getting a whole lot brighter with this enchanting family-friendly event celebrating international holiday traditions through live music and projection mapping displays. The Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights is a must-see experience featuring a series of live musical performances that span a diverse range of genres, allowing attendees to revel in the joyous sounds of the holiday season. Adding to the excitement are beloved holiday characters who will make live appearances throughout the show, including Santa Claus, The Grinch, and Elsa. During the festival (12/18-1/7) the Ocean Drive café’s will be extended into the street for Fri.-Mon. To start the new year off right, the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival will be hosting a New Year’s Day free concert in Lummus Park on Monday, January 1. Don’t miss the spectacular fireworks at midnight!