Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Our Top Picks for December 19-21 Entertainment on the Emerald Coast

This weekend, enjoy local, ongoing holiday events from a live nativity to a theater production! Be sure to check weather.com or tune in to the Weather Channel for the latest updates on local weather conditions.

The Life’s A Beach crew wishes everyone a wonderful and safe weekend! Enjoy!


Weeklong event, December 15-21, 2014:
Live Nativity at First Baptist Church of FWB
Corner of Shell and 2nd Street
Fort Walton Beach
Time: 6-8:30 p.m.


Saturday, December 20, 2014:
Santa Claus is Coming to Party City in Uptown Station


Downtown Fort Walton Beach Holiday Market



Visit with Santa
December 20-21
HarborWalk Village
10 Harbor Boulevard
Destin
Time: noon – 4 p.m.
Children can bring their wish list to Santa! All of Santa’s guests receive a special treat.

A Dickens Christmas
Dec. 20-21
EmeraldCoastTheatre.org




Sunday, December 21, 2014:
Breakfast with Santa at Emerald Grande
Grande Vista Bar and Grill, located inside Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village
10 Harbor Boulevard
Destin
Time: 8-11 a.m.
Bring the holiday season to life! Children can enjoy a delicious and festive breakfast with Santa at the Grande Vista Bar and Grill! For reservations, please contact 850.424.0621.

Some Sunday Brunch spots in and around Destin:
Crab Island Cantina, Destin Harbor crabislandcantina.com
Harry T’s, Destin Harbor harryts.com
Angler’s Beachside Grill, Okaloosa Island Boardwalk anglersgrill.com

McGuire’s Irish Pub, Destin mcguiresirishpub.com

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Our Top Picks for December 12-14 Entertainment on the Emerald Coast

This weekend’s calendar of events features holiday events GALORE. If you feel like really getting into the holiday spirit of Santa Claus, Christmas carols, parades and more, then there is no doubt you’ll find an event that interests you! Be sure to check weather.com or tune in to the Weather Channel for the latest updates on local weather conditions.

The Life’s A Beach crew wishes everyone a wonderful and safe weekend! Enjoy!


Saturday, December 13, 2014:
City of Destin’s 30th Annual Christmas Parade
Time: 10 a.m.
This year’s theme is “Christmas Trees & Memories, Celebrating Destin’s 30 Years.” The floats will start at Downtown Destin Shopping Center (Old Time Pottery) and travel West down Harbor Blvd. (Hwy. 98) to Nightown on Stahlman Avenue. Please stand on the north side of Harbor Blvd. to watch the floats.

A Dickens Christmas


Photos provided by Emerald Coast Theatre Company.
Visit with Santa
December 13-14
HarborWalk Village
10 Harbor Boulevard
Destin
Time: noon – 4 p.m.
Children can bring their wish list to Santa! All of Santa’s guests receive a special treat.

2nd Saturday Market
23 Eglin Parkway SE
Downtown Fort Walton Beach
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
There will be vendors set up outside with Christmas decor, Christmas gift items, furniture, shabby/chic, hand crafted items, home decor, home furnishings and so much more. Hamburgers and hotdogs will also be available for those who work up an appetite from shopping!

The Voices of Christmas at FWB First United Methodist Church
Fort Walton Beach First United Methodist Church
103 First Street SE
Fort Walton Beach
Located off of Highway 98, behind De' France Antiques and Flea Market
Time: 7-8:15 p.m.
The story of Christmas will unfold through the “voices” of witnesses (narration) echoed by the voices of the choir singing familiar holiday carols along with new Christmas anthems.


Lunch With Santa
AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar
116 Harbor Boulevard
Destin
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Head on over to AJ's after the Destin Christmas Parade for "Lunch with Santa"! This is a free, family event for everyone to enjoy. There will be live music with Cheryl Jones, arts & crafts with Build-A-Bear, cookie decorating, games, a Home Depot workshop, face painting, a bouncy house and so much more! You can also visit with Santa and tell him what you’d like for Christmas!

Sunday, December 14, 2014:
Destin Harbor Boat Parade
HarborWalk Village
Destin
Time: 6 p.m.
The Destin Harbor will be dancing with holiday lights and cheer during the 28th Annual Destin Boat Parade. Come enjoy live music, children’s arts and crafts, and hot chocolate! Visit Santa Claus from noon to 4 p.m. The boat parade begins at 6 p.m. Following the parade, will be a spectacular fireworks display over the Destin Harbor.
ARTwalk on the Harbor
HarborWalk Village
10 Harbor Boulevard
Destin
Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Art event along the Destin Boardwalk from HarborWalk Village to AJ’s, featuring local and regional artists and vendors. This event is free to the public and takes place on the third Sunday of every month.

Breakfast with Santa at Emerald Grande
Grande Vista Bar and Grill, located inside Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village
10 Harbor Boulevard
Destin
Time: 8-11 a.m.
Bring the holiday season to life! Children can enjoy a delicious and festive breakfast with Santa at the Grande Vista Bar and Grill! For reservations, please contact 850.424.0621.

Some Sunday Brunch spots in and around Destin:
Crab Island Cantina, Destin Harbor crabislandcantina.com
Harry T’s, Destin Harbor harryts.com
Angler’s Beachside Grill, Okaloosa Island Boardwalk anglersgrill.com
McGuire’s Irish Pub, Destin mcguiresirishpub.com

*For a full, detailed list of holiday events taking place on the Destin Harbor this weekend, check out destinchamber.com/events/Holiday.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Our Top Picks for December 5-7 Entertainment on the Emerald Coast

This weekend’s calendar features a few art-inspired events as well as holiday-inspired ones. Be sure to check weather.com or tune in to the Weather Channel for the latest updates on local weather conditions.

The Life’s A Beach crew wishes everyone a wonderful and safe weekend! Enjoy!


Friday, December 5, 2014:
A Christmas Carol
(December 5 – 6)
Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Sprint Theater
100 College Boulevard
Niceville
The classic Charles Dickens tale “A Christmas Carol” takes a delightful twist December 5 and 6 in a customized adaption by Northwest Florida State College that combines lively music and song, along with acting, period costumes, narration, set design and more to bring to life the story of Tiny Tim, Scrooge, Bob Crachitt and the spirits of Christmas. Included in the ticket price of $25/each will be Victorian-style desserts and beverages. The event will feature performances in the Sprint Theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and an additional show on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Call or click for tickets through the Mattie Kelly Arts Center box office at 850.729.6000 or online at MattieKellyArtsCenter.org. In-person tickets sales are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Mattie Kelly Arts Center is located on the Niceville campus of NWF State College at 100 College Boulevard.

Sounds of the Season
Saturday, December 6, 2014:
Visit with Santa
December 6 – 7
HarborWalk Village
10 Harbor Boulevard
Destin
Time: noon – 4 p.m.
Children can bring their wish list to Santa! All of Santa’s guests receive a special treat.

Breakfast with Santa at Bubba Gump
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
14059 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin
Time: 8 a.m.
Make your reservations today for breakfast with Santa! This event includes a breakfast buffet, fun activities and free goodies for kids, and, of course, Shrimp Louie and Santa Claus. To be entered into the raffle, please bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots. For more information, please contact 850.650.1881.

Christmas Market: Holiday Open House
Emerald Coast Science Center
31 S. Memorial Parkway, behind the baseball field
Fort Walton Beach
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Crafts, games, giveaways and holiday treats. Plus, holiday shopping from vendors all over the Emerald Coast!
*The Emerald Coast Science Center officially has a new home located at 31 S. Memorial Parkway. In celebration of their new location, the center will host many community events to welcome the guests and families of the Gulf Coast! A complete list of events will be posted soon. For more information, please call 850.664.1261.

Sunday, December 7, 2014:
Breakfast with Santa at Emerald Grande
Grande Vista Bar and Grill, located inside Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village
10 Harbor Boulevard
Destin
Time: 8-11 a.m.
Bring the holiday season to life! Children can enjoy a delicious and festive breakfast with Santa at the Grande Vista Bar and Grill! For reservations, please contact 850.424.0621.

“A White Tie Holiday” Youth Orchestra & White Tie Rock Ensemble
Northwest Florida State College
100 College Boulevard
Niceville
Time: 2 p.m.
Have a “White Tie Holiday” with the Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (NFSYO) at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. The NFSYO welcomes back the White Tie Rock Ensemble of Pensacola for a Christmas music extravaganza. This event features the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, holiday tunes, favorite holiday movie moments, a carol sing along and a multimedia light show.

The event is free with donations accepted at the door to support the youth orchestra programs of Northwest Florida State College. The concert will be held in the Mainstage Theater at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the Niceville campus of Northwest Florida State College at 100 College Boulevard.

The White Tie Rock Ensemble comprises five professional musicians of guitar, drums, bass, keyboard and vocals who reproduce the classic rock sounds of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s throughout northwest Florida and south Alabama. The group’s founder, Jonathan Clark, is also trained as a classical musician and heads the Escambia County Youth Orchestra programs.

Some Sunday Brunch spots in and around Destin:
Crab Island Cantina, Destin Harbor crabislandcantina.com
Harry T’s, Destin Harbor harryts.com
Angler’s Beachside Grill, Okaloosa Island Boardwalk anglersgrill.com

McGuire’s Irish Pub, Destin mcguiresirishpub.com