Holiday Cheer in Tallahassee
A Month Full of Events, Festivals, Lights and Fun
‘Tis the season for exciting events, family-friendly-festivals, sports, and of course, shopping! Planning a holiday trip to the Capital City and fill your plans by using this handy guide to make the most of your visit.
Dec. 1 – 24
Lemoyne Arts’ 60th Annual Holiday Show is the perfect place to find a variety of handmade gifts created by local and regional artisans.
Dec. 1 – Jan. 1
Holiday Light Display at Dorothy B. Oven Park
The holiday light display will premiere Thanksgiving evening (Thursday, November 23) and run nightly through the New Year (Saturday, January 1), weather permitting. Drive through the park with lights off and windows down to experience the spirit of the holiday season.
Weekday hours are 6-10pm with extended hours on the weekends from 5:30 until 11pm. Motorists inside the park and traveling along Thomasville Road in the vicinity of the park, are urged to drive with caution.
Dec. 1
Stop at the Station at Railroad Avenue
Stop by the Station at Railroad Avenue. Enjoy live music, refreshments, holiday shopping and a meet and greet with locally featured artisans at the Visit Tallahassee Visitor Information and Gift Shop from 5 – 7 p.m. at 918 Railroad Avenue.
Dec. 1
First Friday at Railroad Square Art District– This monthly festival offers a lively, enjoyable experience with open galleries/shops, live music, and food. Enjoy open art galleries and shops as well as an Arts & Crafts table for hands-on fun!
Dec. 1
Camellia Christmas – Enjoy hot cider and cookies, a silent auction, Maclay House tours, live music performances, and a visit from Santa!
Dec. 2-3
Market Days at the North Florida Fairgrounds – One of the Southeast’s largest and best-juried arts and crafts shows, featuring the unique, handmade creations of over 300 artists and top-quality artisans and craftspeople.
Dec. 2
Winter Festival – The 37th annual Winter Festival – a Celebration of Lights, Music and the Arts will fill downtown Tallahassee with merriment on Saturday, December 2, from 3:00 – 10:00pm. Visitors can enjoy delicious food vendors, unique arts and crafts merchants and sparkling holiday displays, including Candy Cane Lane in McCarty Park. There will be a children’s activity area on Kleman Plaza that will show family-friendly holiday movies from 6:00 – 10:00pm.
Dec. 6
Scott Carswell Presents The Prophecy Show, The Music of Trans Siberian Orchestra on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., showtime at 7:15 p.m. The tribute to the Christmas-themed rock band is based on TSO’s biggest hits including “Christmas Canon” and albums like “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” and “The Christmas Attic.”.
Dec. 8
Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah
The sanctuary at Trinity United Methodist Church will be filled with joyous refrains and exultant arias, including the iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus, in this beautiful performance Handel’s Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 3 p.m. Dec. 10.
Dec. 9
35th Annual Victorian Christmas – Journey to the past and experience the days of old as you venture throughout the historic streets of Downtown Thomasville and encounter the magic of Victorian Christmas!
Dec. 9
Holiday Magic: Cirque De Noel, a stunning holiday show featuring music, stunning aerial feats and awe-inspiring acrobatics filled with the wonder of the season at Ruby Diamond.
Dec. 9
Holiday Stroll through Cascades Park
You can sing aloud, or simply listen, to merry melodies as they fill the air of Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden St., from 6-7:30 p.m Saturday, December 9 at the annual Holiday Stroll. About a dozen different acts will showcase their talents throughout the winding trails of Cascades Park, including the Smokey Hollow Commemoration. Free hot cocoa will be available. A beautiful show at Imagination Fountain will play every fifteen minutes during the event.
Dec. 14
Elf Night at Dorothy B. Oven Park
Elf Night is Thursday, December 14 from 5:30pm-8:00pm.
Dec. 16-17
Tallahassee Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ at Ruby Diamond Hall
The holiday classic, The Nutcracker, is a memory-making performance that is not just about what is behind the curtain but about the magic of the experience. Generations of families mark the holiday season by dressing up and introducing bright-eyed youngsters to the most frequently performed ballet in America and worldwide. Dancers float across the stage with George Balanchine’s choreography set to the iconic score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, performed by a live orchestra. TTB’s custom-made costumes and set bring audience members along with them into a timeless story beloved by all.
Dec. 31
Countdown Downtown – New Year’s Eve
It’s the best party in 200 years! Join us on December 31st from 6-10 pm in Cascades Park for a New Year’s celebration as we celebrate our Bicentennial anniversary! Family-friendly, food, fun, and, of course, fireworks will be enjoyed by all.
