The city of Savannah welcomes the holiday season with a boat parade on Saturday November 28th, 2009. kopf The Savannah River will be filled with lighted boats, holiday decorated boats and more boats! Get into the holiday spirit and come and look for the best lit vessel and pick your favorite. The beautiful parade navigates up the river and then along historic River Street and Rousakis Plaza. The WTOC Lighting of the Tree Ceremony begins at 6pm in Morrell Park and is followed by the Lighted Flotilla!
Jacksonville Light Parade 2009
The St. Johns River sparkles in holiday cheer during the Jacksonville Light Parade on November 28. Sailboats and other boats festively decorated for the holidays will parade down the river in the heart of Downtown. Boaters will light up the sails and dress up as Santas and wave to the crowds along the riverbanks. Don’t miss this spectacular holiday event which is followed by a fireworks show with Jacksonville’s signature “waterfall†fireworks cascading from two Downtown bridges.
2009 Jacksonville Light Parade
Saturday, November 28
7 p.m.
Downtown Riverfront
The parade can be seen from both the northbank and southbank of the downtown riverfront. Families are encouraged to bring their chairs, blankets and picnics to the riverfront for this magical evening!
Click here for a printable map
Annoucements of parading boats, themes and holiday messages will be broadcast along the northbank and southbank of the riverfront.
For more details visit www.coj.net
Santas of the Old World – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl
A most unique holiday exhibition will take place at the Cultural Center from December 2nd through December 9th, 2009, when Dannehl M. Twomey’s wonderfully creative “Santas of the Old World: Toys, Legends & Traditions” will be display. Dannehl creates Santas that appear to have been made in the 1800’s and sculpts each head individually and adds antique textiles and toys to create a unique Santa that reflects that time period.
Featured in Southern Living, Dannehl’s Santa figures are created to look as though they were created by your great-great-grandmother and handed down through the family for generations.
This exhibit will appeal to children and adults of all ages. The Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm; Saturday 10am – 4pm.
For more information please call The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach at (904) 280-0614 or visit www.ccpvb.org
Rotary Gingerbread House Extravaganza – Jacksonville
The Gingerbread House Extravaganza opens on November 28 through to December 23 at the Jacksonville Historical Society (formerly the Old St. Andrews Episcopal Church) at 317 Phillip A. Randolph Blvd. Over half a million dollars has been raised for more than 30 charities in the past six years!
This annual event features a variety of large gingerbread creations made of 75% edible materials displayed in a village atmosphere in the Historic Society’s old church. Over 40 gingerbread structures are expected to be submitted for competition. Gingerbread houses displayed are built by local individuals and organizations, as well as area country club chefs, restaurants, bakeries, architects and various non-profits and area schools.
Winners of the competition will be awarded $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place. A “People’s Choice Award†will be announced at the end of the show when ballots cast by the public are tallied.
This event is organized by the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of North Jacksonville and Rotaract Club of Florida’s First Coast.
This year’s Gingerbread Judges include: Michael Bump, Pastry Chef, Restaurant Orsay; Cinda Sherman, Publisher, Arbus Magazine; and Hope McMath, Director, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
Charities that will receive funds raised from the event include the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville, HabiJax and the Jacksonville Historical Society. For additional information www.rotarycharity.org.
The 2009 Gingerbread House Extravaganza
November 28 – December 22, 2009
Jacksonville Historical Society
317 A. Phillip Randolph Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL 32202
OPENING DAY – Saturday, November 28: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday – Saturday only: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Also Open December 21 and 22: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Open on Tuesdays by appointment only.
Admission:
Adults – $5.00 donation
Children (3 – 16) – $3.00 donation
Infants – Free
Special – $10.00 Polio Plus Tickets (to help Rotary and the World Health Organization eradicate polio globally) includes $5.00 donated to Polio Plus.
Thanksgiving Weekend in Savannah
The weekend following Thanksgiving, celebrates the holiday season with Savannah Holly Days on Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28.
On Friday, November 27 from 6-9 p.m., there will be skating under the stars, a delicious wine tasting, an outdoor holiday movie, a festive marketplace and shopping on Broughton Street.
On Saturday, November 28, start the holidays off right with cookies and milk with Santa Claus in Santa’s Workshop from 9:15-10 a.m. From 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., the Savannah Holly Days will have a snow area for playing in Reynolds Square, a skating rink on Broughton Street, shopping in a festive marketplace with great downtown shops and local artisans.
There will also be holiday movies at The Lucas Theatre as well as live entertainment including music and dance performances. Santa will be on hand for photographs and memories along with a variety of children’s activities. From 6-9 p.m., there will be a holiday movie shown on the side of Il Pasticcio.
Savannah Lighted Boat Parade takes place on the river and is well worth a visit. Lots of holiday decorated boats will pass by. There is also the Tree Lighting Ceremony on this Saturday, so it’s a busy day.
For a full list of Savannah Holly Days event information as well as information on special holiday offers from Savannah accommodations, restaurants and attractions, please visit www.SavannahHollyDays.com. For more information, please contact Laura Simpson at 912.644.6452
