Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Santa’s Garden Celebration – St. Augustine, FL

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Mr SantaBring the entire family to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus in the beautiful setting of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. The Santa Celebration takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features holiday activities for children including movies on a big screen, hands-on arts and crafts, and sing-alongs and a gingerbread house contest. There will be complimentary hot chocolate and peppermint white hot chocolate, plus food vendors, a holiday plant sale, wreath and ornament making, live entertainment and fresh Christmas trees for sale.

For more information please call 386.446.6783

Daniel Island Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting Festivities – Charleston, SC

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Prepare to Christmas 2007The Daniel Island Holiday Festival returns to the Family Circle Cup Tennis Center this holiday season – great holiday shopping, entertaining performances and tons of food and beverages.

The Holiday Festival will come alive with bargains galore and a vast assortment of unique gifts for the whole family! Visitors will have the opportunity to complete all of their holiday shopping in one convenient location. There will also be dance and musical performances throughout the day, including evening performances by Robin Harris & Friends and Plane Jane.

Visit www.danielislandholidayfestival.com for up-to-date event information including a shopping directory, complete schedule of events and more. The Daniel Island Holiday Festival is a free event and open to the general public.

Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Market Pavilion Hotel – Charleston, SC

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IndividualisticAmong the most inspirational events of the season promises to be Market Pavilion Hotel’s Third Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony that will take place in the hotel lobby on Thursday, December 4 at 5 p.m. with hotel guests, neighbors and friends of the hotel all welcome. In addition to Santa arriving via horse-drawn carriage and “checking in” to the hotel for the holiday season, representatives from The Salvation Army also will be present. All attendees will be invited to bring an unwrapped child’s toy as well, which will be donated to The Salvation Army. With egg nog, spiced cider, roasted chestnuts and a sumptuous display of holiday “Sugar & Spice” for all to enjoy, the evening promises to be very festive.

For more information call 843-723-0500 or visit www.marketpavilion.com

Winter Celebration in Mandarin at Walter Jones Historical Park

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Come celebrate the beginning of the holiday season at the Winter Celebration in Mandarin. The whole family can enjoy a variety of fun activities such as hayrides, rides on the putt-putt train, visits with Santa, games and nature crafts, nature exhibits and making Victorian ornaments and much more. The ninth annual Winter Celebration in Mandarin will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Walter Jones Historical Park, 11964 Mandarin Road. The 1875 farmhouse will be open for tours all day.
This event is free, but some activities have a fee. Call 904 268-0784 for more information.

The schedule of events includes:

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Hayrides. Train ride. Re-enactors.
Crafts and games. Gift shop. Museum.

12:30 – 4:00 p.m. Webb/Jones farmhouse open.

1:30 – 4:00 p.m. A visit from Santa Claus – Entertainment at the farmhouse:

11:30 – 12 noon. Mandarin United Methodist Church Cherubs Choir and the Kings Kids Choir.

12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Mandarin Presbyterian Church Children’s Choir

1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Reading and book signing by Jane Wood, author of the children’s book Trouble on the St. Johns River.

The Walter Jones Historical Park is located at 11964 Mandarin Road. For more information or direction s, call the museum at (904) 268-0784 or visit: www.mandarinmuseum.net

Movies at the Museum: The Polar Express – Charleston, SC

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film stripKick off the season with this new holiday classic movie and a craft for kids. This magical holiday tale tells of a young boy who still wants to believe in Santa even though his friends have “grown out of it.” His faith is rewarded when a steam train pulls up to his house and escorts him to the North Pole to meet Santa. The cutting-edge “motion capture process” used to film this story allows the real life actors to drive the emotions and movements of the animated characters. Reservations are strongly recommended for this event – call 722-2996 x264 or online at www.charlestonmuseum.org. RATED G.
FREE for Museum members and FREE with admission ($10/adults, $5/children, under 3 free)