Santa Rosa County has several Holiday events happening throughout November and December.
Jay Christmas Parade
The Town of Jay will be hosting their annual Christmas parade on Nov. 29 at 10 a.m.
The parade will begin at Bray-Hendricks Park travel along Booker Lane, Highway 4, Alabama Street, Williams Ave., Spring Street through Scott’s Plaza and Commerce Street. For more information on the parade contact Jay City Hall at 675-4556.
Lighting of the Bagdad Christmas Tree at Village Square
Saturday, December 6 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., stroll along in the Historic Village of Bagdad and hear the sounds of Christmas. Bring a lawn chair or settle on the old wooden benches. Past Bagdad Christmas ornaments are free as long as they last. Church groups and children’s choirs will perform.
Pace Christmas Parade
The Pace Christmas Parade, organized by the Pace Fire Rescue District, will take place at 1p.m. on December 6.
The parade will begin at Pace High School, travel along Norris Road, Chumuckla Highway, Pace Road, Pace Patriot Blvd., according to Pat Wadkins, the fire district’s administrative assistant.
For more information on the parade, contact the fire district at 994-6884.
Milton Christmas Parade
At 6 p.m., December 6, the City of Milton and the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce will have their 2014 Christmas Parade titled “A Pirates Night before Christmas on the Blackwater River.”
The parade route will begin at Milton Community Center on Byrom Street travel north onto James Street, east on James Street to Stewart Street then south on Stewart to Elva Street. For more information on the Milton Christmas Parade, visit srcchamber.com.
‘Big Screen on the Blackwater’
The City of Milton, along with Tom Thumb Stores will present ‘Big Screen on the Blackwater’ on December 5, 12, and 19. The free holiday movies − featuring “Rise of the Guardians,” “Shrek the Halls,” “The Polar Express,” and more − will take place at South Willing Street in downtown Milton. Each movie starts at 6 p.m.; however, Santa will arrive an hour earlier to visit children. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Concessions will also be available.
Gallery Night in Downtown Milton
The spirit of a warm, old fashioned community “sparkles” in the crisp night air of historic downtown Milton. Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation, in cooperation with the City of Milton, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, local businesses, nonprofit groups and many private citizen volunteers and residents of the historic downtown area proudly present its annual Holiday Gallery Night-Light-Up Milton on Friday, December 5th, 2014 from 5:00 to 9:30 pm.
NavarreChamber Christmas in the Park
On Saturday Dec. 6, the 2014 Annual Navarre Community Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. will be among the many scheduled events during the all day event.
In addition to live entertainment and photo opportunities with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, residents can visit Mrs. Claus’s bakery in Navarre Park – which offers free cookies, hot chocolate and apple cider and Santa workshop – featuring free crafts for children.
From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. the Holiday Marketplace will offer local gifts.
The event will end with the lighting of the Navarre Park tree at 6 p.m. For more information call 939-3267.
First UMC of Pace
The First United Methodist Church of Pace will have several free community events with an Emmanuel Hope of Our Hearts Cantata on Dec. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and a Kids Christmas Celebration later that day from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The celebration includes crafts, games, hot chocolate, a movie and a pajamas contest for children ages four through the fifth grade.
Children in the same age range can have ‘Breakfast with Santa’ which will also include fun activities on Dec. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The church will also have two candlelight services on Christmas Eve. The family candlelight service is at 5 p.m. The traditional candlelight service 6:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church of Pace is located at 4540 Chumuckla Hwy. For more information contact the church at 994-5608.
A Taste of Christmas Tradition
Christmas music gala and reception to be held at Bagdad Village Museum, 4512 Church Street, Bagdad December 15 at 7 p.m. Margaret Arnold, regional classical soloist and Santa Rosa County Music Educator and Dr. Leonid Yanovsky, violinist and director of strings/orchestra at University of West Florida will perform “A Musical Fantasy of Christmas, past and present.” Tickets are $40 and black tie optional. For more information call 623-3288.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Christmas celebrations around the area