Florida’s Local Holiday Traditions

Florida is home to 67 counties and over 400 cities, towns and villages—each with a unique local character.  Looking for proof?  Look no further than the distinct holiday celebrations hosted by communities across the Sunshine State.

Now, every year Tallahassee’s McCarty Park is transformed into a Candy Cane Lane.  Floats are endowed with Christmas lights for a nighttime parade.  The Lighting Ceremony in Bloxham Park kicks off a Jingle Bell Run where runners take a nearly 2-mile hike dressed in Christmas garb.

“The festival appeals to families and people throughout the community regardless of what their holiday tradition is,” said Ashley Edwards of the City’s Parks & Recreation Department.  “It’s something that brings the community together to kick off that holiday season, which is why we’re so happy to do it each year.”

But turning Downtown Tallahassee into a winter wonderland is no small feat.  “We’ll begin planning next year’s festival as soon as this year ends,” said Edwards.  Although the Parks & Recreation Department heads up the event, everyone from police and fire to utilities and solid waste play a part.

“It’s a labor of love,” Edwards said. “Everyone involved sees the joy on the kids’ faces when Santa rides down Monroe in a fire truck and they’re back to help out next year.”

The Tallahassee Winter Festival kicked off 2017’s holiday season on Nov. 30^th.

Sculpted from 600-tons of sand, the City of West Palm Beach’s one-of-a-kind tree—nicknamed Sandi—stands at 35 feet and has received national media attention from “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and the Huffington Post.

The tree is sculpted by Team Sandtastic, a world-renowned sand sculpting company from Southwest Florida.  In 2010, the city began celebrating the holidays South-Florida style with 10 sand sculptures.  But in 2011, Mary Pinak of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, came up with the idea to create one giant sand tree instead.

Now in her sixth year, Sandi has taken on a life of her own—just like Frosty the Snowman or the Nutcracker Prince.  “Every year Sandi’s story – and her sassy personality – unwrap a little bit more and this year has surely been one of the most fun,” said Pinak.

This year, people were mesmerized by Sandi’s mystery “love,” which turned out to be a Great Dane mix named Duke.  Affectionately referred to as “a Great Dane for a Great Dame,” the “Duke of Sandi Land” made his debut as a 50-ton, 15-foot sand sculpture.

Sandi, and her Duke of Sandi Land, are on display in West Palm Beach until Dec. 31^st.

“In 1880, Thomas Edison and his group of inventors created the first strand of electric light bulbs for use as a Christmas decoration,” said Lisa Wilson, public relations coordinator for the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.  Edison strung the strands around his Menlo Park, New Jersey laboratory, added Wilson.  “At Edison & Ford Winter Estates, we carry on this tradition and this year marks the 42^ndanniversary of Holiday Nights.”

The winter homes, gardens and historic buildings of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford are decorated in a different theme each year.  “This year’s theme is ‘A Star-Spangled Holiday,’” said Wilson.  “Utilizing patriotic symbols and the colors red, white and blue throughout, this theme is reminiscent of the Victorian Era and historically accurate for when Thomas Edison spent time in Fort Myers.”

Visitors may view the lights from 5:30 – 9 p.m. nightly till Dec. 31^st.