No matter what time of year it is, you can never say no to a spectacular time at the beach. The waves are calling you, so make your way back to 30A and the rest of South Walton County! While the rest of the country has to deal with freezing temps around the holidays, you can escape off to the warmth of 30A. During your holiday stay, there will be plenty to do, including checking out the local Christmas lights and displays, a regular family tradition that can continue. Take a look at the best spots where you can see 30A Christmas lights:
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Rosemary Beach
30A makes up a good stretch along the southern coast here in South Walton County. This stretch of shoreline features many gorgeous beach communities where you will find a majority of our vacation rentals. One such place is Rosemary Beach that knows how to bring in the holiday cheer with their annual Christmas Tree Light Ceremony. This annual tradition takes place at South Barrett Square and features a wonderful time and celebration. This Rosemary Beach tradition typically takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving each year for a short ceremony that lights up the Christmas tree for all to see. Santa Claus will be on hand to give a helping hand with the ceremony and the Charles Dickens Carolers will perform a myriad of holiday songs. The Christmas lights on the tree are a true spectacle to behold, so do not miss this annual event that starts at 6:00 PM each year. This is one of the biggest Christmas trees in all of 30A, so you are sure to get a great view of hundreds of Christmas lights. After the ceremony is over, continue to explore the rest of Rosemary Beach, where you will find lights hanging high up in the tree branches all around town.
Seaside
Another great neighborhood here in 30A that is sure to offer you a splendid Christmas light viewing is Seaside. Specifically, you will find that Seaside Central Square offers Christmas lights all around it during the holiday season. This is the perfect place for a romantic stroll in the evening for two. Head on over to Airstream Row, where you will find the local amphitheater. Near it is a simple Christmas tree that, while smaller than the one found in Rosemary Beach, still offers plenty of lights to see. The Seaside Neighborhood School also features a Christmas tree with lights found out front that is a joy to see.
Festival of Trees
Each year the community of Grand Boulevard puts on their Festival of Trees event that supports local nonprofits and charities. This annual festival is located at the center courtyard at Grand Park in town and is a giant collection of Christmas trees that are slowly decorated throughout the holiday season. The Festival of Trees typically begins the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and runs all the way up until Christmas Day. The festival is a friendly competition among the local businesses and charities to have the best decorations and lights on their Christmas trees throughout the season. If you visit multiple times during your stay, you will probably notice changes made over time to each tree. The Christmas trees are adorned with plenty of Christmas lights to light up the night sky. Visiting the Festival of Trees is absolutely free, and visitors are able to vote on the People’s Choice Award for best Christmas tree. The festival is open daily from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, allowing you to enjoy this free Christmas light viewing activity.
Watercolor
Another great place to see a giant Christmas tree is over in WaterColor. This community features their Christmas tree with thousands of Christmas lights over at Cerulean Park. Their Christmas tree is a true wonder that stands tall among the other trees in the park. You will find the bright white colors of the Christmas lights will make it easy to find. Don’t forget to explore this gorgeous park after seeing the lights too.
Alys Beach
During the day, Alys Beach features plenty of white sandy beaches and their iconic palm trees towering above. At night, you will find the trees to be wrapped in Christmas lights around the trunks. Additional ornaments and displays can be found as well, making it an ideal spot to visit.
More Fun Here in 30A
Get ready for an unbelievable adventure when you book a stay here in 30A this winter. Our Florida home will provide you with sunny skies and cool crisp temps found nowhere else this time of year. Reach out to us to book your vacation rental in Rosemary Beach and see the holiday lights for yourself!
30A has numerous beach properties that are perfect for any time of the year. One of the best times of the year to come to Rosemary Beach is the winter, where you can enjoy the bright sunshine, blue waters, white sand beaches, and fewer crowds. Instead of fighting to get a spot on the sand or queuing in line to get to one of the many returns, you can have a stress-free and relaxing time with your friends and family when you spend Christmas in Rosemary Beach! Let’s check out the best things to do in Rosemary Beach, FL, during your Christmas and New Year’s getaway. There are dozens of outdoor activities, like golf courses and surfing, and endless indoor attractions, like restaurants, museums, and cultural things you can take part in during your stay in this coastal town.
Water Activities
Florida is known for bright blue water and white sand beaches. Not only can you get in the water at any time of the day – and not be cold! — but you can take part in some of the fun, adrenaline-filled outdoor sports that will keep your energy up all day long.
We recommend renting a canoe, kayak, or paddle board and heading to one of the nearby lakes to get in some exercise, meander along the bright blue water, and take amazing photos during sunset time. The good thing about being in Rosemary Beach is there are dozens of lakes that you can access! You can walk around the outside of the lakes, like on the Timpoochee Trail, or you can get into the boat, canoe, or kayak and get a different point of view of the surrounding dunes, wetlands, and wildlife.
You can also try your luck at fishing! See if you can catch some of the local flounder or speckled trout. You may even catch something you can cook in your modern apartment and make for a nice Christmas dinner!
Play Doubles Tennis with Your Partner
One of the best outdoor sports to do during your time in Rosemary Beach is to enjoy doubles tennis with your partner. We know that you want to spend the holiday season with your family — so bring your teenager, husband, wife, uncle, aunt, or other guests to the tennis court to challenge another couple with their best game! You can head to one of the many local public courts, tennis centers, or country clubs to play on a nice court on a sunny afternoon.
Take Family Photos on the Beach
You want to remember your lovely Christmas and New Year’s holiday for years to come, right? Right! Take a lovely family photo on the beach at sunset with a professional photographer so you can always remember this special time in your life. It doesn’t matter if you have young kids, teenagers, or you are only here with your partner — there are professional photographers who can get the best angles and lighting to make everyone look their best.
Take Part in Morning Yoga to Set the Tone for the Day
Take part in a morning yoga class to de-stress, relax, and set the tone for a fun day. You can choose between the various types of yoga you want, such as Vinyasa yoga, that is challenging to all of your muscles, or gentle yoga, that is great for meditation and breathing. Do yoga on the beach, head to one of the nearby studios, or do a pop-up yoga class to meditate, relax, and tone your muscles before eating a filling Christmas feast!
Check Out One of the Nearby State Parks
There are endless state parks and natural areas in the entire state of Florida. Not only can you head to the beach and go walking on one of the many trails, but the state parks offer a more peaceful and relaxed pace to the day. Bring your kids here to teach them about the flowers, learn about the trees, and get in a few thousand steps during your winter vacation here.
Go Shopping!
Christmas is ideally the best time to go shopping. Not only does Rosemary Beach offer boutique shops, chain stores, and souvenir stores for you to bring home items for your family, but Rosemary Beach offers the Rosemary Beach Trading Company, Rosemary Beach t-shirts, and endless other stores that are ideal for getting last minute gifts or outfits for an upcoming New Year’s Eve party!
Find Accommodation Options in Rosemary Beach, FL
If Rosemary Beach sounds like the ideal place for you to stay during your holiday getaway, then use 30A Beach Properties to find the best accommodation option for your needs! Do you want a small condominium with the latest appliances? Do you prefer to have a large house to fit all of your guests? No matter what you need, we make sure that we can give it to you.