TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Christmas tradition started in Florida’s Capital City as Hernando De Soto established his winter encampment in downtown Tallahassee in 1539 – the site where the Spanish celebrated the first Christmas in the continental United States.
Add the Southeast’s largest craft show and generous helpings of traditional twinkling lights, music, festivities and food, and Winter Nights, Holiday Lights, from Nov. 2 – Jan. 5, 2013 makes Florida’s Capital City one of the region’s most popular holiday destinations. For information and value-added offers at local hotels, attractions and restaurants, visit www.VisitTallahassee.com or call toll free at (800) 628-2866.
Visitors gain insight into North America’s first Christmas and the Spanish colonial era at Mission San Luis, just minutes from downtown Tallahassee, and get to step back in time on Dec. 16 at the Winter Solstice Celebration from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and experience living history, a Winter Solstice Craft Fair, Native American flute musicians, children’s crafts and more. At 6 p.m., Native American and Apalachee culture and heritage is celebrated in the council house – an impressive five story, thatched roof, wooden structure, where residents of the mission met on important matters. The Tallahassee Astronomy Society rounds out the evening with views of the winter sky through high-powered telescopes.
The commemoration of Florida’s 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s arrival to Florida kicks off at Mission San Luis on Jan. 5 with a special event, First Christmas in La Florida, from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. This event depicts Tallahassee in the early 16th century, as "Grand Anhaica," the capital village of Apalachee Province and site of De Soto's winter encampment. The First Christmas in La Florida commemoration includes a Mass reenactment, living history demonstrations, period vocal and instrumental music and Spanish plays from the period.
Modern day treasure hunters and explorers snap up distinctive holiday gifts at three of the city’s acclaimed events. Holiday shoppers begin checking gifts off their list at the Junior League of Tallahassee’s Jingle Jubilee at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, Nov. 2 – 3. Jingle Jubilee features boutiques, merchants and retailers from around the country. Art lovers gravitate to LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts during the “Enchanted” showcase, Nov. 22 – Dec. 29 where 100 artists offer artwork, gift items and handmade ornaments. The Southeast’s most treasured holiday shopping tradition – Market Days – presents original works created by 300 juried artists and craftsmen chosen from around the country. The event takes place at the North Florida Fairgrounds, Dec. 1 – 2, with proceeds benefitting the Tallahassee Museum.
Tallahassee’s annual Winter Festival on Dec. 1 blends a celebration of lights, music and the fine arts under the twinkling lights downtown. The festival includes free admission, live entertainment, an array of holiday food from local vendors and the famed Jingle Bell Run.
Visitors stroll through candle-lit gardens accompanied by holiday music, hot apple cider and warm cookies at Camellia Christmas at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park on Dec. 7. For a stroll in a different setting, Dorothy B. Oven Park celebrates the season with more than 250,000 lights. Pebble Hill Plantation offers Christmas tours throughout December, showing off its Southern architecture and antiques decorated for the holidays.
The Dec. 8 Downtown Marketplace presents the Holiday Art Festival from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. with live music and an assortment of one-of-a-kind arts and crafts, from photography and jewelry to raku and pottery.
The Tallahassee Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker on Dec. 8 – 9 at Ruby Diamond Auditorium lets audiences join Clara on her magical journey to the Kingdom of Sweets with this classic ballet performance.
After shopping and exploring, visitors wind down over dinner at any of a growing number of local restaurants featuring locally grown, farm-to-table fare, or relax to live entertainment at pubs, wine bars or local breweries.
Hundreds of thousands of lights brighten the holiday season in Tallahassee – far different from the rather modest celebration of that first Christmas in North America. Savoring the holiday spirit that spans five centuries sometimes takes time – perhaps even a long weekend. Or in the case of Winter Nights, Holiday Lights, the celebration lasts slightly more than two months.
For more information on Winter Nights, Holiday Lights, visit www.VisitTallahassee.com or call Visit Tallahassee toll free at (800) 628-2866.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Christmas tradition started in Florida’s Capital City as Hernando De Soto established his winter encampment in downtown Tallahassee in 1539 – the site where the Spanish celebrated the first Christmas in the continental United States.
Add the Southeast’s largest craft show and generous helpings of traditional twinkling lights, music, festivities and food, and Winter Nights, Holiday Lights, from Nov. 2 – Jan. 5, 2013 makes Florida’s Capital City one of the region’s most popular holiday destinations. For information and value-added offers at local hotels, attractions and restaurants, visit www.VisitTallahassee.com or call toll free at (800) 628-2866.
