Community Calendar

First Fridays @ Railroad Square is a recurring monthly event, and a long-time favorite of Tallahassee residents.

All are invited to come enjoy a lively yet relaxed evening of perusing open galleries and creative micro-businesses, sampling local food, and connecting with our unique community.

There is so much to experience at Railroad Square! From vintage and antiques, to specialty stores and fine art, a non-profit theater, an authentic pinball arcade, a non-profit bookstore, a cult cinema…there’s truly something for everyone!

You should come to First Friday if you like:

One-of-a-kind Community Atmosphere
Free community crafts
Delicious food and beverages, like Halisi Africa, Flamingoz, Sweet Boozey Cakes, Miami Juice Bar, numerous food trucks, and more!
Creative local goods
Live Music
Some of the best people watching in the city

*Wear walking shoes! Roads close by 6pm to ensure pedestrian safety. After that time, you will need to park along FAMU Way or another location and walk (or call a Capital City PediCab!). We encourage carpooling and drop-offs.

*First Friday happens RAIN OR SHINE. Even if it rains, the rain almost never lasts the whole evening…so come on out!

Ring in the holidays with the North Florida Wildlife Center! Meet and greet live animals and let the kids get creative at our mask decorating station!

Hearth & Soul is honored to participate in the Market District’s 4th annual Holiday on Market! Shop and celebrate the season with food, fun and festivities. Stop by H&S for a S’mores and Bloody Mary Bar!

The Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to the 2024 Holiday on the Harbor Festival and Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 14 from 12-7 pm ET on Marine Street and along the harbor in Carrabelle, FL. This festival will feature terrific children’s activities, arts and crafts, delicious food, music, dance, a lighted boat parade and fireworks. This favorite Christmas tradition on the Forgotten Coast is free and family-friendly.

The children’s activities will include visits with Santa, mini-train rides, a bouncy house (courtesy of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department) and a book giveaway by Bring Me a Book Franklin. In keeping with the Carrabelle tradition, Santa will make his grand entrance on the City of Carrabelle Fire Truck. Children and families are welcome to come by Santa’s booth for a visit and photos with Santa.

This event will also include yummy holiday treats, a variety of delicious food and wonderful art, crafts and goods for holiday gifts. There will be live music by Kevin Whoo as well as festival favorite DJ Beanie Baby spinning those holiday and festival tunes. Guests can also enjoy wonderful dance performances from the Forgotten Coast Dancing Witches, Tallahassee State College Dance Company and, new this year, the Mountain Dew Cloggers.

While in Carrabelle, visitors are invited to complete their holiday shopping with unique and one of a kind items at Carrabelle’s wonderful stores, gift shops and art galleries conveniently located within walking distance of the festival. Then guests can enjoy delicious fresh seafood and tasty home-style cooking at one of several cafes, restaurants or festival food vendors.

As part of Holiday on the Harbor, First Baptist Church of Carrabelle will present a special program titled Missing Christmas on Saturday, at 5:00 pm at the church at 206 SE Avenue A. For those who are unable to attend on Saturday, there will also be a presentation on Friday, December 13, at 6:00 pm.

After enjoying hours of food, festivities, and fun, festival-goers are invited to watch the magical Christmas parade of boats decked out in lights, décor, and holiday outfits! Find a spot along the water and enjoy this parade with double the lights as the Carrabelle harbor beautifully reflects back the glow of the lighted boats. See this special nautical tradition from an unbeatable viewing point by entering your own decorated boat for free!

The parade starts around 6:15 pm and proceeds around the Carrabelle harbor between the Marine St. Fishing Pavilion and the Tillie Miller Bridge so it can be enjoyed from many viewing spots. (Please stay in public access areas only. Do not enter private property.)

Following the Boat Parade the fun continues with a fireworks finale! The boat parade trophies including the Marina Challenge Trophy will be awarded at an awards ceremony shortly after at C-Quarters Marina. Former Mayor Brenda LaPaz and Navy Veteran Greg Kristofferson will be the MCs for the ceremony providing holiday music and fun!

Thank you to this year’s sponsors, Centennial Bank, Duke Energy, and Emerald Coast Federal Credit Union, who help make this event happen. For details and vendor or boat parade registration, https://www.carrabelle.org/event/2024-holiday-on-the-harbor-festival-boat-parade-of-lights/, Chamber@nettally.com or 850-697-2585. Hosted by the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

A free event, a musical Christmas featuring free photos with Santa, Live candy cane making, A tuba Christmas, The Capitol Bells and the Lofty Pursuits marching band

Looking for a break from Christmas music? Warm up with some tunes to get you through the cool season at a special Blues & BBQ full moon event at Crooked River Lighthouse on Sunday, December 15, from 6:00-9:00 pm ET in Carrabelle, FL. This outdoor event will feature live Blues music, a glowing bonfire, and a delicious BBQ meal. Talented Blues musicians, “Blues Meets Girl” will be performing. Visitors can enjoy the natural surroundings of St. George Sound and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the sunset and rising Cold Moon.

Powerful musical duo, Blues Meets Girl, is a collaboration of British Blues veteran Mr. Downchild and Texas born singer/songwriter Kasimira. These two bold artists weave their separate influences together to create down-home, smokin’, sexy blues music at its best. Listeners can feel and relate to the soulful and passionate songs, as well as their unique renditions of the classics by Muddy Waters, Etta James, Big Mama Thorton, Elmore James and more. Blues Meets Girl is bonafide Blues thru and thru.

Visitors can enjoy an after-hours tour of the Keeper’s House Museum and see the exhibit of the lighthouse’s original, historic Fresnel lens constructed in 1894 in Paris, France. Guests can browse the unique nautical gifts and souvenirs in the gift shop. Visitors may also enjoy the glowing bonfire in the park (weather permitting). Bring a chair and enjoy the evening.

For this special event, admission tickets are required. Purchase early and save—tickets are $17 if bought by December 7, or $22 from December 8 until they sell out. Admission includes live music, bonfire, a delicious BBQ plate, and after-hours access to the museum.

For brave souls who are bold enough to venture to the top of the tallest lighthouse on the Forgotten Coast, evening climbs are scheduled at 15-minute intervals throughout the event. Climbers will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the bay. Evening climbs are $10 and timed tickets are needed due to limited availability. Climbers must be at least 44 inches tall. Children 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

Tickets for both admission and climbs can be purchased in the gift shop or at https://www.crookedriverlighthouse.com/full-moon-events/. The Lighthouse is located in Carrabelle at 1975 Hwy 98 West. For details, https://www.crookedriverlighthouse.com/, 850-697-2732 or carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

First Fridays @ Railroad Square is a recurring monthly event, and a long-time favorite of Tallahassee residents.

All are invited to come enjoy a lively yet relaxed evening of perusing open galleries and creative micro-businesses, sampling local food, and connecting with our unique community.

There is so much to experience at Railroad Square! From vintage and antiques, to specialty stores and fine art, a non-profit theater, an authentic pinball arcade, a non-profit bookstore, a cult cinema…there’s truly something for everyone!

You should come to First Friday if you like:

One-of-a-kind Community Atmosphere
Free community crafts
Delicious food and beverages, like Halisi Africa, Flamingoz, Sweet Boozey Cakes, Miami Juice Bar, numerous food trucks, and more!
Creative local goods
Live Music
Some of the best people watching in the city

*Wear walking shoes! Roads close by 6pm to ensure pedestrian safety. After that time, you will need to park along FAMU Way or another location and walk (or call a Capital City PediCab!). We encourage carpooling and drop-offs.

*First Friday happens RAIN OR SHINE. Even if it rains, the rain almost never lasts the whole evening…so come on out!