The night after Thanksgiving, the crowd for the tree lighting gathers in South Barrett Square at 6 p.m. When the lights come on, the shops around the square stay open into the evening. The town's own listing says it directly: "there's no hurry to leave."
That open-door evening sets the pattern for the season. The Rosemary Beach Merchants Association organizes the lighting, not a civic committee. Eight days later, at the Holiday Tour of Homes, décor sponsors dress each featured residence, and the holiday pieces on display can be bought right off the mantel. From Thanksgiving week through the first Saturday in December, the town's two biggest holiday events both double as shopping.
The Merchants Light the Tree
The Tree Lighting Ceremony & Merchant Open House is set for Friday, November 27, at 6 p.m. in South Barrett Square. Since the merchants host it, early holiday shopping is built into the event. The shops plan to be open when the crowd is already standing outside.
The timing is generous for families with guests in town. The evening falls the day after the turkey and the morning before Breakfast with Santa, which runs Saturday, November 28, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Town Hall, 48 S. Barrett Square. Tickets are $20. A household could cover both in about fifteen hours without moving the car.
Thanksgiving Week, Square by Square
The tree lighting comes after two days of smaller events, all within a short walk of each other:
- Tuesday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Festive Face Painting in South Barrett Square, which promises to turn children into "creative creatures."
- Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2 to 3 p.m.: The Pittman Magic Holiday Spectacular in North Barrett Square, with illusions, juggling and comedy.
- Wednesday, Nov. 25, 6 to 8 p.m.: Moonlight & Movies shows Elf on Western Green. Chairs and blankets are welcome.
- Friday, Nov. 27, 6 p.m.: The tree lighting and merchant open house in South Barrett Square.
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 8 to 10 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa at Town Hall.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Holiday Tour of Homes, starting from North Barrett Square.
Five of those six events start from one of the two halves of Barrett Square or from Town Hall on it. The movie on Western Green is the only one that sends you to the other side of town.
Thanksgiving Dinner Has Earlier Deadlines
The week's first real deadline arrives before any of the events. Edward's takes Thanksgiving to-go orders through Sunday, November 22, at 3 p.m., or until supplies run out. Pickup is Wednesday, November 25, in a scheduled slot between 2 and 5 p.m. Payment is due when you order, all sales are final, and orders go through 850-231-0550 or in person at the restaurant. Edward's will also be closed for a private event on Friday, November 20, so phoning on Saturday or Sunday leaves the least margin.
Chef Josh's 2026 menu prices the main dishes by the pound:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Sliced roasted turkey | $25 per pound |
| Sliced honey-baked ham | $20 per pound |
| Apple, pecan or pumpkin pie, feeds 6 to 8 | $50 each |
| Yeast rolls | $12 per dozen |
The sides include sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, dressing, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, bisque and cranberry sauce.
For a sit-down meal, The Pearl serves a Thanksgiving buffet on Thursday, November 26, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. across Havana Beach, the Hemingway Room and the Ballroom. It includes a prime rib carving station and house-made desserts. Reservations are required and are booked through Havana Beach Bar & Grill at 850-588-2882. A credit card holds the table, cancellations within 72 hours cost $50, and a 22% gratuity is added to every check. Restaurant Paradis takes Thanksgiving-night reservations through OpenTable, with dinner times from 5:45 p.m. into the evening.
On December 5, the Homes Double as Showrooms
The Rosemary Beach Foundation's 8th annual Holiday Tour of Homes is a self-guided walk through six homes decorated for the season. It runs Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with check-in at North Barrett Square. The town's listing invites visitors to "gather ideas for your own mantel."
The Foundation's 2026 sponsorship packet sets up two sponsor roles for each house:
- Home Décor Sponsor, six available: Each one gets a $750 stipend. It supplies and installs the decorations, handles cleanup and donates a holiday décor raffle item worth more than $200. It may sell the holiday products displayed in the home.
- Featured Home Sponsor, six available: Each one pays $1,750 and must serve snacks and drinks for at least 600 attendees. It shares the house with the décor sponsor and has a representative on hand all day.
Those headcounts show what the Foundation expects. Every featured home has to be ready for at least 600 guests. Back at the start, a "Cup of Cheer" sponsor runs a hospitality area in North Barrett Square, and a "Holiday Spirits" sponsor serves beverages for at least 700 attendees. The guidelines also tell sponsors not to serve anything that could stain or damage the homes, which is a sensible precaution with that many people walking through.
Tickets start at $28.52 on Eventbrite. They are required for everyone age 5 and up, they are non-refundable, and the Foundation encourages buying in advance because space is limited. The first 550 adult ticket holders receive a 2026 commemorative cup, so an 11 a.m. check-in matters for anyone who collects them. The tour is organized with Rosemary Beach Realty and the Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Company.
The Tour's Charities Are Close to Home
Local businesses supply the raffle as well. Prizes are holiday décor and other items from local shops, and winners don't need to be present. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that supports community, educational and charitable activities in Rosemary Beach and Walton County.
This year's two charitable partners are both nearby. Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport is a no-kill shelter that takes in domestic animals, farm animals and native Florida wildlife. Caring & Sharing of South Walton has served Walton County residents for 30 years with financial help, food, counseling and case management, and it currently helps an average of 850 local families a month.
Christmas Moves to the Dining Room
After the tour, Rosemary Beach's holiday events move from the squares to the dining rooms. The Pearl's Havana Beach Bar & Grill has Christmas Eve seatings from 4 to 8 p.m. and Christmas Day seatings from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For a quieter meal near the tree, Gallion's is at 104 Barrett Square, in the space Wild Olives held until November 2022, as Eater reported in its 30A guide. Wild Olives now operates in Santa Rosa Beach.
Through December 5, the season runs from the squares and the open shops to six decorated homes where the décor is for sale. If any of that décor ends up on your own mantel, Judy Gibbons Group would be glad to help you plan around a 30A home that's ready for next year's tour season, from the light to the layout. Start Your Home Story by scheduling a consultation.
