Seaside's holiday season opens with a seven-day run that starts on Sunday, November 22, and ends with the town lights coming on Saturday night, November 28. Between those two evenings come a ballet, the opening of a holiday pop-up bar, an outdoor movie the night after Thanksgiving and a parade down 30A. Almost all of it happens in the Amphitheater, in Central Square, or on the short walk between them.
Once that week is over, the season changes pace. December runs on a weekly schedule, with music on Wednesdays, the market on Saturdays and Santa every evening for twelve days before Christmas. It closes on New Year's Eve on the same Amphitheater lawn where the ballet opened it. The whole season fits on one sheet of paper.
The Opening Week, Night by Night
| Date | Event | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., Nov. 22 | The Nutcracker Ballet Act II, Ballet Pensacola | Amphitheater | 5 p.m. |
| Mon., Nov. 23 | Miracle at The Daytrader opens | The Daytrader | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Central Square Cinema Holiday Movie Night | Central Square | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Turn on the Town and Holiday Parade | 30A, Krier Plaza, Amphitheater | 3 to 8 p.m. |
The ballet starts it. Ballet Pensacola performs Act II of The Nutcracker on the Amphitheater stage at 5 p.m. on Sunday the 22nd. The event listing on seasidefl.com says it is free and open to the public. The town's holiday guide calls the performance a seasonal tradition for locals and visitors alike.
On Friday the 27th, the night after Thanksgiving, Central Square Cinema shows How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Jim Carrey version, at 7 p.m. The guide suggests bringing a blanket, towel or lawn chair and settling in under the lights of Central Square. For anyone hosting family over the holiday weekend, Friday's movie and Saturday's parade fit together easily.
The Bar Opens the Day After the Ballet
Miracle, the holiday cocktail pop-up, lists its Seaside location at The Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant for November 23 through December 31. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with no reservations. The town's own guide calls it Northwest Florida's only Miracle pop-up bar. It describes whimsical décor and seasonal cocktails under The Daytrader's thatched roof, served first come, first served. Miracle's 2026 locations page notes that dates and hours can change, so check it before planning a night around the bar.
The timing works for anyone already in town for the ballet. The bar opens Monday, which leaves the rest of Thanksgiving week to stop in before the Saturday crowds arrive. With no reservations and a 9 p.m. close, an early-evening visit on a weeknight is the simplest way to get a seat under the thatch.
Saturday the 28th Covers the Whole Town
Turn on the Town runs from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, and it moves through Seaside in a set order.
- The Holiday Parade comes down Highway 30A.
- Emerald Coast Theatre Company performs live at Krier Plaza.
- The crowd gathers in the Seaside Amphitheater to watch the town lights come on.
- Santa takes photos at the Christmas Village until 8 p.m.
The parade also raises money. Proceeds from parade registration go to Point Washington Medical Clinic, so families and groups who enter are also supporting a nearby clinic. Details are on the Turn on the Town event page.
The tree lighting ends the opening week, and from then on the season settles into a weekly pattern.
December Runs on a Weekly Schedule
The first weekend of December brings the Holiday Market. After that, the calendar repeats each week, which makes it easy to plan around.
Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6. The Seaside Holiday Market sets up in Central Square with local artisans and makers. The listing gives hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 5. That Saturday also falls on a regular farmers market date, so the town's two markets run side by side that morning.
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Seaside Farmers Market meets in the Amphitheater at 2235 E County Hwy 30A.
Wednesdays, 4 to 6 p.m. The Sounds of Seaside concert series fills every Wednesday in December:
| Wednesday | Performer |
|---|---|
| Dec. 2 | Roman Street |
| Dec. 9 | Max McCann |
| Dec. 16 | Fred Domulot |
| Dec. 23 | Max McCann |
| Dec. 30 | Flow Tribe |
Every evening, 4 to 6 p.m., December 12 through 23. Santa is in Seaside nightly for the twelve days before Christmas.
The two-hour windows overlap. On December 16 and December 23, the Wednesday concert and Santa's visit both run from 4 to 6 p.m. Families with young children can do both in one trip, and that same 4 to 6 window fits easily around a weekday.
What's New on Airstream Row Since Last December
Some of the places along the holiday walk are new this year, and several of them sit on Airstream Row.
Wild Nectar, a fresh-pressed juice bar and coastal kitchen, opened on Airstream Row in the spring. Its owners are Kolbi Amos and Hayden Shaw. Shaw helped launch East Pass Coffee in Destin, building its menu and its laid-back feel, and Amos has a background in marketing, photography and hospitality. The menu covers fresh-pressed juices, açaà bowls, salads and sandwiches, plus rotating seasonal specials. The team buys from local farms, artisanal bakeries and regional makers. When Seaside announced the opening, Seaside Community Development Corporation General Manager Kevin Boyle put the Airstreams in the context of the whole town:
"Our Airstream merchants offer a uniquely memorable guest experience, and they remain an essential piece of SEASIDE®'s hospitality and New Urbanism puzzle."
Two other changes appear in 30A's July 2026 guide to Seaside. It lists 'drome as new to Seaside, serving dumplings, Asian-inspired street food and inventive drinks. It also notes that Mr. Gyro Hero, a longtime farmers market vendor, now serves its gyros and Mediterranean dishes from its own Airstream on the row. Both join long-running Airstreams like Frost Bites, The Meltdown, Wild Bill's Beach Hot Dogs, Barefoot BBQ, Seaside Pop!, Crepes du Soleil and Great Southern Cafe.
In the Seaside Pop-Up District at 2236 E County Hwy 30A, next to Pickle's Sandbar, Colombia & Company has finished its first year in town. The artisan boutique sells Wayuu mochilas, beaded jewelry, handmade hats and textiles, and it scheduled a first-anniversary celebration for November 8 with Colombian coffee, traditional treats and live music. It shares the district with Sip N Snap.
The Year Ends on the Same Lawn
Seaside closes 2026 back where the season opened. From 4 to 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve, Central Square has family activities, arts and crafts, face painting and a photo spot in front of the Post Office. Live music starts at 5:30 p.m., and fireworks go off at 9. The town suggests watching from the Amphitheater or the beach with a blanket or lawn chair. The fireworks also fall on Miracle at The Daytrader's last scheduled night, December 31.
Six weeks earlier, Ballet Pensacola will have played the same stage at 5 p.m. on a Sunday in November. Save the dates November 22, November 28, December 5 and December 31, and the Wednesday and Saturday events fill in the weeks between.
When Seaside fills with family and friends this season, some of those conversations turn to having a place of your own on 30A. Judy Gibbons helps second-home buyers and owners along the Gulf Coast plan around seasons like this one, with concierge service that works whether you're local or still in Chicago. Start your home story and schedule a consultation.
