Winter Festival and Holiday Events
Saturday, December 7, 2024 • 3 - 10 p.m. • Downtown
The 38th annual Winter Festival - a Celebration of Lights, Music and the Arts will fill downtown Tallahassee with merriment on Saturday, December 7, from 3:00 - 10:00pm. Visitors can enjoy delicious food vendors, unique arts and crafts merchants and sparkling holiday displays, including Candy Cane Lane in McCarty Park. There will be a children's activity area on Kleman Plaza that will show family-friendly holiday movies from 6:00 - 10:00pm. Four stages of live entertainment will dot downtown and highlight local actors, dancers, musicians and more. The Lighting Ceremony takes place at 6:00pm on the parade announcers' platform, located on South Monroe Street at Bloxham Park. The Capital Health Plan Jingle Bell Run begins at 6:15pm. The Nighttime Holiday Parade begins at 7:1pm.
REGISTRATION FOR PARADE, ENTERTAINMENT, VENDORS, AND EXHIBITORS IS NOW CLOSED.
Jingle Bell Run
Sponsored by Capital Health Plan
The Jingle Bell Run is a family friendly 1.53 mile Fun Run/Walk taking place before the Winter Festival Parade in our wonderful Downtown area (South Monroe and Park Avenue) on Saturday, December 7 at 6:15pm. Please register in advance for this amazing event that you will not want to miss.
After registration, please plan to pick up your packet at the Myers Park Office at 1201 Myers Park Drive.
Look for the signs leading you to the small office in the back where we will be outside with tables.
Pickup days and times:
Sunday, December 1 from 1:00 - 5:00pm
Monday, December 2 from 8:00am - 7:00pm
*If you are unable to make either of these dates you can pickup on the day of the Jingle Bell Run in the Capital City Bank parking lot at the corner of South Monroe Street and Tennessee Street from 3:00 - 6:00pm.
You may pickup before the Jingle Bell Run in the Capital City Bank parking lot at the corner of South Monroe Street and Tennessee Street from 3:00 - 6:00pm.
Due to the bustling activities of Winter Festival, traffic will be heavy downtown on December 7, and many roads will be closed. StarMetro’s Saturday routes will be impacted. Patrons attending Winter Festival are encouraged to arrive early.
Road closures along Adams Street and the Chain of Parks will begin at 7:00pm on event day. Parade staging will take place on Monroe Street from Brevard to Tennessee streets with intersections closed in the area from 4:00 - 11:00pm. The Nighttime Holiday Parade and Jingle Bell Run routes will be closed from 5:00 - 11:00pm. Detour roads will include Brevard, Bronough, Gadsden and Gaines streets.
Road Closures/Detours Associated with Winter Festival 2024
College Avenue - No access from Duval Street or Adams Street from 3:00pm on Friday, December 6, through 12:00am on Sunday. December 8.
Adams Street & Chain of Parks Festival, closed from 7:00am - 12:00am
The following intersections will be blocked starting at 7:00am on Saturday, December 7:
- Monroe Street & Park Avenue (westbound)
- Monroe Street & Park Avenue (eastbound)
- This intersection will remain a 2-way route to access the Doubletree Hotel until 5:00pm
- Monroe Street & College Avenue - No access to Adams Street
- Jefferson & Adams streets - No access to Adams Street
- Pensacola & Duval streets - No northbound on Duval Street. All traffic must turn west on Pensacola Street.
- Bronough Street & College Avenue - No access to Duval Street and Adams Street
- Bronough Street & Park Avenue (eastbound) - No access to Duval Street and Adams Street
- Adams & Call streets - No southbound on Adams Street from Call Street
Parade Staging Area, closed from 4:00 - 11:00pm
The Parade Staging Area will be on Monroe Street from Brevard Street to Tennessee Street. The following intersections will be blocked to ensure the Staging Area is closed:
- Brevard Street & Monroe Street - No southbound traffic on Monroe Street. Brevard Street remains open.
- Tennessee Street & Monroe Street - No northbound traffic on Monroe Street. Tennessee Street remains open until 5:00pm then closes until 11:00pm
- Adams & Georgia streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Adams & Carolina streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Adams & Virginia streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Georgia streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Carolina streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Virginia streets - No access to Monroe Street
Parade Route/Jingle Bell Run Route Closed 5:00 - 11:00pm
The Parade Route/Jingle Bell Run Route will close at 5:00pm. (See map for Routes)
- Tennessee Street & Monroe Street - Tennessee remains open (east and west) until 5:00pm then closes until 11:00pm.
- Monroe Street & Gaines Street - No northbound traffic on Monroe Street
- Tennessee & Calhoun streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Call streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun Street & Park Avenue(s) - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun Street & College Avenue - No access to Monroe Street. All traffic must turn east.
- Calhoun & Jefferson streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Pensacola streets - No access to Monroe Street. No access to Apalachee Pkwy.
- Gadsden & E. St. Augustine streets - No access to Calhoun Street
- Gadsden & E. Madison streets - No access to Calhoun Street
- Gaines & Calhoun streets - No access to Calhoun Street north of intersection
- Duval & Gaines streets - Must turn east or west for Jingle Bell Run (until 7:15 p.m.)
- Madison & Bronough streets - Must turn south on Bronough Street
- Madison & Duval streets - No access to Adams Street or Monroe Street
- Duval & St. Augustine streets - No traffic allowed on Duval Street
- Pensacola & Duval streets - No northbound on Duval Street. All traffic must turn west on Pensacola Street
- Apalachee Pkwy. & Franklin Blvd. - No eastbound from this intersection. All eastbound will be diverted onto Franklin Blvd.
Nighttime Holiday Parade
Sponsored by City of Tallahassee Utilities
The Nighttime Holiday Parade begins at 7:15pm. The parade will be held on Monroe Street.
Follow us on a walk down Candy Cane Lane. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through McCarty Park as you embrace the sights and sounds of the holiday season.
- Candy Cane Lane opens to the public on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 3 to 10 p.m.
- It will remain open nightly through Dec. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m.
- On Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14, hours will extend until 11 p.m.
You can sing aloud, or simply listen, to merry melodies as they fill the air of Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden St., from 6-7:30 p.m Sunday, December 15 at the annual Holiday Stroll. About a dozen different acts will showcase their talents throughout the winding trails of Cascades Park, including the Smokey Hollow Commemoration. Free hot cocoa will be available. A beautiful show at Imagination Fountain will play every fifteen minutes during the event.
The City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs Department has made special arrangements with Santa! He will be making phone calls to from his North Pole Workshop to all of the good little boys and girls this year!
Registration will open on Monday, December 2. Register for Santa Calling
Santa will begin making phone calls on Thursday, December 12.
Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road
The holiday light display will premiere Thanksgiving evening (Thursday, November 28) and run nightly through the New Year (Wednesday, January 1), weather permitting.
Weekday hours are 6:00 - 10:00pm with extended hours on the weekends from 5:30 - 11:00pm. Motorists inside the park and traveling along Thomasville Road in the vicinity of the park, are urged to drive with caution.
This year, Elf Night is Thursday, December 19 from 5:30 - 8:00pm. If you’d like to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, check-in on the front lawn upon arrival to be assigned a ticket number, which will allow you to enjoy the festivities until your number is called. While enjoying Elf Night, parents will want to have their cameras ready to record all the smiles and wonderment on their children’s faces.
Hot Cocoa and cookies will be provided by Santa’s little helpers while supplies last.
Please remember vehicles will not be allowed to drive through or use the parking lot on Elf Night but parking will be available next door at the Thomasville Road Baptist Church.
Both Elf Night and our holiday light display are free and open to the public and we look forward to seeing you.
For more information, call our holiday line at 850-891-3555.
Jack McLean Community Center, 700 Paul Russell Road
Gather up the family for an evening of FUN!
Join us, Friday evening, December 20; from 6:00 - 8:30pm, for free cookies and hot cocoa, a holiday-themed movie, plus photos and letters with Santa Claus!
For more information, call Jack McLean Community Center at 850-891-2505.
The City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs Department will be making spirits bright with Soul Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Registration opens on December 2. This event is for children 10 years and under. Children must be registered to participate and must be present to receive gifts.
LeVerne Payne Soul Santa event will take place Saturday, December 21 | 2:30 - 6:00pm.
Register for the LeVerne Payne Community Soul Santa event
Walker-Ford / Smith-Williams Soul Santa event will take place Saturday, December 21 | 10:00am - 2:00pm
Register for the Bond Community Soul Santa event
For more information, please contact LeVerne Payne Community Center at 850-891-3930 or Walker-Ford Community Center at 850-891-3970.