Holiday Traditions to Love in New Smyrna Beach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 14, 2017

Holiday Traditions to Love in New Smyrna Beach
East Central Florida Beach Town Rich in Holiday Spirit

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – As we head into the holidays, coastal New Smyrna Beach turns to tradition to celebrate in style. Festivities begin in mid-November, but continue well through the end of the year allowing visitors the benefit of winter Florida weather and the sights and sounds of the season.

Featuring a series of holiday events in New Smyrna Beach’s quaint downtown Canal Street Historic District, Christmas on Canal Street begins during the Thanksgiving holiday and runs through mid-December. Highlights include the following events:

• Spark the Spirit (November 24)– Join the local community for the annual tree lighting ceremony, live entertainment and Santa's grand entrance at the kick off to Christmas on Canal Street. The street will be closed to vehicular traffic and merchants and restaurants will remain open late. This event also marks the opening of Santa’s workshop in Christmas Park where he will make appearances throughout the holiday season.
• Coastal Christmas Market (November 25) – Shop for beautiful gifts and holiday decor handcrafted by 90+ local artisans while enjoying live music and incredible food from area restaurants or street fare. 
• Christmas Parade (Saturday, December 2) – beginning at the Flagler Avenue beach approach and heading over the causeway into the Canal Street Historic District is the City’s annual holiday parade featuring handmade floats, live entertainment from local school groups and Santa Claus.
• Girls’ Night Out (December 7) – Ladies can enjoy a fantastic night sipping and shopping with merchants open until 9 p.m. along Canal Street.
• B&B Tour (December 17) – Four local B&Bs including the Night Swan Intracoastal Bed and Breakfast, The Anchor Inn, Inn on the Avenue and The Riverview will be decorated for the holidays and open for FREE self-guided tours (maps provided at each location).

The first weekend in December is full of events and activities for the entire family beginning with Norwood’s Eatery & Treehouse Bar’s 22^nd Annual Wine Festival on December 1 from 7-10 p.m. featuring over 200 premium wines. Immediately following the Christmas parade on December 2, Light up Flagler welcomes visitors to the official street party that kicks off the holiday season along Flagler Avenue. Enjoy live entertainment, carolers, tastings and a visit from Santa Claus.

Visitors can enjoy the holiday spectacle on the Intracoastal Waterway on Saturday, December 16 when the 30^th Annual Holiday Boat Parade lights up the river beginning at 9 p.m. Best places to enjoy the view and cheer on your favorite holiday themed boats will be along Riverside Drive in Edgewater and New Smyrna Beach and Riverside Park in New Smyrna Beach as well as several New Smyrna Beach area restaurants including Outriggers Tiki Bar & Grille and The Grille at Riverview. 

The arts is celebrated year-round in New Smyrna Beach with the destination recognized as one of “The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America”, but during the holidays, local artists really put their talents on display with unique designs perfect for completing the holiday gift list.  Local artist Chelsea Preston and her company Jelly Press offers her signature holiday shop complete with holiday cards, ornaments, gift tags and post cards with many of the designs unique to New Smyrna Beach. The Hub on Canal, a local arts non-profit that creates community by fostering art, education and creativity, features their Holiday Gallery of Gifts through Christmas with fine art, jewelry, accessories, fashion, home décor and hand-crafted items by more than 70 local artists.  On Saturday, December 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can get an insider’s look into the charm of New Smyrna Beach with IMAGES Holiday Tour of Homes, a glimpse into five unique area homes decorated for the holidays. The ticket also includes access to the IMAGES Boutique featuring handmade items created by the Atlantic Center for the Arts Volunteer League Members.

About the New Smyrna Beach Area

New Smyrna Beach is an eclectic mix of old and new; of subtle sophistication and bohemian soul that is as “real” as Florida gets. It occupies a notable place in history as the second oldest city in Florida, site of the largest single attempt at British colonization in the new world. In 2018, New Smyrna Beach will celebrate its 250^th birthday in grand fashion. The city’s barrier island is recognized worldwide for its incredible surf with Surfer magazine recently touting it one of the “Best Surf Towns in America” and National Geographic magazine including it in its “World’s Top 20 Surf Towns”. Accommodations range from charming bed and breakfast inns to family-size condominium units and oceanfront hotels. Natural attractions include 17 miles of sandy beaches from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Canaveral National Seashore and North America’s most diverse estuary – the Indian River Lagoon. Two distinct downtowns along Flagler Avenue and Canal Street and connected via the Waterfront Loop welcome visitors with independent restaurants, unique shops, artisanal coffee shops and art galleries.

For more information, please visit www.VisitNSBfl.com or call 386-428-1600. Follow @NewSmyrnaBeach1 on Twitter, Facebook.com/VisitNewSmyrnaBeach or @visitnewsmyrnabeach on Instagram for the latest news. Download the free New Smyrna Beach Mobile App for iPhone and Android to receive this information on-the-go.

Media Contact: Gentry Baumline-Robinson, Communications Manager

New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau

Phone: 386.428.1600

Email: Gentry@visitnsbfla.com