Sand and Sea-Sun Holiday Sand Sculptures

Waterfront & City Commons, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Open to the public usually the first week of December (check website for dates)

I just love this time of year, don't you?!  I get so excited when I start seeing all of the holiday lights and decorations going up, and hear Christmas tunes playing all around.  This means, of course, that I will be on the lookout for holiday happenings during the month of December.

By far one of my favorite holiday attractions since living in South Florida would be the ridiculously detailed sand sculptures spread throughout downtown West Palm Beach.  The main attraction is the Christmas tree, which stands at the base of Clematis Street in Waterfront and City Commons.  This year, the tree towered 35 feet high, and was made of nearly 600 tons of sand!

At night, you can catch spectacular light shows set to holiday music.  The team that organized the attraction even set up a mini golf course next to the tree this year--a 9-hole Christmas-themed course!  Throughout the area you can find 4 more sculptures, including this jolly beach-goer...

Its a unique place to take your out-of-town guests that are visiting for the holidays, or to take a beachy holiday photo-op to send to your loved ones living in colder climates.  

Happy Holidays! 

Tip:  Check out the sculptures on a Saturday morning between 9am and 1pm to catch the Green Market and do a little Christmas shopping to support your local vendors!

Boynton/Delray Holiday Boat Parade

Boynton Beach Inlet, Boynton Beach FL
Start of Parade  6:30pm

Tonight we went to the 42nd annual Boynton/Delray Holiday Boat Parade--a truly unique annual holiday event.  A stream of more than a dozen boats of all sizes, strung up and decked out in bright and festive holiday lights and decor, all traveling from the Boynton Beach Inlet to the C-15 Canal in DelrayBeach.

We brought Brewster and watched the hour-long parade from the end of Promenade Park in Boynton Beach for prime viewing close to the Marina.  (Tip: if your dog is sensitive to sounds--you may want to leave 'em at home, or make sure you hold on to them tight--Brewster wasn't the happiest when some of the boats' horns sounded!)
So many different types of watercraft came floating down the canal--large boats lined with elegant twinkling white lights, crazy multi-colored lights, tiny little decorated boats.  One boat came floating down the canal with their passengers rocking out to Gangnam Style.  Definitely a fun little experience!

Happy Holidays!

Delray Beach's 100-ft Christmas Tree

Old School Square, Delray Beach FL
Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7:15pm

The holiday season is officially in full swing, so I am on the hunt for festive activities and events for Brian and I to do since this is our first Christmas together.

Tonight we went to Delray Beach's 20th anniversary of their 100-ft Christmas Tree-lighting ceremony.  What a show!  I've never seen such a sky-high Christmas Tree before in my life--the tallest and most perfectly cone-shaped tree, with red ornament bulbs, and a giant star on top.

With the sound of the final countdown to the tree-lighting--5...4...3...2...1--thousands of beautiful bright lights illuminated the Christmas tree.  As an added treat, the lighting of the tree was celebrated by an absolutely stunning fireworks display, with fireworks shooting from both the tree-topper and in the background.

Afterward, we walked down Atlantic Avenue to check out the street festival, taking in the smell of cinnamon-sugar roasted nuts, the sounds of local bands playing, and even a local artist carving out an ice sculpture! What an amazing way to kick off the holiday season.  I love this time of the year!