At 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, dancers from Ballet Pensacola will take the stage in the Seaside Amphitheater for The Nutcracker Act II. The performance is free and open to the public, and it opens the town's holiday season. That will be six weeks and two days after Hurricane Isaias came ashore near Destin.
The storm did not shrink Seaside's 2026 holiday calendar. It went out on October 28, and nearly all of those events are held in the town's shared spaces: the Amphitheater, Central Square, Krier Plaza and the Christmas Village. Those same places are where the recovery will be easiest to see between now and New Year's Eve.
The storm and the recovery happened quickly:
That makes 19 days from landfall to a published season. On October 29, Walton County Tourism's recovery page said many businesses had resumed normal operations, while "some amenities and services remain limited." A local 30A recovery tracker updated October 22 reported that 30A's roads and bridges were open and the beaches were open, with some beach accesses still closed because of storm damage.
The beach is still recovering. WJHG reported that the surge flattened dunes in Grayton and pushed water into Western Lake. One local the station interviewed urged Gulf-front owners to plant sea oats and put up sand fencing to help the dunes rebuild. WMBB noted storm surge of up to seven feet in parts of South Walton. There is some good news nearby. The Florida Department of Health in Walton County lifted its high-bacteria advisory for Eastern Lake after tests completed on October 21 came back within state guidelines.
The beach will need time. The town center reopened within days, and the holiday season is staged there.
| Date | Event | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Nov 22 | The Nutcracker Act II, Ballet Pensacola | Amphitheater | 5 p.m. |
| Nov 23 to Dec 31 | Miracle at The Daytrader | The Daytrader | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Holiday Movie Night, How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Central Square | 7 p.m. |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Turn on the Town and Holiday Parade | 30A, Krier Plaza, Amphitheater, Christmas Village | 3 to 8 p.m. |
| Sat, Dec 5 | SEASIDE® Holiday Market | Central Square | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Sun, Dec 6 | SEASIDE® Holiday Market | Central Square | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Dec 12 to 23 | Photos with Santa | Christmas Village | 4 to 6 p.m. |
| New Year's Eve | Year-end celebration and fireworks | Central Square, Amphitheater | 4 to 9 p.m., fireworks at 9 |
The Nutcracker is the official start of the season. The other long-running holiday fixture opens the next morning. Miracle, the national holiday pop-up bar, lists its Seaside location at The Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant from November 23 through December 31. It is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, takes no reservations, and notes that dates and hours may change. Seaside's holiday guide calls it Northwest Florida's only Miracle Pop-Up Bar. The guide describes Christmas décor under The Daytrader's thatched roof and seats guests first come, first served.
Seaside said the pop-up was in its third season back in 2024. That year's menu included the Christmapolitan, the Snowball Old-Fashioned and the Jingle Balls Nog. Those drinks came from 2024's menu, and the 2026 list will be posted at the bar.
Miracle runs for 39 days straight. That makes it the steadiest thing on the calendar, and every other event on the list happens within a short walk of it.
Central Square Cinema holds its Holiday Movie Night on Friday, November 27, at 7 p.m. This year's film is How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey. The guide asks guests to bring a blanket, towel or lawn chair.
Saturday is the biggest day of the season. Turn on the Town and Holiday Parade runs from 3 to 8 p.m. on November 28. The schedule moves through the town in order:
The listed address is 2227 E County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. The guide recommends arriving early. The parade ends in Central Square, so anyone already in town by 3 p.m. can walk to the rest of the evening from there.
The SEASIDE® Holiday Market returns to Central Square on Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, December 6 opens an hour later and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seaside describes the vendors as local artisans, makers and other creators. Saturday's earlier start gives an extra hour of browsing before lunch.
The holiday guide also asks visitors to shop small at the town's own merchants this season. Among the stores in Seaside's directory are Brothers at 63 Central Square, Kids + baby at 55 Central Square, Onward Reserve at 120 Quincy Circle in Ruskin Place, and Poeta at 2236 East County Highway 30A. Most of the town's merchants reopened in mid-October, but hours are still settling in places, so check with each store before you make a special trip.
From December 12 through December 23, Santa is at the Christmas Village from 4 to 6 p.m. each evening. The photos are complimentary. That is 12 straight evenings. Families who couldn't make the Turn on the Town crowd have nearly two weeks of later chances.
The season closes in Central Square. From 4 to 9 p.m., the town plans 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 p.m. The guide suggests watching from the Amphitheater or along the beach with a blanket or lawn chair. The night wraps up with fireworks at 9 p.m., three hours before midnight.
From the Nutcracker on November 22 to the fireworks, the 2026 season covers 40 days, and almost all of it happens in the same few blocks around Central Square. Hosts planning their own get-togethers can use Seaside's gatherings inquiry form.
How fast a town recovers after a storm is part of what owners and buyers along 30A take into account. If you're weighing a sale or purchase in Seaside this season, The Spears Group can share what we're seeing on the ground. Request a complimentary market valuation and luxury marketing plan.
Office 2048 West County Hwy 30A #107 Santa Rosa Beach FL 32459
Office 2048 West County Hwy 30A #107 Santa Rosa Beach FL 32459