2025 Holiday on the Harbor Festival & Boat Parade of Lights
2025-12-13 13:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Carrabelle Riverfront, Marine Street, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
Join the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce for 2025 Holiday on the Harbor Festival and Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 13 from 1-7 pm ET on Marine Street and along the harbor in Carrabelle, FL. This festival will feature children’s activities, arts and crafts vendors, delicious food, music, dance, and a lighted boat parade. This favorite Christmas tradition on the Forgotten Coast is free and family-friendly!
The children’s activities includes traditions like Visits with Santa, mini-train rides, a bouncy house (courtesy of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department), and a book giveaway by Bring Me a Book Franklin. In keeping with the Carrabelle tradition, Santa will make his grand entrance on the City of Carrabelle Fire Truck. Children and families are welcome to come by Santa’s booth, visit with Santa, and get their photos with Santa for free.
This festive event will offer yummy holiday treats and delicious food to enjoy. Guests can enjoy delicious fresh seafood and tasty home-style cooking at one of several cafes, restaurants or festival food vendors. Shoppers can browse vendors with unique art and crafts, and locally made goods—perfect for holiday gifting. Visitors can complete their holiday shopping with unique and one-of-a-kind items at Carrabelle’s wonderful shops and art galleries, many within walking distance.
Live music will fill the air with performances by Kevin Andrew and the Rockulla Performers, Mark Welch of Sumpin’ Old & Sumpin’ New, and John Jeremiah. The entertainment doesn’t end there as there will also be fun music by DJ Beanie Baby. Guests will also be delighted by a performance by the Forgotten Coast Dancing Witches and by the talented young athletes of the Salty Seahawks Competitive Cheer Team.
After enjoying hours of food, festivities, and fun, festival-goers are invited to watch the magical Christmas parade of boats decked out in lights, décor, and holiday outfits! Find a spot along the water and enjoy this parade with double the lights as the Carrabelle harbor beautifully reflects back the glow of the lighted boats. See this special nautical tradition from an unbeatable viewing point by entering your own decorated boat for free!
The parade starts around 6:15 pm and proceeds around the Carrabelle harbor between the Marine St. Fishing Pavilion and the Tillie Miller Bridge so it can be enjoyed from many viewing spots. (Please stay in public access areas only. Do not enter private property.) Following the boat parade, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each of the 4 categories along with the Best In Show winner and the Marina Challenge winner will be awarded! Enter your boat now for free! Details on Registration for the Boat Parade.
Prizes:
1st place – $100
2nd place – $75
3rd place – $50
Best of Show – One Year Free Membership to TowBoatUS (Value $175)
A big thank you to the wonderful volunteers, vendors and sponsors who help make Holiday on the Harbor possible.
For info about general activities: contact the Chamber at (850) 697-2585 or chamber@nettally.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. Sponsored by Centennial Bank, Anglers Edge Marine, The Old Carrabelle Hotel, Duke Energy and Robin Hilton, Realtor at Jeff Galloway Real Estate.

SPONSORS We are still looking for event sponsors. Sponsorship levels range from $100 to $1000 dollars. Sponsors receiving promotional perks and more. If you are interested in being a sponsor, check out more information here 2025 Sponsorship Package or contact the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce at (850) 697-2585.
VENDORS: For information about being a vendor, check out the 2025 VENDOR REGISTRATION (PDF).
BOAT ENTRIES: For information joining the boat parade, learn more and Register your entry online for the Boat Parade of Lights or check out the 2025 BOAT PARADE REGISTRATION (PDF).
VOLUNTEERS: We are in need of volunteers to help make the Holiday on the Harbor and Boat Parade of Lights possible. We need volunteers to help with set-up Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Volunteers are also needed on Saturday during the day to man the Chamber tent, help with trash pick up, monitor the bouncy house and other duties. Volunteers will work in 2 hour increments. Volunteers are what make this happen every year. You are needed and you are always appreciated! Please contact the Chamber office to sign up as a volunteer today! Chamber@nettally.com or 850-697-2585.

Special Exhibit: Stories in Glass - A Vintage Bottle Exhibit
2025-12-14 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-17 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-21 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-24 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-28 12:00 - 17:00 | Carrabelle History Museum, 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
The Carrabelle History Museum is pleased to announce a special display featuring vintage bottles of the Forgotten Coast. This exhibit will be on display from Wednesday, October 1 through Sunday, December 28. This unique exhibit will showcase a wide variety of interesting and historical bottles that tell the story of Franklin County’s heritage, industry, and everyday life. Visitors can explore this special exhibit on Wednesdays from 12 to 5 pm ET, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm ET, and Sundays from 12 to 5 pm ET. Admission is free, with donations warmly welcomed.
The display will feature Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery bottle, found on nearby St. Vincent Island, once part of the estate of Dr. Raymond V. Pierce, a physician and patent medicine maker. His products, such as Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription, Golden Medical Discovery, and Pleasant Pellets, made him a millionaire, with nearly a million bottles shipped each year. He also founded the Pierce Glass Company, which produced bottles for his own medicines and brands like Pond’s Extract and Lydia Pinkham. In 1907, he purchased St. Vincent Island in Franklin County, where he built a private preserve with roads, cottages, and imported game animals, until his death on the island in 1914.
Other highlights of the exhibit include Coca-Cola bottles bottled locally in Apalachicola. The Apalachicola Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, in operation through the late 1970s, is remembered for its classic green glass bottles embossed with “Apalachicola, FLA” on the bottom. Today, these bottles are sought-after collectibles.
Also on display are bottles from the shipwrecked SS Tarpon, including cherry bottles and beer bottles. Visitors will also see medicine bottles once used by local midwife Tillie Miller, local milk bottles, as well as perfume bottles, and other rare glass finds. All of which provide a glimpse into past daily life in Franklin County.
The Carrabelle History Museum is located at 106 SE Avenue B, in historic downtown Carrabelle, FL. For more information, visit www.carrabellehistorymuseum.org or contact carrabellehistorymuseum@gmail.com or 850-697-2141. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Special Exhibits: Pearl Harbor and Christmas During the War
2025-12-16 11:00 - 2025-12-20 17:00, 2025-12-23 11:00 - 2025-12-27 17:00, 2025-12-30 11:00 - 2026-01-03 17:00 | Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, 1873 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum in Carrabelle is presenting two special exhibits in the month of December. The focus of one exhibit will be on commemorating the Anniversary of Pearl Harbor and the focus of the other exhibit will be on exploring Christmas During the War. These two exhibits will open Tuesday, December 2, 2025 and be on display until Saturday, January 3, 2026. The museum is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm ET and there is no charge for admission. (Closed Thursday, December 25 and January 1.)
In honor of the Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is presenting an exhibit commemorating this dark day in America’s history. World War II came home for the United States on December 7, 1941, when the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan attacked the US Western Fleet at the American base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it “a date which will live in infamy”. Learn about those that planned the attack, the sole Japanese POW taken, and the heroic efforts by Doris Miller of the USS West Virginia to shoot down attacking Japanese planes. This attack resulted in the declaration of war with Japan and the US entering World War II. Luckily, the Pacific Fleet’s aircraft carriers were at sea on that day, and escaped damage to fight later. “Remember Pearl Harbor” became the rallying cry of Americans as they enlisted by the thousands and built up the immense industrial effort needed to achieve victory in 1945.
The second special exhibit for this month will reflect on what Christmas was like during the war. Americans had to learn to do with less during the years they were fully engaged in fighting World War II. That had a significant impact on every aspect of American life including how Christmas was celebrated. Americans were encouraged to make their own toys and decorations, and commercially-made gifts emphasized materials that were not needed for war, including cloth, paper and wood. For example the popular Lionel Train toys were converted to cardboard and people learned how to cook and bake with corn syrup once sugar became scarce. Learn more about how rationing changed toys, food and even decorations during the war.
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is located in Carrabelle, directly across from Carrabelle Public Beach Park at 1873 Hwy 98 West. For more information, contact Camp Gordon Johnston Museum at (850) 697-8575 or museum@campgordonjohnston.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Special Exhibit: Stories in Glass - Vintage Bottle Exhibit
2025-12-18 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-19 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-20 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-26 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-27 10:00 - 17:00 | Carrabelle History Museum, 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States

Country Farmer’s Market
2025-12-20 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-17 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-21 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-21 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-18 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-16 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-20 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-18 09:00 - 13:00 | Crooked River Lighthouse, 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
The Country Farmer’s Market is held every 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 9:00 am-1:00 pm, nestled at the foot of the Crooked River Lighthouse, 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL for a delightful showcase of local talent and treasures. Our community’s finest vendors will be there, offering a diverse array of goodies that make perfect gifts or treats for yourself at this open-air market.
Indulge in locally handmade jewelry, farm-fresh produce, freshly roasted coffee, mouthwatering baked goods (yes, we’re talking cinnamon rolls and artisan breads!), handcrafted balms, grass fed beef, aromatic herbs, stunning art and photography, handmade crafts, and so much more. Plus, there will be book signings, unique t-shirts, vegetable seeds, and exotic starter plants to explore.
While you’re here, don’t miss out on a visit to the free Keeper’s House Museum, where you can marvel at our brand new exhibit featuring the historic Fresnel lens. And be sure to pop into the Lighthouse Gift Shop for one-of-a-kind, nautical-themed holiday gifts.
For those seeking adventure, seize the opportunity to climb to the top of the tallest lighthouse on the Forgotten Coast for an awe-inspiring view of the Bay (small fee applies).
Mark your calendars for every 1st and 3rd Saturday (excluding holidays), and don’t forget about our larger spring and fall County and Flea Markets.
New and returning vendors are always welcome! Sign up anytime for just $10 per market. Vendors, please come prepared with enough cash/change for the day, as the Gift Shop doesn’t provide extra change. Remember to bring all necessary supplies, including signage, tables, chairs, and hand sanitizer.
For more information, contact the lighthouse at 850-697-2732 or carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com. This event is funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. We can’t wait to see you there!

Country Farmer's Market at Crooked River Lighthouse
2026-01-03 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-07 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-07 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-04 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-02 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-06 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-04 09:00 - 13:00 | Crooked River Lighthouse, 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States

Twilight at the Tower at Crooked River Lighthouse
2026-01-03 17:00 - 20:00 | Crooked River Lighthouse, 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
The Crooked River Lighthouse will be hosting Twilight at the Tower on Saturday, January 3, 2026 in Carrabelle, FL. This special evening kicks off early with a roundtable discussion on the importance of predators to the area ecosystem at 5:00 pm ET, a fascinating pre-event. From 6:00-8:00 pm ET, visitors can enjoy the main event beneath the beautiful Wolf Moon, named for the wolves that are more likely to be heard howling during the cold, harsh winter months when food is scarce. Visitors can enjoy the gorgeous natural surroundings of St. George Sound and Carrabelle Beach as the golden sun sets below the horizon and the Wolf Moon rises.
Visitors can enjoy an after-hours tour of the Keeper’s House Museum and see the exhibit of the lighthouse’s original, historic Fresnel lens constructed in 1894 in Paris, France. Guests can browse the unique nautical gifts and souvenirs in the gift shop. Visitors can gather around the glowing Wolf Moon bonfire, complete with spirited howling and lighthearted activities designed to bring out a sense of youthful fun while maintaining respect for the surroundings.
For those brave souls who are seeking even more adventure, evening tower climbs to the top of the tallest lighthouse on the Forgotten Coast are available. Evening climbs are scheduled at 15-minute intervals throughout the event. Climbers will be rewarded with breathtaking views of St. George Sounds, Dog Island and Carrabelle Beach. Evening climbs cost $10 and climb reservations are strongly encouraged due to limited availability. Climbers must be at least 44 inches tall and children under 12 (FREE) with ticketed adults. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.crookedriverlighthouse.com/full-moon-events/ or in the lighthouse gift shop.
Crooked River Lighthouse is located in Carrabelle, just west of the Carrabelle Public Beach Park at 1975 Hwy 98 W, Carrabelle. For more information, contact the gift shop at 850-697-2732, carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com or https://www.crookedriverlighthouse.com/. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
