30th Annual Holiday Boat Parade and More in Palm Coast

FLORIDA RESORT COMMUNITIES

Celebrating the holiday season this year, folks looking for a winter getaway should consider one of the best Florida retirement cities, Palm Coast, Florida in Flagler County.  Located on the northern East Coast of Florida between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, this “piece of paradise” offers the perfect retreat for spending quality time with family during this festive time of year, not to mention the glorious weather where golfing and fishing year round keeps active individuals in shape.  With over 19 miles of pristine beaches and 125 miles of biking and hiking trails, dozens of parks and oceanfront beach resorts, Palm Coast is the destination for a fun filled and eventful holiday. 

Sunny beaches attract thousands to attend the upcoming 30th Annual Holiday Boat Parade in Flagler County which will be held on Saturday, December 5th at 6:00 pm.  Hosted by the Palm Coast Yacht Club, this spectacular holiday event features meticulously lighted boats that cruise along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway sparking enthusiasm amongst spectators that line the shoreline.  The parade starts in the Cimmaron Basin, located just north of Cedarford Court and heads south to the new Waterfront Park then returns to the Hammock Dunes Toll Bridge.   This magical lighting festival marks the beginning of the winter holiday season for the last 30 years and is open to the public.  Boat owners in Flagler County are encouraged to decorate their vessels in their own distinctive style and participate in this much anticipated annual holiday event (the rain date for this event will be December 6 if needed).  All boats in the parade must be registered to get involved. With favorable temperatures in Palm Coast this is the perfect time to visit Florida resort communities found in the region.  

Another annual holiday event is The Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on Monday, November 30 at Central Park in Town Center at 975 Central Ave. at 6pm.  The event is free and the sparkling lights that surround the magnificent community tree are accented with ornaments made by Girl Scouts and the students from Bunnel Elementary School Art Club.  The hand selected Sand Pine tree hails from Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest and stands 25 feet tall. This is a great way to enjoy this beautiful scenic display and also enjoy the many venues that are found in Town Center. After the lighting ceremony, Santa will visit (in the Santa’s Village area) and parents are encouraged to bring cameras for photos.  Entertainment and refreshments will also be available for this fun family outing.

Also opening the same night is the The Rotary Club of Flagler County’s 10th Annual Fantasy Lights display at Central Park which will be open from 6:30 to 9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30. This self-guided walking tour around Central Park features festive live music, Santa’s Village and a Fantasy Lights display featuring 40 animated light displays.  Photos can be taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus and holiday refreshments will be available for purchase.  Santa’s Merry Train Ride, 3-D twinkle glasses and snow are added features at this holiday inspired display.  The admission is free but donations are suggested to help support the Rotary’s good deeds.  Those with disabilities can schedule a ride-along tour upon request. 

Another exciting family friendly event is the City of Palm Coast’s Starlight Event & Parade which is scheduled for Saturday, December 12 in Central Park at Town Center, 975 Central Ave.  The festivities begin at the Starlight Event which will be held from 4-6pm where games, entertainment by local and regional performers, refreshments for purchase as well as a visit from Santa from 4:30 -6:00pm (a photographer will be present for photo ops).  The Starlight Parade begins at 7pm and will feature holiday themed lighted floats, marching bands and other local talent.  Prizes will be given for the top entries.

For active folks who are trying to stay in shape, there is a Starlight Half Marathon & 5K on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. The race will take place in and around Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave. The run is part of the Palm Coast Running Series which is a popular past time for active residents and visitors.

Palm Coast in Flagler County is a highly sought location for retirement homes and winter retreats which draws Boomers from all over the country.  The beaches and scenery found in Flagler County entice visitors to become full time residents.  Palm Coast is situated on 70 miles of saltwater and freshwater canals and the Intracoastal Waterway and is located only minutes away from the naturally pristine Atlantic beaches.  There is even a pet friendly beach that allows pet lovers to enjoy this amazing habitat with their four-legged friends.  People seeking an active lifestyle may find that perfect Palm Coast home for sale at Flagler County.  With over a dozen cultured parks, 125 miles of connecting trails for walking and biking, this classic landscape is adorned with historic oaks, towering pines and vegetation indigenous to the region and provides a perfect backdrop to enjoy the Florida resort communities found here.  Additionally there is spectacular fishing from the shoreline or at the Flagler Beach Municipal Pier which is open 6am to midnight year round.  Boating is also a popular past time and many of the properties found here have private docks available.

Other activities popular with residents here are bird watching at St. Joe Walkway and Linear Park which are designated as Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trails and watching dolphins and seabirds frolic along the Intracoastal at Waterfront Park.  Flagler Beach is comprised of 19 miles of hard-packed coquina sand and wide beaches. It is a perfect place to surf rated the 3rd best waves in Florida and is the home to the Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Competition held each fall.  Whale watching is also enticing for residents and visitors and takes place annually as the Right Whales migrate to the area with their newborns each year from December through March.  It is a majestic experience for those who enjoy the wonders of nature. Culturally, The Flagler Auditorium provides year round performances providing Broadway shows, symphony and celebrity entertainment in the 1,000 seat state of the art theater.  The Flagler Playhouse provides more intimate performances and the Flagler County Art League hosts traveling art exhibits, festivals classes and social activities for residents looking for fun things to do.  Palm Coast also has a wide variety of dining options with over 65 restaurant choices ranging from elegant dining to seafood shacks, healthy eating “the catch of the day” will insure that waistlines stay intact.

Palm Coast is a fairly young City, before 1969, the City of Palm Coast was a big-pine covered swamp but with the vision of ITT/Levitt Corporation, the uninhabited 22,000 acres have become golf courses, marinas, oceanfront resorts and beautiful homes.  The City was incorporated in 1999 by the vote of its 12,000 voting residents and today over 74,000 people call Palm Coast home.  This highly sought retirement community is one of the fastest growing Florida resort communities on the Northern East Coast of Florida.  Here are a few great properties to visit while enjoying this holiday season in Flagler County:

GRAND HAVEN

Grand Haven is a 1,400 acre coastal Florida property and is considered one of the premier gated golf communities in the region featuring single family homes, villas and townhomes for its residents.  A majority of the property is located on frontage of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the property is surrounded by conservation land with two Flagler County parks adjacent to the community.  Golfers flock to enjoy the world class club that showcases the picturesque course designed by Jack Nicklaus and the spectacular views of the ICW from the grandiose 17,000 square foot Clubhouse.   Boaters can enjoy boating with access to a boat ramp just next door. The Village Center provides fitness, tennis courts, heated pool, spa and some delicious food choices at the Waterside Café.  There is a second clubhouse, the Creekside Athletic Center with a resort-styled pool and championship croquet lawns all within 7 miles of the magnificent Flagler Beach.  Social activities abound with water aerobics, Tai Chi, Yoga, ballroom dancing and book clubs, residents never get bored.  This is a happy and friendly neighborhood found in Palm Coast, to us, one of the best Florida retirement cities.  Here is a list of the amenities found at Grand Haven:

• 24 hour Manned Gated Entrance
• 17,000 square foot Golf Clubhouse overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway
• Jack Nicklaus designed 18 hole Championship Golf Course
• The Village Center with heated Olympic-size Swimming Pool, Fitness Center, Spa, Tennis Courts, Bocce Ball Courts, Waterside Cafe
• Creekside Athletic Center with resort-style Swimming Pool and Championship Croquet Courts
• Community Parks and Walking Trails

YACHT HARBOR VILLAGE 

For avid boaters and folks who are seeking a resort inspired lifestyle, Yacht Harbor Village provides a super place by the sea to retire in a gated boating community nestled on 76 acres of exotic landscaping and 4,000 feet of shoreline on the Intracoastal Waterway. With favorable seasonal temperatures, waves breaking nearby, fishing, sunny beaches and the convenience of a first class beachfront resort Yacht Harbor Village provides the perfect place to escape and enjoy the finer things life has to offer.  Whether it’s a single-family home or a low maintenance waterfront condo, residents can enjoy the many superb amenities that are offered the Hammock Beach Resort.  Residents of Yacht Harbor Village have the option for a membership at the Hammock Beach Club which offers a private beach, 2 championship golf courses, 7 swimming pools, a full service spa and six mouth-watering restaurants.  Social events are scheduled year round with community dances, reggae on the patio, afternoon tea and holiday events planned for the residents.  If visiting Palm Coast, condo vacation rentals are also available and a great place to stay while searching for that perfect Palm Coast home for sale.  Here is a list of amenities found at Yacht Harbor Village:

• 24 Hour Manned Gated Entrance
• 209 Boat Slip Marina with utilities, pump out and fuel
• Resort-style Swimming Pool and Jacuzzi
• Tennis Center with state-of-the-art Hydro Grid system for 8 Lighted Tennis Courts

HAMMOCK BEACH RESORT

Folks shopping for Florida beach communities will want to see Hammock Beach Resort on Flagler Beach.  Visitors who stay at the resort often decide to purchase a vacation home due to the excellent amenities offered here.  Families love this beach community because they can enjoy spa treatments, workout or play golf at one of the 2 courses found here while the kids can enjoy the Fantasy Pool Complex which features a water slide, flume and lazy river.  There is also “The Kids Crew” which provides fun supervised activities for children ages 4-12 including beach festivities.  For tennis buffs there are 8 lighted Hydro-Grid clay courts and for boating enthusiasts there is a marina with 209 boat slips for lease.  For foodies, Hammock Beach Resort has six superb restaurants offering a wide array of menu selections including elegant, oceanfront or burgers poolside.  There is also an ocean bar, cigar bar, coffee and sushi bar for convenience and entertainment. The resort stands out as one of the best Florida resort communities and the perfect place to buy a home which provides the most discerning residents the ultimate in country club living.  Here are the amenities offered at the Hammock Beach Resort: 

• The Conservatory Golf Course designed by Tom Watson
• The Conservatory 44,000 square foot Golf Clubhouse
• The Ocean Golf Course designed by Jack Nicklaus
• Nine hole kid’s Championship Putting Course
• The Tennis Center at Yacht Harbor Village with 8 Lighted Tennis Courts
• Yacht Harbor Village with 209 boat slips to 100’ in length
• 4,000 square foot Spa at Hammock Beach Resort
• Seven Resort-Style Swimming Pools and Children’s Water Features
• Beach Volleyball Courts
• Six Restaurants on property

Pack up the kids and enjoy some fabulous warm weather and festive events that are happening in Palm Coast Florida.  It’s the perfect time to enjoy the holidays with family and search for the ideal Palm Coast home for sale in these Florida resort communities.  One visit to Palm Coast and folks agree, this is one of the best Florida retirement cities.  

If you’re exploring Palm Coast for the first time, be sure to request our free Palm Coast relocation information.