Community Events

The annual Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. The parade will start from Eglin Parkway and First Street and continue north on Eglin Parkway to finish at Hughes Street. 

This year’s theme is “Zoo Animals.” Costumes and decorations are welcome, but please leave the real zoo animals at home. Pets must be on a leash. Gather along Eglin Parkway to watch the parade and cheer on your favorite characters. Please note that Eglin Parkway will close to vehicle traffic prior to the start of the parade.

If your group, organization, or business would like to participate in the parade, please use the 2025 Christmas Parade Application form at the link below. Registration will close at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.

Decorate your bikes, strollers, tricycles and golf carts and follow the Grinch on a glowing ride/walk through the Ferry Park Neighborhood and help the FWB Police Department stop him once again from trying to steal Christmas!

Fort Walton Beach Police Department’s annual Winter Wonderland event is set for Friday-Saturday, Dec. 12-13, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center.

There will be games and movies for the kids, raffle prizes, food and beverage trucks, and local vendors selling their goodies. And you won’t want to miss the Christmas village made from recycled and decorated shipping pallets.

If your business or organization would like to build a pallet house or participate as a vendor, please contact Lt. Stalls with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department at [email protected].

The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center (formerly the Fort Walton Beach Fairgrounds) is located at 1958 Lewis Turner Boulevard.