Between now and New Year's Day, The Village of Baytowne Wharf has more than a dozen holiday events on its calendar, and most of them cost nothing. Each free event has a fixed start time and gathers on or around the Events Plaza Lawn. The events that do charge are mostly a step away from it, at the rink, on the decorated streets for one evening, and down at Baytowne Marina. A Sandestin owner can fill November and December without buying a single ticket. Doing that well takes a calendar, because the free events start on schedule and don't repeat.
The Lawn Carries the Season
The first stop comes tomorrow night. Tribute Weekend comes back to the Events Plaza Lawn on Friday, November 6, and Saturday, November 7, from 7 to 9 p.m., and it's free. Friday is Pandora's Box performing Aerosmith's catalog. Saturday is The 77 Experience, a tribute to the music and pop culture of 1977. Baytowne asks people to bring blankets and lawn chairs. On Tuesday, November 10, at 7 p.m., vocal coach Alissa Steffens presents a free fall concert with her students, who range from kids to adults and sing across all genres.
The holiday season proper starts on the lawn too. On Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, The Polar Express plays on the Events Plaza Lawn at 6 p.m. at no charge. The next evening, Saturday, November 28, Here Comes Santa Claus starts at 6 p.m. Santa comes down Baytowne Lane to the lawn and lights the Village Christmas tree. The evening includes face painting, balloon making, a brass band and fireworks, all free.
That tree carries December. Nights of Lights is a choreographed light show on the Village tree and the Events Plaza Lawn. It runs every night from December 1 through December 31, with shows at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. That makes 93 free showings in one month. One 90-minute session at the rink costs $15 plus a $3 skate rental.
The Wednesday Night Concert Series switches to a Holiday Edition for December. Shows run from 6 to 8 p.m., and Santa visits on December 2, 9 and 16. The Niceville High School Chorus, the Destin High School Band and the Fort Walton Beach Choir are listed as performers. Three more free evenings round out the month.
- Lantern Parade, Saturday, December 5, 5 p.m. The parade winds through the Village. Anyone who wants to march needs a lantern, and Baytowne encourages people to make their own. Spectators watch from around the Village. Decorated golf carts can join after registering by email.
- Grinchmas, December 11 and 18. The Grinch is in the Village for meet-and-greet photos from 5 to 7 p.m. both nights, at no charge.
- Tuba Christmas, Saturday, December 12, 5 to 7 p.m. It's free, and Santa visits during the same window.
Where a Ticket Comes In
The paid events sit next to the free ones in time and are a short walk away. Each draws a different crowd.
The rink. Baytowne on Ice opened October 30 and runs through February 7. It's the only paid event that runs every week of the season. Sessions are $15 for 90 minutes, and skate rental is $3. Skaters have to be at least 3 years old, and children under 6 need a parent or adult family member with them. Hours change from day to day, so check the 2026–27 ice rink calendar before you go. Baytowne also posts a waiver that can be filled out ahead of time.
The streets, for one evening. The 14th Annual Sparkling Wine & Holiday Lights runs Saturday, November 21, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 on the day. Guests walk the decorated Village streets tasting more than 30 champagnes, with appetizers at featured Village restaurants. Carolers are part of the evening, and it closes with the Nights of Lights show, a week before Santa lights the tree. According to the Sandestin Wine Festival, proceeds go to a local charity. Sandestin's event listing says guests must be 21 or older to join the wine tastings. Baytowne says the event usually sells out.
The marina, Thanksgiving week. Two paid events start at Baytowne Marina. The Sandestin Turkey Trot is Sunday, November 22. Packet pickup is at 6 a.m., the 1-mile walk starts at 7 a.m., the 5K at 7:30 a.m., and a tailgate follows at 11 a.m. Registration costs $50 for adults and $40 for military and for runners 17 and under. Four days later, on Thanksgiving Day, SOLARIS runs two holiday cruises out of the marina. Lunch is 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with check-in at 10:45 a.m., and dinner is 6 to 8:30 p.m. with check-in at 5:15 p.m. Fares are $89.50 for ages 11 and up, $55 for ages 3 to 10, and $30 for children under 2, who don't get a meal. Tax and a 20% service commission are added, and reservations are required.
The Season on One Page
| Date | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Feb 7 | Baytowne on Ice | The Village | $15 per 90 min, $3 skates |
| Nov 6–7, 7–9 p.m. | Tribute Weekend | Events Plaza Lawn | Free |
| Nov 10, 7 p.m. | Alissa Steffens Vocal Studios fall concert | The Village | Free |
| Nov 21, 4–6 p.m. | Sparkling Wine & Holiday Lights | Village streets | $75 presale, $85 day of |
| Nov 22, from 6 a.m. | Sandestin Turkey Trot | Baytowne Marina | $40–$50 |
| Nov 26 | SOLARIS Thanksgiving lunch and dinner cruises | Baytowne Marina | From $89.50 adults |
| Nov 27, 6 p.m. | The Polar Express | Events Plaza Lawn | Free |
| Nov 28, from 6 p.m. | Here Comes Santa Claus and tree lighting | Baytowne Lane to the lawn | Free |
| Dec 1–31, 6, 7, 8 p.m. | Nights of Lights | Events Plaza Lawn | Free |
| Dec 2–16, 6–8 p.m. | Holiday concerts and visits with Santa | The Village | Free |
| Dec 5, 5 p.m. | Lantern Parade | Through the Village | Free |
| Dec 11 and 18, 5–7 p.m. | Grinchmas | The Village | Free |
| Dec 12, 5–7 p.m. | Tuba Christmas with Santa | The Village | Free |
| Dec 31 | Baytowne NYE Countdown | The Village | See listing |
Nearly every free evening event starts between 5 and 7 p.m. Nights of Lights is the exception, with its 8 p.m. show the latest of the season. Grabbing dinner after a 6 p.m. show is easy most nights in December.
New Year's Eve Has Two Midnights
The year ends with the same split. According to Sandestin's event listing, the Baytowne NYE Countdown runs from 6 p.m. on December 31 to 1 a.m. on January 1. Family activities and music fill the 6 to 8 p.m. block, and fireworks go off at 8 p.m. and again at midnight. Live music plays from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. With the early show, a household with young kids can see fireworks and still get home at a reasonable hour.
Down at the water, Marina Bar & Grill stays open until 1 a.m. on New Year's Eve. The kitchen closes at 9:30 p.m., and the bar offers a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and $3 Jell-O shots. No tickets are required.
Getting to the Lawn
Getting there is easy, which helps all the free events. Baytowne's village map says the garage and other parking lots are free and open to the public at all times, and valet is available. Under the resort tram's winter schedule, which runs September 7, 2026, through February 28, 2027, trams operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. They run on two loops roughly every 30 minutes and are free for resort guests. The 10 p.m. cutoff covers everything except the late New Year's Eve hours.
Hosting family for the holidays is a different matter at the gate. The Sandestin Owners Association asks owners to register residential guests in advance. Security verifies the visitor at the gate and issues a guest pass. That's a separate process from the one for visitors headed only to the public Village. If cousins are coming for the Santa parade on November 28 and staying at your place, register them before Thanksgiving week gets busy.
If December at Baytowne is part of why you're thinking about a place inside the gate, or you're getting a Sandestin home ready to sell in the new year, Sold in Paradise can show you how the resort works year-round. Find Your Slice of Paradise and book a free 30A market consultation with our team.
