Downtown Christmas Celebration

Against the backdrop of Historic Apalachicola more reminiscent of a scene from a Dickens novel, the Panhandle Players strolled through the streets of downtown Apalachicola singing Christmas carols during the Annual Historic Apalachicola Christmas celebration.

The celebration is an annual event sponsored by the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce and the Apalachicola Business Association. The two organizations hold the event each Friday after Thanksgiving as a means to jumpstart the holiday shopping season here in historic Apalachicola.

In addition to the caroling, the event featured the lighting of the City’s Christmas tree by the Towns Mayor, and Santa setting aside his traditional mode of transportation to travel to Apalachicola by shrimp boat to the delight of the hundreds of kids who Christmas wishes he entertained.

Christmas music filled the air and luminaries lined the sidewalks, while holiday shoppers gaited in and out of the downtown shops looking for that unique gift only Historic Apalachicola can offer. To accommodate the eager shoppers, downtown merchants stayed open as late as 8:00 PM.

There was something for everyone as the Raney House Museum held its Festival of Trees. Chamber members are already making plans for the 2009 Christmas celebration.

Footage and photos courtesy of Gail D. Johnson