After months of talking to residents about their favorite local holiday traditions, we created this episode to share Tallahassee’s best experiences and events between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. We cover live performances, holiday lights shows, festive races, Santa appearances, shopping, and much more.We also share a little-known piece of local history – listen to learn about Tallahassee as the site where Christmas was first celebrated in America! (For real!!)

Candy Cane Lane Photo Credit - City of Tallahassee

Thank you to our episode sponsor - Home Alone Pet Service!  They have been serving Tallahassee's pets since 2005, and they will accept new clients starting in January!  Email [email protected] to be put on the waiting list or visit their website to learn more: www.TallahasseePetsitter.com The Show Notes below are listed in the order discussed in the show, with links to event pages.

America's First Christmas

Tune in to hear Bert Pope tell the history of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto's winter encampment of 1539-1540 in Tallahassee and how that translated into the site where Christmas was first celebrated in America.

1001 de Soto Park Drive, Tallahassee, FL

America's First Christmas Facebook Page

De soto Winter Encampment Site

De soto's Christmas in Tallahassee

Learn more about Hernando de Soto's time in Tallahassee in our "Overtime with Bert Pope" episode.  Click below to listen to this 9-minute mini-episode.

Listen to Overtime with Bert Pope

City of Tallahassee Events (FREE)

Winter Festival of Lights and Jingle Bell Run

Saturday, December 7 from 3-10 p.m.

A Celebration of Lights, Music and the Arts in downtown Tallahassee

6:00 p.m. - Lighting Ceremony

6:15 p.m. - Jingle Bell Run (registration fee for this part)

7:15 p.m. - Nighttime Holiday Parade

3-10 p.m. - 4 stages of entertainment, children's activities, food trucks, and more!

Candy Cane Lane in McCarty Park - open during Winter Festival and also nightly from 6-9 p.m. on December 8-15

City's Event Page (click here for performance line-up)

Jingle Bell Run Event Page & Registration

City's Facebook Event Page

Holiday Stroll through Cascades Park

Saturday, December 14, 6 – 8 p.m.

FREE event!

Walk to different stations along the walking trails in Cascades Park to hear live holiday music performed by local favorites (see line-up on Facebook event page)

Stop by Imagination Fountain to see the water dance to the sounds and lights of the season