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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
Updated daily
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGSDUVAL COUNTYUntil January 7 The Junior League of Jacksonville, in partnership with the Jacksonville Public Library, is proud to announce the 2008 Festival of Trees. This year's event is guaranteed fun for the young and young at heart as the library is transformed in to a magical holiday playground. Main Library downtown Jacksonville Until December 23 Take a moment and enjoy the smell of gingerbread and the sites of St. Nick at the Rotary Club's annual holiday charity event. Gigantic creative gingerbread houses built by architects, engineers and home builders along with other local professionals will be on display for your family's viewing pleasure. Jacksonville Historical Society ST. JOHNS COUNTYUntil January 4 Lace up your skates and head over to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre to enjoy a Winter Wonderland! The seasonal extravaganza includes a 100 foot Ice Slide, winter games, an Elf village, onstage performances of the Quiltmaker's Gift, lighted nature trails, Santa, s'mores on an open fire and much more. St. Augustine Amphitheatre Until January 31 Millions of white lights create a magical holiday atmosphere in the Nation's oldest city during the 15th Annual Nights of Lights Celebration. A dazzling array of special events and activities await visitors including nighttime tours led by costumed storytellers, train and trolley tours, special shopping events, a dazzling regatta, ice skating, luminaries in the town plaza, holiday concerts, a Christmas parade and more. Historic St. Augustine December 27 The St. Augustine Art Association, 22 Marine St., will host a holiday tour that features an inside/outside view of St. Augustine's most beautifully decorated churchs and historical buildings. Led by art historian Dr. Cecile-Marie Sastre, the walk will highlight the art, architecture and historical significance of structures and monuments dating from the Colonial era through the Gilded Age. Refreshments will be served, and reservations are required. Call 904-824-2310 for information and reservations. AROUND THE STATEICE! With winter just around the corner, Orlando's Gaylord Palms Resort is again bringing a welcome whiff of cold stuff to Florida. Opening November 17 is the resort's popular annual ICE! attraction, hand-carved from almost two million pounds of ice. Visitors can roam through several chilly rooms filled with ice monuments and sculptures, ice slides and holiday scenes. The theme this year is ''Santa's Arctic Blast'' featuring an oversized Santa's lap and an ice castle celebrating Santa's Christmas Eve flight with flying reindeer. The display runs Nov. 14 to Jan. 4. Admission ranges from $9.99 to $24.99; discounts are available for tickets purchased in advance online. Information: 407-586-4-ICE, www.gaylordpalms.com/ice. Disney World Cinderella and friends, in holiday dress, go on stage daily from November 10 at the Magic Kingdom in ''Castle Dreamlights.'' Youngsters get holidays treats at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a separate ticket event on 18 nights (Nov. 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30, Dec. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19.) International holiday traditions go on stage at Epcot Nov. 18-Dec. 30, millions of lights light up New York Street at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Candlelight Processionals at Epcot with celebrity narrators feature a mass choir and 50-piece live orchestra from Nov. 28-Dec. 30. 407-934- 7639, www.disneyworld.com/holidays. Busch Gardens Starting Nov. 22, an ice show with professional skaters takes the stage at the Stanleyville Theater, while the Marrakesh Theater showcases holiday gospel and spiritual songs. 888-800-5447, www.buschgardens.com. Sea World From Nov. 14 through Jan. 4, guests can ''board'' the Polar Express Experience, in which they encounter polar bears, giant walruses and Santa himself in a motion simulator ride reminiscent of the movie. More information at 800-327-2424 or www.seaworld.com.
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