With extended rain and thunderstorms in the weather forecast, Winter Festival events scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2, have been cancelled. The safety of our community, event participants and staff is paramount.

While there may be breaks in the weather, many of our vendors and parade entrants have also recognized that the timing and potential severity would impact preparations on Saturday and notified us of their decision to no longer participate this year.

The cancellation includes the Jingle Bell Run, Nighttime Holiday Parade, lighting ceremony, live entertainment and children’s activities.

When the threat of severe weather passes, Candy Cane Lane will be open nightly from 6-9 p.m. through Dec. 10.

To spread holiday cheer, the City of Tallahassee has planned numerous free festive events to take place throughout December, including Holiday Stroll, Santa Calling, Elf Night and Soul Santa, and the spectacular light display in Dorothy B. Oven Park is open and shining bright each night through Jan. 1.

For the latest updates about seasonal City events, follow Facebook.com/COTParks and Twitter.com/COTParks.

Follow us on a walk down Candy Cane Lane. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through McCarty Park as you embrace the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

You can sing aloud, or simply listen, to merry melodies as they fill the air of Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden St., from 6-7:30 p.m Saturday, December 9 at the annual Holiday Stroll. About a dozen different acts will showcase their talents throughout the winding trails of Cascades Park, including the Smokey Hollow Commemoration. Free hot cocoa will be available. A beautiful show at Imagination Fountain will play every fifteen minutes during the event.

The City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs Department has made special arrangements with Santa! He will be making phone calls to from his North Pole Workshop to all of the good little boys and girls this year!

Registration will open on Monday, November 27. Register for Santa Calling

Santa will begin making phone calls on Thursday, December 7.

Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road

The holiday light display will premiere Thanksgiving evening (Thursday, November 23) and run nightly through the New Year (Saturday, January 1), weather permitting.

Weekday hours are 6:00 - 10:00pm with extended hours on the weekends from 5:30 - 11:00pm. Motorists inside the park and traveling along Thomasville Road in the vicinity of the park, are urged to drive with caution.

This year, Elf Night is Thursday, December 14 from 5:30 - 8:00pm. If you’d like to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, check-in on the front lawn upon arrival to be assigned a ticket number, which will allow you to enjoy the festivities until your number is called. While enjoying Elf Night, parents will want to have their cameras ready to record all the smiles and wonderment on their children’s faces.

Hot Cocoa, sponsored by Au Pair in America, and cookies will be provided by Santa’s little helpers while supplies last...

Please remember vehicles will not be allowed to drive through or use the parking lot on Elf Night but parking will be available next door at the Thomasville Road Baptist Church.

Both Elf Night and our holiday light display are free and open to the public and we look forward to seeing you.

For more information, call our holiday line at 850-891-3555.

The City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs Department will be making spirits bright with Soul Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Registration will begin December 2. This event is for children 10 years and under. Children must be registered to participate and must be present to receive gifts.

LeVerne Payne Soul Santa event will take place Saturday, December 16 | 2:30 - 6:00pm 
Register for the LeVerne Payne Soul Santa event

Walker-Ford / Smith-Williams Soul Santa event will take place Saturday, December 16 | 10:00am - 2:00pm
Register for the Bond Community Soul Santa event

For more information, please contact LeVerne Payne Community Center at 850-891-3930 or Walker-Ford Community Center at 850-891-3970.