How to Plan Your Winter Holidays on Amelia Island
Skip the cold, and experience the best part of the holiday season on Amelia Island. Gorgeous weather, exciting events, and the beauty of Fernandina Beach are waiting. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about Amelia Island winter holidays. Planning the perfect winter getaway has never been easier! Don’t forget to request access to your complimentary Destination Guide before your next trip. Our guide is brimming with some of the island’s most sought-after restaurants, attractions, and events, making it the perfect tool for sculpting an unforgettable getaway!
Amelia Island Winter Holidays
It’s always sunny in Fernandina Beach, but the holiday season is when Amelia Island shines the brightest. Enjoy fantastic events and plenty of holiday cheer to go around. Whether you’re trying to escape the cold weather or looking for a new way to celebrate the season, Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island are waiting to offer you a new and exciting way to enjoy the holidays. Discover what the area has to offer below!
Amelia Island Christmas Lights
One of the best things for families to do during the holiday season on Amelia Island is to drive around town and admire the spectacular light shows that decorate the area’s homes. Create your own caravan and parade through the streets! Here are some of our favorite spots:
Fairbanks House: Each year, we celebrate the season by decorating our beautiful Queen Anne Victorian home with Christmas lights! While the exterior of our property glows with warm-colored lights at night, we dress up the interior with a vibrant holiday spirit as well! Christmas at Fairbanks is a family-style celebration that guests look forward to year after year!
Amelia Island Williams House: This historic bed and breakfast is only a two-block walk from The Fairbanks House and is quite the sight to see around Christmastime! The entire house is decked and equipped with soft holiday lights that make for a great place to stop if you are on 9th Street.
North Ridge Lane, Fernandina Beach: The entire street participates in this light show! Light up your night as you drive past a row of houses that embody the holiday spirit. With each house out decorating the last, this is sure to be a holiday highlight that you won’t soon forget!
Riverwood Drive, Yulee: The highlight of Meadowfield Bluff is the Davis Family home. Covered in shimmering lights for the entirety of the season, you won’t want to leave this home out of your light tour.
Jax Illuminations, Jacksonville: If you’re willing to make the drive, the Jax Illuminations Holiday Light Show is unforgettable. There is a $20 fee to enter, but over 500,000 lights await visitors in the best drive-thru holiday light show in the Jacksonville area.
Holiday Shopping
Whether you need a last-minute gift or you just want to take advantage of the holiday deals, shopping on Amelia Island has no off-season. Local boutiques and all of your favorite name-brand stores are waiting to be discovered. If you’re in the mood for seasonal shopping, finding holiday gifts, ornaments, and more is easy at Christmas on the River. For additional tips regarding shopping in the area, check out our Fernandina Beach shopping blog!
Dickens on Centre
December 13th through the 15th at Dickens on Centre features some of the most exciting holiday festivities in all of Florida. The festival brings a weekend full of Victorian-inspired entertainment and events. The historic streets of downtown Fernandina Beach come alive, and family-friendly fun sits around every corner. Visits with Santa Claus, festive food and drink, costumed characters, and holiday stage performances are just a few of the things that visitors can enjoy while attending the annual festival! For a full festival schedule, visit the Dickens on Centre holiday festival website!
Dickens After Dark
Dickens After Dark is the perfect place to look if you’re interested in an adult-themed holiday celebration. Enjoy holiday libations, costume parties, ghost tours, and intimate storytelling events in early December. Bring your ID and holiday spirit if you want to enjoy all Dickens After Dark offers. Tickets are $125 per person, and you must be 21 years or older to participate.
The Lighted Christmas Parade
Join the town in celebration at this year’s Christmas Parade! Enjoy the festivities on December 15th from 6 to 7 p.m., right on Centre Street in downtown Fernandina. Watch the floats and admire the lights as you take in all that the holiday season has to offer! Start planning your holiday getaway today!
Amelia Island Holiday Home Tour
The annual Amelia Island Museum of History Holiday Home Tour is another great opportunity to kick off your holiday season. Join the Amelia Island Museum of History for a tour of historical family homes on Fernandina Beach with a catered event at The Amelia Island Williams House.
New Years’ Eve Shrimp Drop
The New Years Eve Shrimp Drop is one of Fernandina Beach’s most exciting holiday events! Every year on New Year’s Eve, between the Shrimp Museum and Brett’s Waterway Cafe, the Shrimp Drop draws crowds from near and far to participate in an incredible lineup of festivities. Live music, laser light shows, kids’ bouncy castles, food, and local vendors are all featured. Join the fun this year, and plan your next Amelia Island getaway around this annual event!
Where to Stay During the Holidays
Make the most out of your holiday getaway by staying with us at the Fairbanks House. Our well-appointed bed and breakfast offers guests the perfect embodiment of Fernandina’s romantic charm to pair with the comfort and convenience of a world-class hotel. Enjoy the shade of fifty-foot magnolia trees and delight in the sweet breeze that floats through our on-site butterfly garden. Each and every one of our guest rooms features artful decor and state-of-the-art amenities.
The Tapestry Room, for example, extends to guests a four-poster king bed, a private fireplace, and a two-person bathtub. Explore the excitement of Amelia Island during the day, and return to your room each evening for a night of blissful relaxation. Before you plan your stay, don’t forget to take a look at our Christmas Holiday Package which comes with a complimentary dinner, bedtime sweets, and Christmas stockings. Our grounds feature stunning holiday decorations, making the holiday season the perfect time to visit! The ultimate getaway is just one click away!
Book your New Year’s Eve at the Fairbanks House!
