Jasper — Christmas in White Springs kicks off with the annual Christmas parade on Friday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. A special treat in the parade this year will be the Riding Ranchers from the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, according to Tom Moore from the special events committee.

Once the parade winds its way down the main drag through town it will end up at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park where the annual Festival of Lights will come alive.

The Festival of Lights always draws a huge crowd of visitors with its awesome holiday lighting and displays throughout the park, made possible and sponsored by the Stephen Foster Citizens Support Organization, as well as the generous support of numerous local individuals and businesses.

More than five million lights (up from last year’s four million) will illuminate the park each evening from dusk until 9 p.m. from Nov. 30 through Dec. 30, except Christmas night, Dec. 25 when the park will be closed. Entrance fee is $2 per person. On Nov. 30 you can get in free by bringing an unwrapped toy, which will be distributed to needy children in the local community.

The Festival of Lights has been named a Top 20 event in the southeastern United States and visitors will enjoy award-winning holiday sights and sounds throughout the park. Unique holiday light displays include majestic oak trees decorated with thousands of lights, an antebellum museum dressed in full holiday splendor, a gingerbread village, a candy cane forest, Santa’s runway and much more. The centerpiece to all this holiday magic is the 200 foot tall Carillon Tower that illuminates the night sky while holiday music rings from its bells.

Over at the Craft Square Cousin Thelma Boltin’s Gift Shop will be open every day from noon until 9 p.m. Stop in for some complimentary hot cocoa and popcorn and then go browse through the square where you’ll find demonstrations, a bonfire, marshmallow roasting and holiday singing for everyone. 

Park rangers warn that visitors might experience a “flurry” of fun in their winter wonderland each night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Weather reports, they say, predict a chance of snow flurries every evening on the hour and giant snow families have been spotted in the area. You may even get to meet Santa!

You can also take a step back in time and experience the festival of lights via a one mile horse-drawn wagon or a private carriage ride.

The fun continues on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. with the much anticipated Breakfast with Santa at Nelly Bly’s Kitchen for the local children of White Springs. Santa will be giving out Christmas gifts to each child present at the breakfast. The sponsors of Breakfast with Santa include the town's special events committee, Stephen Foster State Park and the Park's CSO, the White Springs Police Department and the Suwannee Bicycle Association (SBA).