History and Guide to Christmas in Tallahassee, Florida

Celebrating Christmas in Tallahassee is fun and festive, but the holiday’s roots date hundreds of years in Florida’s Capital City. In fact, many historians point to Tallahassee as the site of the first Christmas in North America.  

In 1539, Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto set up camp in the hamlet, known as Anhaica at the time. The town center was bursting with the Indigenous peoples’ provisions, much needed by the Spaniards. Devout Catholics, the conquistadors likely held a modest mass, and, historians speculate, likely sang carols and exchanged small gifts.  

Hundreds of years later, holiday traditions live on in Tallahassee, Florida. Here are a few ways to celebrate Christmas in Tallahassee, Florida. 

Get in the spirit at Winter Festival 

For over 35 years, Tallahassee has celebrated Winter Festival, on the first Saturday in December, when downtown comes alive with brightly lit trees and other festive displays, plus an evening holiday parade, Christmas movies for kids, four stages packed with live music and entertainers, and lots more.  

Do some holiday shopping  

Don’t miss Tallahassee’s annual Market Days in early December. Celebrated as one of the largest juried arts and craft events in the southeast, the two-day event is the place to find something special for everyone on your list. With hand-made goods, like dolls and clocks, to fine art and unique stocking stuffers, Market Days is a must for any holiday shopping trip to Tallahassee.  

Enjoy the sounds of the season 

Home of Florida State University, Tallahassee offers concerts and events from the College of Music each year. To kick off the holiday season, the school’s choral groups join together for a special holiday performance. The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra also delivers during the holiday season, with performances ranging from Handel’s Messiah to the high-flying Cirque de Noel.  

Tour a flower-filled estate  

Head over to Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, which also includes botanical gardens and a historic home, for its annual Camellia Christmas event. Enjoy hot cider and cookies as you roam the estate’s halls, all decked for the season with greenery and fragrant flowers. 

Celebrate local art 

For 60 years, LeMoyne Arts, located in Tallahassee’s historic Meginnis-Munroe House, has celebrated local art and artists through workshops, classes, camps, and more. Every year, LeMoyne’s annual holiday show is a favorite of the season, featuring hundreds of handmade gift items and several additional festive mixers and cocktail parties. The event runs from mid-November through the end of December. 

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