Celebrate Holiday Happiness in Sunny Sebring

SEBRING, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2016) – The holiday season is quickly approaching and your friends in Visit Sebring are already busy planning events and activities to celebrate holiday happiness in authentic and charming old Florida.

With vintage country stores, historic hotels, cookie decorating, live entertainment and an entire downtown city circle illuminated for the season, Sebring, and the surrounding cities of Avon Park and Lake Placid, has something to offer everyone looking for a charming Florida holiday experience.

Upcoming Holiday Events
Nov. 3-Jan. 25: Christmas at the Jacaranda Hotel; Avon Park HotelJAC.com
Visit the hotel and halls where Babe Ruth, Clark Gable and Al Capone once stayed. Step back in time and embrace the magical holiday season at this 1920s historic hotel nestled in the center of the state.

The drive here alone, through open pastureland and orange groves, will set the mood and take you to a simpler time. Full of traditional and festive holiday décor, the Grand Lobby showcases the 15-foot Christmas Tree, nutcrackers, fireplace and ornate holiday splendor. Enjoy a wonderful buffet lunch or dinner in the Palm and Citrus Dining Rooms. Stroll the Arcade decorated with poinsettias, antique sleigh and lavish decorations. Stay in the newly decorated hotel rooms and suites, each with its own theme.

Nov. 26-Dec. 28: Carousel of Lights; Sebring DowntownSebring.org
Join us for the 31st Annual Downtown Sebring Carousel of Lights as historic Circle Park illuminates again with an amazing display of festive holiday lights displayed each night from 6-9 PM. In addition to the lights, this 4-week long event will feature Santa Claus every night, a singing puppet show, kids games and miniature golf. Free to attend; small fee for activities.

Dec. 1: Miracle on 34th Street, Avon Park sfscarts.org
With a touching story and wonderful songs, such as “Just Imagine,” “Macy’s Madrigals,” and “I Believe in Miracles,” you will truly believe in the miracles of the season. Rediscover your own childhood – and restore your faith in miracles – in this fun-filled musical classic for the whole family. 7:00 PM at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 10: CookieFest, Sebring www.HighlandsArtLeague.org
Stop by the Highlands Art League and find your inner pastry chef and artist at Cookiefest. Attendees can decorate holiday cookies with Chef Mac Gentleman, write letters to Santa and participate in holiday art and craft projects. 9AM-Noon

Dec. 11: The Beach Boys Holiday Performance, Avon Park sfscarts.org
The unforgettable harmonies and classic sound of The Beach Boys will bring Good Vibrations to your Holiday season. This performance of their early surf music plus classic hits like Wouldn’t It Be Nice and Kokomo is a guaranteed sell-out, so get your tickets early! Original members Mike Love and Bruce Johnston bring the Holidays and the Hits in this epic one-night-only performance. 7:00 PM at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts.

Area Attractions – Open Year Round
Maxwell Groves; Avon Park – ShopMaxwellGroves.com
Everyone loves this little country store with all the local citrus fixins’ including fresh squeezed orange juice, local honey, gifts, and fresh orange ice cream. Come sit on one of the orange rocking chairs and relax on our front porch. A great place for families to stop and experience Florida’s citrus heritage and ship fresh fruit back home to friends and family.

Highlands Hammock State Park; Sebring – FloridaStateParks.org/park/Highlands-Hammock
One of Florida’s oldest parks, Highlands Hammock has 15 distinct natural communities on 9,000+ acres and several are designated as imperiled or of concern, such as the Florida scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and cutthroat seep.

It is one of the highest-ranking parks in Florida for endemic biodiversity, and it is known for its beautiful old-growth hammock and thousand year old oaks. An elevated boardwalk with an historic catwalk traverses cypress swamp, and visitors may observe alligators, birds and other wildlife.

Many visitors enjoy bicycling the scenic three-mile loop drive or hiking the park’s nine nature trails. Picnicking, camping, bird watching, and ranger-guided tours of the park are other popular activities. The tram tour, which is fully accessible, allows visitors the unique opportunity to view birds, alligators, turtles, deer and other wildlife relatively close-up, in areas of the park that are restricted to public access.

Catch-and-release fishing and picnicking are available nearby. Highlands Hammock provides a full-facility campground, as well as a youth/group tent campground.

Airboat Adventures; Sebring – VisitSebring.evok.xyz
Enjoy 90-minute scenic airboat tours and see a diverse range of scenery and Florida wildlife, as well as 28,000-acre Lake Istokpoga and beautiful Arbuckle Creek. Enjoy the beauty of gliding through pristine waters while experiencing the excitement of traveling over hydrilla and tall grass that only an airboat ride can offer. Frog gigging, gator and duck hunting trips also available.

Sebring Kart Racing; Sebring – SebringKartRacing.com
For kids and most adults, the odds of driving Audi, Ferrari or Porsche sports cars at an average speed of 120 mph around the curves and straightaways of the Sebring International Raceway are practically non-existent. But Sebring Kart Racing allows everyone the chance to at least get close to the experience of driving in the big leagues with karts that run up to 40 mph on a track that mimics the famous Sebring raceway.

In Sebring and its surrounding area, you’ll fine 95 crystal clear lakes for fishing and boating, more than a dozen of Florida’s most affordable golf courses, one of Florida’s oldest state parks, and a reminder of why everyone loves authentic Florida. Our gently rolling hills, orange groves and charming small towns make this a relaxing country getaway with a central location. For more information, VisitSebring.com or call (800) 545-6021.