The Beaches Museum & History Park is going all out for the holidays.
It all kicks off Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, with Santa and The Polar Express in the Dickinson Gallery and the History Park in Jacksonville Beach.
The train will be decorated for the holiday. Visitors are invited to write a letter to Santa, enjoy cocoa and cookies, watch the movie The Polar Express in the Dickinson Gallery, make crafts, and enjoy other festivities in the History Park at 381 Beach Blvd.
Then on Friday, Dec. 15, the fun shifts over to the museum’s 1873 Oesterreicher-McCormick Cabin, located at 503 Beach Blvd. It will be decorated for the holiday and have special programming from 5 to 8 p.m.
A festive evening under twinkling lights is planned. Pianist Mary Perry and the St. Paul’s Catholic Church Adult Choir will fill the courtyard with carols while the Polly B Dancers will perform in the Beaches Museum Chapel.
Rev. Dr. Gabe Goodman will provide holiday stories and carols and a fire pit will be lit for roasting marshmallows. The Fletcher High School Band Ensemble will play, and period decor will adorn the Cabin. Beverages and light appetizers will be served.
Donations are suggested for the events.
Then, on Monday, December 18, the museum and the Lazzara Family Foundation will present a Celtic Christmas featuring Ed Miller with Jil Chambless & Scooter Muse at the historic Beaches Museum Chapel at 505 Beach Blvd.
Edinburgh Scotland native Miller (vocals, guitar) along with Chambless (vocals, flute, whistle) and Scooter Muse (guitar) will perform Celtic songs, tunes, and tales.
Individual tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the day of the show.
More information is available on the Beaches Museum website.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
