Category: Recreation - The County Insider

The County Insider

Lighting the Season Together

12/29/2025

12/29/25 @ 9:45 a.m.

This year’s Tree Lighting was more than a single moment. It was the result of weeks of planning, preparation, and teamwork behind the scenes. Held on Friday, December 5, 2025 at the Robert M. Foster Justice Center the event featured kids activities, food trucks, a vendor market, a trackless train, the lighting of the tree, and a festive fireworks display.

Even with the wet weather, the evening was a wonderful success, and this video captures the spirit, dedication, and community pride that made it so special. Thank you to everyone who came out and hung in there with us in the rain. We truly do this for our community!

Video created by Multimedia & Communications Manager Omari Matlock, Nassau County Board of County Commissioners

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

Jolly Morning With Santa

12/23/2025

12/23/25 @ 2:30 p.m.

Thank you to everyone in the community who joined us for the 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa Event on Saturday, December 20, 2025. With approximately 100 guests in attendance, the morning was filled with smiling faces, festive cheer, and plenty of holiday magic. From enjoying breakfast together to capturing special photos with Santa, it was wonderful to see families making memories and celebrating the season with us.

We truly appreciate everyone who came out and helped make this event such a success. Your participation and holiday spirit are what make events like this so special. We wish you all a joyful holiday season and look forward to celebrating with you again soon!

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

Flip the Pancakes, Cue the Magic!

12/19/2025

12/19/25 @ 9:30 a.m.

TOMORROW is the big day!

Santa has checked his list (twice), the griddles are warming up, and we’re ready for a morning full of holiday cheer at Breakfast With Santa! Bring the family out for a festive, memory-making event filled with pancakes, smiles, and plenty of time with the big guy in red.

The event is completely FREE for Nassau County residents. Kids can visit with Santa, snap a photo, and soak in the holiday magic. if you would like to participate in the optional gift exchange, please bring one wrapped gift per child (under $20). Each child that brings a present will receive a present back from Santa himself.

WHAT: 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa
WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 9:00–11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Callahan Multi-Use Facility, 543350 US Highway 1

Whether you’re here for the pancakes, the photos, or just the holiday vibes, we can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Santa’s saving you a seat!

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

A Merry Thank You to the Community

12/18/2025

12/18/25 @ 3:45 p.m.

A heartfelt thank you to all the community members who came out to see Santa and share in the holiday spirit. Your smiles, laughter, and festive cheer made the event truly special. We loved seeing families and friends create memories together, and we’re grateful for such a wonderful community to celebrate the season with.

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

Making Memories With Santa

12/17/2025

12/17/25 @ 11:45 a.m.

We love looking back at memories from previous events and this is a sweet memory for sure!

Santa is back and ready to make more magical memories this weekend. Bring the kids, enjoy a festive breakfast, and don’t forget your camera! This event is completely FREE for Nassau County residents.

There is also an optional gift exchange. If you want to participate, please bring one wrapped gift per child (under $20). Gifts are handed out by Santa himself!

📅 WHAT: 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa
🕘 WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 9:00–11:00 a.m.
📍 WHERE: Callahan Multi-Use Facility, 543350 US Highway 1

https://www.facebook.com/share/193sGMfVgA/

5th Annual Breakfast With Santa is Saturday!

12/15/2025

12/15/25 @ 11:30 a.m.

Santa called… he’s hungry!

This Saturday, he’s rolling in for our 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa—and he’s bringing pancakes and sausage, photo ops, and festive fun with him! Kids can swap gifts, share their wish lists, and snag a pic with the man in red. Breakfast and photos with Santa are free!

Bring your holiday spirit and one wrapped gift per child under $20 (if you want to participate in the gift exchange).

Don’t make Santa eat all the pancakes himself!

WHAT: 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa
WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Callahan Fairgrounds, 543340 US 1, Callahan, FL 32011

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

Decorated Tree Contest Recap

12/11/2025

Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Decorated Tree Contest!

Our 4th Annual Tree Lighting was bursting with holiday cheer thanks to the incredible employees and local businesses who put their creativity on display in this year’s Decorated Tree Contest. Guests browsed the festive forest, cast their votes, and even had a chance to win the tree they loved most!

After tallying every vote, we’re excited to reveal the Top 3 Trees of 2025:

🥇 1st Place: Nassau County Public Works
🎁 Tree Drawing Winner: Krissy Smith

🥈 2nd Place: Office of Management & Budget
🎁 Tree Drawing Winner: Brittany Contardi

🥉 3rd Place: Synovus Bank
🎁 Tree Drawing Winner: Glenda Smith

Other fantastic trees and their lucky winners are:

First Federal Bank - Winner is Macie
Community First Credit Union - Winner is Christy
Dave Turner Plumbing - Winner is Rebekah
Community Press Foundation - Winner is Rachel Childs
Nassau County Development Services - Winner is Shannon
Nassau County Clerk of Courts - Winner is Lori Gamble
US Bank Mortgage - Winner is Michelle Fales
Community Stewards of Yulee - Winner is Loukya
Kelsey Shay State Farm - Winner is Lyndsy
Nassau County Building Department - Winner is Victoria
Pet Paradise - Winner is Hatton
Bert Norman Plumbing - Winner Rachel.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated supplies, shared their time and talent decorating a tree, and to all who attended the event and cast a vote. Your participation is what makes this fun community tradition grow brighter every year!

Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

5th Annual Breakfast With Santa

12/10/2025

12/10/25 @ 5:00 p.m.

We're just over a week away from our 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa Event! Join us for a merry morning packed with fun, food, and festive magic!

Enjoy a FREE pancake breakfast, snap pictures with Santa, and watch little faces light up during our special children’s gift exchange — with Santa himself handing out the presents!

👉 Don’t forget: Please bring one wrapped gift per child (under $20) to take part in the exchange.

📅 WHAT: 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa
🕘 WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 9:00–11:00 a.m.
📍WHERE: Callahan Multi-Use Facility, 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan

Come share a magical morning of holiday cheer with us!

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

Rainy Night, Bright Community

12/9/2025

12/9/25 @ 4:30 p.m.

Despite the unexpected rain, our community showed up with incredible spirit for this year’s Tree Lighting, and we are SO grateful! We watched the weather closely all day, and while Friday morning looked promising for the three-hour window of the event, conditions shifted quickly. To keep everyone safe, we made the call to move the lighting up. And thanks to you, it was still a beautiful and joy-filled moment.

A huge shoutout to our amazing staff and vendors who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to pull everything together. We also want to thank the Nassau Community Band, who had to pack up early due to the weather, and RAD Amelia, whose dance performances sadly had to be cancelled.

Santa wasn't able to be with us either because of the rain and we want to make this up to the community by offering another night for photos by the tree with Santa. Stay tuned for details!

Rain or shine, this community always shows its heart. Thank you for making the night special.

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

Schedule for Tonight's Tree Lighting Celebration

12/5/2025

12/5/25 @ 9:00 a.m.

It's finally time for the 4th Annual Tree Lighting, taking place tonight from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Robert M. Foster Justice Center.

Join us for a festive evening filled with holiday cheer. Enjoy food trucks, a holiday vendors market, kids activities, and:
Holiday musical performance by the Nassau Community Band from 5:30–6:45 p.m.

Dance performances by RAD Amelia at 6:50 p.m.
Commissioner welcome & countdown at 6:58 p.m.
Tree Lighting at 7:00 p.m., immediately followed by fireworks
Pictures with Santa from 7:15–8:00 p.m.

All activities are FREE! Bring your family, your friends, and your holiday spirit—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

Santa's Ready - Are you?

12/3/2025

12/3/25 @ 3:00 p.m.

Santa’s been polishing his boots, fluffing his beard, and double-checking his naughty-or-nice list… and he’s officially READY to see everyone this Friday at the Nassau County Tree Lighting! 🌲✨

He can’t wait to hear your wish lists, take festive photos, and kick off the holiday magic with the whole community.

WHAT:
4th Annual Tree Lighting

WHEN:
Friday, December 5, 2025 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Robert M. Foster Justice Center (Yulee Courthouse), 76347 Veterans Way

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/19uMpd6BjQ/

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

4th Annual Tree Lighting

12/2/2025

12/2/25 @ 3:15 p.m.

Our team has been hard at work getting the tree ready for this Friday’s Tree Lighting! 🎄✨

Join us for a FREE, family-friendly evening filled with holiday magic including photos with Santa, kids’ games activities, live performances, food trucks, holiday vendors market, festive photo opportunities, and fireworks.

WHAT:
4th Annual Tree Lighting

WHEN:
Friday, December 5, 2025 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Robert M. Foster Justice Center (Yulee Courthouse), 76347 Veterans Way)

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/19uMpd6BjQ/

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

Tree Lighting Less Than Two Weeks Away

11/25/2025

11/25/25 @ 1:00 p.m. - THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

We’re less than two weeks away from Nassau County Parks & Recreation’s 4th Annual Tree Lighting on Friday, December 5th—and we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

To get everyone in the holiday spirit, check out the highlight reel from last year’s Tree Lighting and relive the festive fun, smiling faces, and magical moments that make this event such a community favorite: https://youtu.be/vMlzTwRxCWE?si=pTKR-9gxaGEEemkL

Mark your calendars and get ready for an evening filled with holiday cheer, family activities, live performances, and more. See you there!

WHAT: Nassau County's 4th Annual Tree Lighting
WHEN: Friday, December 5, 2025 from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
WHERE: 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee (Robert M. Foster Justice Center)

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1SUFsGXJ3J/

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

5th Annual Breakfast With Santa

11/13/2025

11/13/25 @ 4:30 p.m.

Get ready for a festive morning of fun, food, and holiday cheer! Join us for our 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa, featuring a free pancake breakfast and pictures with Santa. After breakfast, children can participate in a gift exchange, with presents personally handed out by Santa himself.

Please bring one wrapped gift per child (under $20) to join the gift exchange.

WHAT: 5th Annual Breakfast With Santa
WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 9:00 – 11:00a.m.
WHERE: Callahan Multi-Use Facility, 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan

Come enjoy a magical holiday morning with us!

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer

4th Annual Tree Lighting

11/10/2025

11/10/25 @ 12:00 p.m.

Join us on Friday, December 5, 2025, for Nassau County Parks & Recreation’s 4th Annual Tree Lighting , a FREE, family-friendly celebration packed with holiday cheer!

Get ready for an evening full of festive fun:

Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Kids’ games, activities and face painting
Holiday performances by the Nassau Community Band and Royal Amelia Dance Academy
Delicious bites from local food trucks
Holiday shopping with local vendors.

Then gather around for the official tree lighting and a spectacular fireworks finale to wrap up the night!

WHAT: 4th Annual Tree Lighting
WHEN: Friday, December 5, 2025 from 5:00- 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Robert M. Foster Justice Center, 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee

Bring your family, friends and holiday spirit and let’s make it a night to remember!

-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer