Okeechobee County

Christmas parade is Dec. 12
OKEECHOBEE – Okeechobee Main Street will host a Christmas Festival on Dec. 12 in Flagler Park. The annual lighted Christmas parade will start at dark (around 6 p.m.). For vendor booth applications and parade entry applications, go online to okeechobeemainstreet.org.

Pick-up a free “Melting Snowman” craft kit
OKEECHOBEE — Pick-up a free “Melting Snowman” craft kit at the Okeechobee Public Library, 206 S.W. 16th St., through the month of December. This is a take-home kit that will include some needed materials and instructions (commom materials like scissors and tape will not be included). You can follow along on Okeechobee Library’s YouTube channel: visit www.tinyurl.com/OKELIBRARY and click on the craft tutorial for the Melting Snowman.

Toys for Tots event planned
OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee Marine Corps Toys for Tots will be distributing by toys appointment to approved agencies on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Individual family distribution will be by appointment only on Dec. 16 or Dec. 17. Due to COVID-19 the number of participants will be limited inside at one time. Masks are required and social distancing will be implemented. Children do NOT need to be present. Distribution will take place at the Okeechobee Agri Civic Center, 4601 S.R. 710 in Okeechobee by appointment.

Toys for Tots needs help
OKEECHOBEE — Toys for Tots is in need of volunteers to assist with organizing, setting up and bagging toys for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 14, Tuesday, Dec. 15, Wednesday, Dec. 16, and Thursday, Dec. 17, from noon until 7 p.m. at the Agri-Civic Center off State Road 710. Volunteers will be required to wear masks, bring their own hand sanitizer and practice social distancing. Please contact Malissa Morgan at 863-634-5852 or Kristi Morgan at 561-721-5023 for additional information.

Candy Cane Lake Drive-Thru
OKEEHOBEE — The Okeechobee County Public Library, 206 S.W. 16th St., will host Candy Cane Lake Drive-Thru in the library parking lot on Dec. 10 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Stay safe and socially distanced while you drive through a decorated parking lot for snacks, crafts, giveaways and more — while supplies last. This event is FREE and open to everyone.

Santa Claus coming to town
OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee Kiwanis Club will host Santa in the bandstand in Flagler Park, Dec. 21, and 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Santa to ride fire truck
OKEECHOBEE — The City of Okeechobee will once again host visits from Santa Claus, who will ride around inside the city limits on a fire truck. Santa is expected to ride through the southeast section on Dec. 20, and through the southwest section on Dec. 21

Lighted boat parade Dec. 19
OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee Yatchette Club’s 36th Annual Christmas Boat Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 19. Boaters who wish to participated should decorate their boats with lights and meet on Taylor Creek by Burger King and the State Road 70 bridge between 5 and 5:30 p.m. The parade starts at 6 p.m. The boaters will go south on Taylor Creek to the locks and then turn left and go to VFW Post 10539. The post will give a prize for the best decorated boat. For more information, call Arnie at 863-824-0681 or Harry at 863-467-4782.

Mission Outreach Toy Drive
OKEECHOBEE — Big Lake Missions Outreach is sponsoring their 26th annual Toy Drive for their clients, underprivileged children, in our county. Families will be screened and the unwrapped gifts are to be wrapped by the parents and placed under the tree for Christmas morning. Big Lake Missions Outreach is in need of gifts for children from 1 day to 17 years old. Gifts maybe in the form of gift, gift cards or a check made out to Big Lake Missions and they will shop for you. Pick-up and receipts available upon requests. Individuals or groups may adopt-a-family (early requests please). Last day to sign up to receive toys is Dec. 11.

Drop off Toys for Tots
OKEECHOBEE — Sharon Covey and the local Edward Jones financial advisor are supporting the Okeechobee Toys for Tots program by using her office as a drop-off location for this year’s toy drive.
Local residents may help needy children in the area by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the office, 107 S.W. 17th St., Suite J, in Okeechobee. Please call ahead to drop off something, at 863-357-4724, during regular business hours beginning Nov. 30 through Dec. 17. Monetary gifts cannot be accepted.

Glades County

Church plans events
LAKEPORT — Lakeport Christian Church, 10947 SR 78, invites the public to attend their Christmas Eve Service on Thursday, Dec. 24, at 5:30 p.m. and a Christmas dinner on Friday, Dec. 25, at noon.

Toy drive planned
MOORE HAVEN — Toys for Tots is collecting toys in Glades County. New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off during regular business hours at 1021 Health Park Drive, Moore Haven, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 3:30 and 5 p.m.; Wednesday between 4:30 and 6 p.m.; and, Friday between 2:30 and 4 p.m. Toys will be distributed to those registered in advance. To request toys, go to www.toysfortots.org or call Florida Community Health Center at 863-946-0405.

Hendry County

FCT hosts singalong
LABELLE — The Firehouse Community Theater, 214 Bridge St., is pleased to announce their sixth annual Christmas singalong to benefit Toys for Tots. The singalong will be on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. Admission is a $10 donation for Toys for Tots or you can bring an unwrapped gift valued at $10 or more. If you cannot attend but would like to drop off a toy to benefit Toys for Tots, or make a donation, please call the theater and leave a message at 863-675-3066. Someone will return your call.

Join virtual Christmas party
HENDRY/GLADES — Ross Dining and Prolific Learning presents A Virtual Christmas Party on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 9 a.m. The event will be broadcast live on the “Ross Dynasty” Facebook page. To register, please complete the link by Dec. 5, 11:59 p.m.: https://forms.gle/VFwvWBetLeom8fJi9
Open to Hendry or Glades Co. residents only, limit one entry per household. For more information or questions, please email rossdynasty7@gmail.com.

Palm Beach County

Library sets Family Fun Day
BELLE GLADE — Have a Festive Family Fun Day at the Belle Glade Branch Library, 725 N.W. Fourth St., on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a family-friendly event to celebrate the season with holiday crafts and refreshments while supplies last. Bring your mittens to play in a field of snow while supplies last. Refreshment will be provided.
The following is a list of events:
• Young Singers of the Palm Beaches in the Glades will perform at 10:15 a.m.

• The Maltz Jupiter Theatre Youth Touring Company will perform at 11 a.m.
• Photos with Santa will be held at noon.
• Kids’ Music Circle will be held at 1:30 p.m.
For information, call 561-996-3453.

Donate to needy for gift bags
PAHOKEE/BELLE GLADE — The Light House Cafe and Ella’s Closet is seeking donations to make holiday hygiene gift bags. Reguested items: bath towel, wash cloth, socks, lotion, bath soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream, comb, disposable razor, tissues and peppermints. If you prefer to make a monetary donation, please mail checks to: The Light House Cafe, P.O. Box 220, Pahokee, FL 33476. To schedule a pickup or delivery of the requested items, call 561-993-7020. Donated items can be delivered to The Light House Cafe, 400 S.W. Ave. B in Belle Glade (by appointment only).
Add your holiday event to this list! Email information to okeenews@newszap.com.

See the holiday lights
NOTE: Each year we ask readers to share information on where to see holiday lights. To add an address to this list, email okeenews@newszap.com or call
863-763-3134.

Okeechobee:

• The Lanier Light Show, in Dixie Ranch has a little over an acre of a light display with thousands of lights, lots of blow-ups, hand-painted characters and displays, and synchronized to Christmas music. The address is 7944 N.W. 95th Court, Okeechobee, 34972. The lights will be on every night from 6 to 10 p.m.
• The neighborhood behind Big Lake Eye Care off U.S. 441 North has a lot of houses with Christmas lights;
• The entire area by Everglades Elementary school all the way back to the tracks;
• Edenfield’s on the corner of Southeast 12th Drive;
• Big O campground on State Road 78;
• The Perrys’ house, Southwest 30th Street; and
• 4951 S.E. 128th Ave.