By Peter Covino
Lifestyles Editor

Thanksgiving is over, it is definitely time to think Christmas.

Downtown St. Cloud is ready to unwrap the holidays with the Hipstoric 3rd Friday-It’s a Wrap celebration Dec. 15.

The activities on Pennsylvania Avenue include vendors, Santa with photos, free carriage rides provided by A Finishing Touch, food drive by Bella Floral and Boutiques corner of 10th and Pennsylvania;

On New York Avenue: St. Cloud High School Jazz Band, Robert Bass and Friends, winners of St. Cloud Chamber Holiday Parade and winners of St. Cloud Main Street’s Residential Decorating Contest, St. Cloud Chamber’s Holiday Open House, other activities at New York Artist Shop, $5 Haircuts by Rayzor’s Edge for Relay for Life, food trucks, the Antique Car Show with sponsor Kisselback Ford, and Santa’s workshop for the kids presented by Home Depot on the Corner of 10th and Pennsylvania.  

There also is free gift wrapping on 10th Street, with a receipt from a downtown merchant purchase

There is a free movie immediately following Hipstoric in Centennial Park — A Christmas Story 2.

Kissimmee Parade

Kissimmee’s annual Festival of Lights Parade will be held in downtown Kissimmee Saturday, Dec. 8.

The event includes the tree lighting ceremony, entertainment and caroling by The Mistlestones, Santa’s Sisters, The Carolers and The Caroling Kids.

There will be more holiday activites in at the Kissimmee Police Department building including a Santa meet and greet starting at 5 p.m.

The parade starts at 7 p.m., followed by the tree lighting ceremony.

Disney

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is back and the popular evening event  will have its longest-ever run  this year on select nights through Dec. 21. Mickey’s party has been going on for a quarter of a century and features live stage shows, a holiday parade, fireworks and of course, hot chocolate and cookies. Dates include Nov. 25, 27, 29, 30 and Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21.

It starts at 7 p.m. This is a popular event and often sells out in advance for each night, so advance tickets are recommended. Go to www.Disneyworld.com/Christmasparty.

LEGOLAND

LEGOLAND Florida is getting into the holiday spirit with lots of family-friendly fun with its second annual Christmas Bricktacular and Kid’s New Year’s Eve.

The holiday fun and festivities will be held every Saturday and Sunday in December at The Beginning and Fun Town from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Beginning is home to the  more than 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree made with a combination of 270,000 forest green LEGO and DUPLO bricks. The official tree lighting ceremony will be held Nov. 29,  at 5 p.m. with a special master of ceremonies.

Holiday festivities on Saturdays and Sundays in December during Christmas Bricktacular will feature lots of family fun including:

·LEGO Model Build Activity: Help build a LEGO Christmas Tree in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza that will stand over 20 foot tall when completed.

· LEGO Santa Scavenger Hunt: It’s Christmas Eve in Miniland USA and Santa is busy delivering gifts to all the good girl and boy minilanders. Help find Santa in this fun-filled holiday scavenger hunt. The whole family can search for Santa in the more than 30 million LEGO bricks that make up Miniland USA. One lucky hunter each day will receive a prize from the daily drawing.

·LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier: Guests will have meet and greet opportunities with LEGOLAND Florida’s special holiday friends, LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier.

·Holiday Shopping: LEGOLAND Florida is the best place to celebrate the season and pick up the holiday LEGO gift sets. The park has six specialty stores, offering unique and  unique and often hard to find LEGO products and more.

Along with LEGOLAND Florida’s Christmas Bricktacular, guests can still enjoy a full day of theme park fun with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. Holiday events are included with normal park admission. To purchase tickets, visit www.legoland.com.

Jingle Jog

Calling all Runners. Ring in the holidays Dec. 7, in the Jingle Jog 5K at the Osceola Valencia College Campus.  

Runners will race through an evening wonderland course decorated with holiday lights and decorations; set to cheerful holiday tunes.  Wear your most creative holiday costumes to win a prize. Cost is $30 per runner and includes a T-shirt and goodie bag.  

To register, go to http://jinglejog.eventbrite.com. Runners and spectators will enjoy a Food Truck Rally with performances by the Road Scholars Band following the race.

All proceeds will benefit Take Stock in Children (TSIC), a mentor and scholarship program of the Education FoundationOsceola County.  

The TSIC program identifies deserving students and matches them with a volunteer mentor, in-school support and a pre-paid college scholarship. For many students, the single greatest obstacle they confront is the lack of vision for their future.

Funds raised through the Jingle Jog 5K will be used to purchase Florida Pre-paid scholarships.  The program currently serves 72 Osceola County students.  To learn more about this program, contact Marcie Hill at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 407-344-4687.