FALL & HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN DAYTONA BEACH

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 9, 2015) – Holiday travelers to Daytona Beach are in store for the magic of 23 miles of glimmering snow-white sandy beaches and balmy weather. A flurry of family-fun activities and live sporting events are destined to warm the spirit and bring good cheer. To experience America's original beach destination, explore travel options and book a holiday hotel stay today!

 “A trip to Daytona Beach for the holidays is great for families,” said Tom Caradonio, executive director of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “A host of activities on the beach, on the riverfront, even on the football field, provide families with those opportunities to connect and have a meaningful vacation.”

Looked forward to with glee every year, A December to Remember in Daytona Beach is one of many events happening that are designed to make the season a most memorable one:

Riverfront Festival of Seasons, A December to Remember & New Year's Eve

Riverfront Festival of Seasons, December 5, 2015, Downtown Daytona Beach, (386) 238-4001
The highlight of this delightful event is watching the Halifax Yacht Club's Boat Parade from the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway in the historic downtown area of Daytona Beach. You can also get your picture taken with Santa and experience an old-fashion celebration with ornament craft making for the kids. Eat, drink and be merry with plenty of options through a variety of gourmet food trucks. www.DaytonaBeach.com

December to Remember, Saturdays & Sundays in December 2015 through January 2, 2016, (386) 671-8250
The historic and iconic Daytona Beach Oceanfront Bandshell and Ocean Walk Shoppes are at the epicenter of this fun, family holiday festival that extends along the Daytona Beach Boardwalk. Festivities include a sand sculpture trail, Saturday night tribute bands, arts & crafts vendors, choo-choo train rides on the Boardwalk Express down to Joyland Train Station, Reindeer Scavenger Hunt, radio remote control cars, face painting, inflatables and much more! www.DecemberDaytona.com.

New Year's Eve in Daytona Beach December 31, 2016, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Main Street, Daytona Beach
Celebrate the coming of the New Year on world-famous Main Street, Daytona Beach! Enjoy multiple stages for live entertainment, street performers, festival food and family-friendly attractions. Stay for the fireworks over the ocean and watch the live ball drop at midnight. $15 shuttle service from all Atlantic Avenue hotels. www.NewYearsEveOnMainStreet.com

Food, Art & Culture

5th Annual Food, Wine & Brew Fest November 14, 2015, 6 to 10 p.m., News-Journal Center, Daytona Beach, (386) 681-2365.
Sample food from 30 of the best restaurants in the area along with 100 craft beers and 30 wines from around the country. Enjoy the night in the sports bar with college football games, live entertainment featuring live music and a Cigar Lounge. It all takes place in beautiful downtown Daytona Beach at The News-Journal Center. 

1884 Museum House Tours, daily 1 to 5 p.m., except Tuesdays, Lilian Place, Daytona Beach, (386) 256-4810

Enjoy a tour of Lilian Place, the oldest house on Daytona's beachside and a fully furnished museum. This Italianate Victorian house was built in 1884 by one of the city's first settlers, Laurence Thompson. 

Masterworks by the UCF Flying Horse Editions through January 13, 2016 at News-Journal Center, Daytona Beach, (386) 226-1927
This special exhibition showcases a selection of exceptional works from invited international contemporary artists at one of America's preeminent art presses, the University of Central Florida (UCF) Flying Horse Editions.

Midway: Portrait of a Daytona Beach neighborhood through January 15, 2016, Yvonne Scarlett Golden Cultural & Educational Center, Daytona Beach, (386) 506-4475

Revisit Daytona Beach in 1943 with photographs by Gordon Parks, Eli Reed, Aaron Mervin and Jim Gavenus. From the permanent collection of the Southeast Museum of Photography at Daytona State College, in cooperation with the City of Daytona Beach and the Yvonne Scarlett Golden Cultural & Educational Center.

Cracker Creek & Gamble Place Tours every Friday and Saturday, Port Orange, (386) 304-0778
Enjoy learning about old Florida pioneer history while visiting Gamble Place, on the National Register of Historic Places. Once the winter home of James N. Gamble, of the Procter and Gamble Company, Gamble Place is adjacent to Cracker Creek, and is surrounded by an associated 175-acre nature preserve.

The Spirit of Sports

60th Annual NAIA National Football Championship Game  December 19, 2015, 6 p.m., Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium 1-800-745-3000

Join us for the 60th Annual National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football National Championship Game in Daytona Beach! Municipal Stadium will be buzzing with pre-game and half-time shows, live music and plenty of fun for everyone. Tickets are available on TicketMaster.

World Karting Association Speedway Dirt Series December 27-29, 2015, 1-800-748-7467
Go-kart racers by the hundreds flock to Daytona International Speedway to compete in this World Karting Association (WKA) event, which launches WKA's 2016 season. Racing on the flat track is intense in this three-race series that attracts big-name drivers like Jamie McMurray and AJ Allmendinger.

10th Annual Offense-Defense All American Bowl December 28, 2015 to January 2, 2016, at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, (843) 903-1888

The Offense-Defense Youth All-American Bowl is part of a week-long series of events that includes the 10th-annual Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, an All-Star football game showcasing eight of the top high school seniors in the country. The bowl has featured current NFL pros such as Cam Newton, Joe Haden, Earl Thomas, and Dez Bryant.

Daytona Beach Half Marathon February 7, 2016
Join us for this iconic race from the "Speedway to the Beach & Back"! Named one of the seven scenic half marathons in America by Active.com, this is one of the most unique courses in the running world. www.DaytonaBeachHalf.com

About the Daytona Beach Area
Discover the new Daytona Beach and its surrounding area, a resurging destination along Florida's East Coast comprising eight distinct communities.  Recognized worldwide for its annual events including Bike Week, Biketoberfest®, Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Daytona 500, Daytona Beach's famed heritage also claims the U.S. headquarters of LPGA and NASCAR, and is home to Daytona International Speedway, the 'World Center of Racing.'  With more than 15,000 beds, the destination boasts accommodations for all lifestyles and budgets including resorts, B&Bs, hotels and everything in between.  Visitors can enjoy the quintessential vacation experience beginning with the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier, or choose from a surprising list of attractions and cultural venues, and a colorful culinary scene.  With 23 miles of world-famous beaches ideal for shelling, swimming and surfing, it is no surprise Daytona Beach was chosen as a Best Florida Attraction in the Top 10 Best Readers' Choice travel award contest sponsored by USA TODAY.  To order a complimentary comprehensive Official Visitors Guide, visit DaytonaBeach.com. For real-time updates, visit Facebook.com/DaytonaBeach or Twitter.com/DaytonaBeachFun.