Spring in Seaside, Florida: A Season of Family Traditions and Shared Moments

SEASIDE® recently welcomed the spring season with a meaningful new tradition: a ceremonial flag raising in the heart of town. Presented with the assistance of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, the gathering offered a moment for residents, visitors, and staff to pause together and reflect on what makes SEASIDE® feel both timeless and deeply personal.
Micah Davis, President of SEASIDE® Community Development Corporation, spoke about SEASIDE®’s founding vision as a place intentionally designed for connection. Jeremy Barnes, Director of Operations, shared how thoughtful stewardship ensures that the town’s character and family-centered atmosphere continue to thrive. Kevin Boyle, General Manager, welcomed families to spring in SEASIDE® with a simple message: this is a place where memories are made side by side, across generations. The ceremony comes just as SEASIDE® has been named the #1 Best Family Beach Vacation in the U.S. for 2026, affirming what returning families have known for decades. SEASIDE® is not defined by a single attraction. It is defined by the feeling of being together.

A Place Where Families Feel at Ease
One of the most remarkable things about SEASIDE® is that, despite its relatively young 45 year history, it easily feels like the long-established town square it was designed to be. That sense of openness is no accident. It is the result of thoughtful stewardship and a long-standing commitment to creating a place that feels welcoming to everyone. SEASIDE® is privately cared for, yet publicly enjoyed. This spring, take the time to enjoy the birthplace of New Urbanism in the way it was meant to be enjoyed. SEASIDE®’s walkable streets, welcoming public spaces, and thoughtfully designed town center create an environment where families can slow down and reconnect. Grandparents walk hand in hand with grandchildren. Parents rediscover the joy of unhurried evenings. Children find independence within a setting that feels safe and familiar. During the spring season, a 7 PM curfew for unaccompanied minors under 18 helps preserve this shared experience. The intention is simple: encourage families to spend meaningful time together and ensure that SEASIDE® remains a welcoming place for all.

12 Family-Friendly Activities in Seaside You Won’t Want to Miss
Beginning March 10th, Seaside’s Arts and Entertainment program offers complimentary events designed to bring families together in the heart of town. Whether you arrive with a blanket, lawn chairs, or simply wander over after dinner, these gatherings create space for connection and shared memories.

1. Experience Children’s Theatre in the Amphitheater
Mondays at 6 PM | SEASIDE® Amphitheater
Gather on the lawn for an interactive performance designed to spark imagination and laughter. Families often arrive early with blankets or low chairs to settle in. It is a wonderful way to introduce younger children to live storytelling in a relaxed, open air setting.

2. Dance Along with Huck & Lily
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 5 PM | SEASIDE® Amphitheater
This high-energy concert series invites children to move, sing, and fully participate. Parents and grandparents can relax nearby while still feeling part of the fun. It is one of the most joyful ways to spend an early spring evening together.

3. Enjoy the Weekly Silent Disco and DJ Residency
Wednesdays 4:30 to 6:30 PM | SEASIDE® Amphitheater
Midweek afternoons turn festive as families gather after the beach. Children play freely on the lawn while music creates a welcoming backdrop. March brings Silent Disco while April welcomes an in-house DJ residency. It’s casual, fun, and perfectly timed before dinner.

4. Watch a Movie Under the Stars
Fridays & Sundays at 7:30 PM | SEASIDE® Amphitheater
Central Square Cinema transforms the Amphitheater into an outdoor movie experience. Bring blankets, pick up takeout from a local merchant, and enjoy a shared evening outdoors. It is simple, nostalgic, and consistently a family favorite. Check each week’s movie selection on the Event Calendar.

5. Play Together at the Seaside Athletic Club
Share a high-energy activity with the family by reserving tennis or pickleball courts, or explore group fitness options suited for a range of ages and abilities. It’s an opportunity for friendly competition, skill building, and shared accomplishment as a group. Learn more and reserve here.

6. Let the Kids Run Free on the Playground and Lawn
The centrally located Amphitheater offers a natural meeting place for families with younger children. Tupelo Goods chairs and plenty of green space invite spontaneous games of catch, cartwheels, or simply stretching out in the sunshine. Wander to the playground (located adjacent to the tennis courts) for swings, a slide, and simple fun.

7. Take a Self-Guided Art and Architecture Walk

Explore SEASIDE®’s thoughtfully designed streets, iconic homes, and public murals throughout town while exploring at your own pace. Discover colorful works by Sarah Page (outside SEASIDE® Kids + Baby and inside Cabana), Art by Doman (at ‘drome), Gaia (the Vincent Scully mural facing 30A), and Kelsey Montague in the Pop Up District. Find The Seaside Institute’s self-guided tour here.

8. Book a Beach Setup for a Relaxed Day by the Gulf
Reserve chairs and shade through Cabana Man and arrive to a ready-made beach experience. Planning ahead ensures comfort, though same-day arrangements are often available. It allows families to focus on enjoying the sun, fun, and sand without the requirement of staying in SEASIDE®.

9. Explore Town by Bike

Rent bicycles through the Seaside Transit Authority and experience the community as it was designed to be enjoyed. With flat streets and scenic paths, biking becomes both transportation and memory-making.

10. Gather for Sunset
Sunsets here are truly iconic, especially during the spring season, making it a perfect time for families to gather, either on the beach or in the Amphitheater. This simple time together is often the most meaningful part of the day. Don’t miss the opportunity to walk down from the Coleman Pavilion to experience it with the Gulf as the backdrop.

11. Explore SEASIDE® wedding venues
The same qualities that make SEASIDE® an exceptional family destination also make it an ideal setting for life’s most meaningful occasions. From rehearsal dinners to Gulf front weddings, SEASIDE® offers venues that elevate meaningful occasions thanks to its charming style and picturesque backdrops. Wander past potential venues, including SEASIDE® Pavilion, Lyceum Lawn, SEASIDE® Beach, The Court, or even Central Square, any of which are perfect for a dream wedding or bringing together generations to celebrate a new milestone. To learn more about weddings and celebrations, inquire here.

12. Capture Seaside Through Art
Bring sketchbooks, watercolors, or even just pencils, and let each family member draw or paint the town as they see it. Count the palm trees and chairs in Central Square. Observe the gentle buzz of activity or the lines of each building and take time to notice the details. This activity encourages observation, creativity, and a sentimental souvenir to take home.

As the flag now flies over Central Square, it signals more than the arrival of spring. It marks a renewed invitation to gather, reconnect, and create lasting memories. Try any of these suggested activities or create your own family bucket list.
For the first-time visitors as well as those with decades-long tradition, families find that spring in SEASIDE® offers something increasingly rare: time together, exactly as it was meant to be.

The season brings dazzling entertainment, festive ambiance, and a merry good time

By Wendy O. Dixon

Beginning Thanksgiving Day weekend with the showing of the beloved “Nutcracker” ballet and ending with a New Year’s Eve spectacular celebration, Seaside celebrates the most wonderful time of the year by preserving traditions and making memories. 

Many families make Seaside their home away from home, where they can enjoy a beachside Thanksgiving or Christmas that can include a beach-themed tree trimming and a Gulf Coast-inspired holiday feast. 

Seaside merchants also get into the spirit, with gorgeous decorations that sparkle and twinkle. 

Holiday Events

The holiday season begins Sunday, Nov. 23, with a performance of “The Nutcracker,” based on the critically acclaimed Russian ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score. From the ballet that launched a national holiday tradition, dancers will perform under the stars at the Seaside Amphitheater. “The Nutcracker” performance is the result of the vision of Seaside co-founder Daryl Davis, who introduced performance arts in Seaside. The show will be held at 5 p.m. and is free to the public.

Friday, Nov. 28, grab your blankets and head down to the amphitheater for a holiday edition of Central Square Cinema on the lawn in Central Square. The featured movie is “The Grinch (animated),” a classic for all to enjoy.

The festive events continue Saturday, Nov. 29, with Turn on the Town. Hosted by the Merchants of Seaside, the day includes a parade and the annual tree lighting ceremony. The event features live music and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Santa, master of ceremonies for the evening, will invite all of the kids to join him in front of the stage for a sing-along before magically brightening up the town. Then, the countdown begins in unison to light the 24-foot Christmas tree, as all of downtown Seaside is illuminated with bright, holiday lights. Following the lighting ceremony, bring your camera for photos with jolly ole Saint Nick. 

Additional events in December include a concert under the stars, more photo ops with Santa, and the New Year’s Eve celebration. More details to follow in the winter issue of The Seaside Times. 

A notable piece of Seaside’s charm is that it is a place for families to slow down, spend time together and make lasting memories. Those who saw the vision of town founders Robert and Daryl Davis when the town was in its early building phase are now bringing their kids, grandkids and great grandchildren to their special homes.

Instead of selling, they plan to pass those homes down to the younger generations, says Larry Davis, real estate broker for Seaside Community Realty, Inc.

“Seaside is built for inheritable homes. Well-planned, well-designed and well-built for generations to share memories and experiences,” he adds. 

Suellen and Hal Hudson have built seven homes in Seaside, beginning with their first 800-square-foot cottage in 1984. As Suellen was the enthusiastic project manager on each of their houses under construction, she brought her daughter Emily along with her on the weekly drive from Pensacola. 

“I started coming here when I was six years old, going back and forth until I was 14, when they finished the house on Seaside Ave,” Emily Mitchell says. “Seaside was practically empty then, so I spent time playing in the vacant lots and running barefoot along the pathways. I had to watch out for the short cactuses that were everywhere before lots were cleared.”

Now Emily and her husband, Scott, bring their kids, Hudson, Wilmer and Marian, to town regularly. “We’re fortunate to live close by, so we go a lot,” she says. We spent every Fourth of July here. It’s Hudson’s birthday. When he was little, he thought all the fireworks were for him.”

Now that the kids are in their teens, they enjoy doing their own things when they come to Seaside. “They still get hugs from Carmel Modica (at Modica Market) and love getting doughnuts.”

In the coming years, Emily predicts she will bring her future grandchildren to the family home in Seaside. “It’s a legacy house now, an heirloom and a part of our family,” she says. 

Peter Zimmerman, president of the Seaside Town Council in 2009 and 2010, and his wife, Leigh, discovered Seaside while vacationing in Destin. Turns out they liked this town better, and rented a cottage named No Angel three years in a row. Their first purchase was at 29 East Ruskin Street. Then, wanting to enlarge their space, they bought a beach-front home named Wilder, where their three young children could really run wild. Now they have a penthouse in the center of town that sleeps 14. “And we have 14 arriving for the Fourth of July,” Peter says. 

Now that they live downtown, every activity is just a few steps away. “It’s strange to think of how far East Ruskin sounds now,” Pete says. “When we bought Wilder we enjoyed the ocean. But downtown, we enjoy the activity and the happiness that exists. Our favorite view is the children playing in the amphitheater.” 

Both of the Zimmerman daughters were engaged in Seaside and married in the Chapel at Seaside. With five grandkids, the penthouse is a place of joy for three generations of the Zimmerman family. “As I have told Robert and Micah (Davis, town founder and son), it’s like no other place in the world. And I’ve been all over the world.”