<strong>From staff reports</strong>

While Beaufort’s annual Christmas parade, boat parade and Night on the Town have all been canceled out of concerns for the spread of the Coronavirus, there are still plenty of things to do and see this holiday season.

Here are just a few:

<strong>Free Holiday Parking</strong>

Holiday parking at the downtown marina parking lot is now free through New Year’s Day.

Many downtown merchants will be open until 7 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays, Dec. 3-24.

<strong>Celebrate the Season</strong>

USCB Center for the Arts and the City are sponsoring “Celebrate the Season,” a free outdoor exhibit of holiday traditions and practices from around the globe.

The display includes beautiful and informative interpretations of customs and practices central to holiday traditions and is open now through Dec. 13.

<strong>First Friday</strong>

The Downtown Beaufort Merchants Association will celebrate “Hometown Christmas” at First Friday on Dec. 4. Many shops will remain open until 9 p.m.

For this and other events in public locations, make sure to have masks handy. Face coverings are still mandatory in public indoor spaces, including retail establishments and restaurants – and make sure maintain social distance.

<strong>“Light Up the Town” Neighborhood Challenge</strong>

Neighborhoods, grab your lights and get to work. Who gets the bragging rights as the best-decorated neighborhood in Beaufort?

Bonus: Take your kids on a family outing and drive from neighborhood to neighborhood to check out the displays.

<strong>Holiday Under the Sea Scavenger Hunt</strong>

The City of Beaufort is launching a fun activity for families and kids – a scavenger hunt.

Simply search for decorated sea animal ornaments in city parks, but make sure to leave the ornaments where you find them so others can join the fun.

Take pictures and tag the City of Beaufort on Facebook with #bftHolidayUnderTheSea.

The hunt begins Dec. 16 and runs through New Year’s Day.

<strong>Santa Mail</strong>

Children wanting to mail Santa their letters can do so from now until Dec. 18 at special mailboxes around the city. Those are:

City Hall – 1911 Boundary Street

Waterfront Park playground

City of Beaufort’s fire stations (135 Ribaut Road, 1120 Ribaut Road, 1750 Ribaut Road or 571 Robert Smalls Parkway).

Kids can drop their letters off or can email letters to Santa at events@cityofbeaufort.org.

Make sure letters have a clear return address on the envelope or the email. Videos of Santa reading the letters will be posted to Facebook beginning Dec. 19.

<strong>Zoom with Santa</strong>

Of course Santa is techno savvy! In fact, he’ll be zooming with kids from 2-3 p.m. on Dec. 19.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Children can tell the big guy what’s on their list. A Facebook link will be shared closer to the event on the city’s website<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;so stay tuned!

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<b>WHAT’S HAPPENING?</b>

Do you have a holiday event you believe we should share in The Island News? If so, email the details to TheIslandNews@gmail.com.

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