Holidays on Amelia Island

Holidays on Amelia Island is the island's umbrella for seasonal happenings that stretch from the night before Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve. Historic downtown Fernandina Beach glows with thousands of white lights, the city lights its tree with Santa on hand, and the Ritz-Carlton lights a 40-foot tree with Santa arriving by Christmas train and fireworks. Later come a docent-led Holiday Home Tour from the Amelia Island Museum of History, a lighted parade along Centre Street, a menorah lighting, the Dickens on Centre festival and a giant lighted shrimp dropped on New Year's Eve.

Our take: Shop Centre Street in your pajamas at the downtown Black Friday PJ Party, which brings merchant specials, Santa sightings and a pajama contest.