Putnam's Positive Spirit

  • A child enjoys the “snow” that was part of a Light Up Pomona Park event on Saturday. The event included music, desserts, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the town’s first tree-lighting ceremony.
    A child enjoys the “snow” that was part of a Light Up Pomona Park event on Saturday. The event included music, desserts, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the town’s first tree-lighting ceremony.
  • Dani Bongiorno of St. Augustine, swings her 3-year-old daughter, Maggie Bongiorno, to the music of the band Chillula at the Palatka Porchfest Music Festival on Saturday. The annual event took place in the South Historic District.
    Dani Bongiorno of St. Augustine, swings her 3-year-old daughter, Maggie Bongiorno, to the music of the band Chillula at the Palatka Porchfest Music Festival on Saturday. The annual event took place in the South Historic District.
  • Positively Putnam FL
    Positively Putnam FL

The first weekend in December bustled with events and people getting into the holiday spirit.

Music rang out from downtown Palatka as the city started Saturday with Porchfest which brought live music to the South Historic District.

The city was also the site Saturday afternoon of cookies with Santa at the Palatka Library as well as the annual Toys Tour event at the riverfront, an effort by Toys Tour organizers and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office to collect toys for families in need during the holiday season.

In South Putnam, Crescent City and Pomona Park also held Christmas events Saturday. Crescent City officials started the early afternoon with a holiday parade, art and farmers market and finished the night with a fireworks display. Crescent City First Presbyterian Church hosted a Silver Tea & Christmas Bazaar that day, too, with appearances from Santa Claus and people singing Christmas carols.

Pomona Park officials also kicked off the season with town’s first tree-lighting ceremony, as well as hot chocolate, baked goods and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus that evening.

At the other end of the county, Interlachen hosted a Christmas village and parade on Saturday evening, too. Children sipped on hot cocoa, snacked on snow cones and dove for candy during the parade. The Interlachen Junior-Senior High School Football team, which had an undefeated season, closed out the parade to cheers and claps from attendees.