That time of year: 4 popular Bay County Christmas light displays you don't want to miss

Ebonee Burrell, The News Herald
·3 min read

There are a lot of bright lights spread throughout Bay County this holiday season.

Some of those vibrant Christmas light displays have carried a tradition for years.

From synchronized light shows to drive-thrus and walkthroughs here’s where to find Christmas light displays now running through the season.

Want to celebrate the holiday season? Here are four upcoming events in Panama City

More:Bay County's 'Salvage Santa' preparing to gift his last bikes this Christmas

1415 Airport Road, Panama City

Christmas Extravaganza is a light show that features a drive-thru or walkthrough with almost a million bright lights at Grace Presbyterian Church.

Hosted by Scott Fester of Panama City, visitors can experience the light show and enjoy entertainment, including music, a balloon artist, a snow machine, face painting, a Christmas house, an igloo, Elsa and Santa Claus. In 2021, Fester’s display appeared on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight.”

An elaborate Christmas light display created by Scott Fester was recently featured on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight.
An elaborate Christmas light display created by Scott Fester was recently featured on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight.

Admission is free. However, the church accepts $5 donations per person and $1 for s’mores and hot chocolate. Christmas Extravaganza runs nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on weeknights and from 5:30 to 11 p.m. on weekends until the first week of January.

More:Panama City man featured on ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight" episode

1306 Vermont Ave., Lynn Haven

David Price of Lynn Haven transforms his home into a Christmas light show each year that features more than 100,000 lights. This year's theme is patriotic.
David Price of Lynn Haven transforms his home into a Christmas light show each year that features more than 100,000 lights. This year's theme is patriotic.

It's one of Bay County’s most popular Christmas light shows at 1306 Vermont Ave. David Price of Lynn Haven has welcomed thousands of visitors to his home to spread the holiday spirit for the last seven years.

This year’s Christmas light show is Patriotic-themed. Each show uses more than 100,000 synchronized lights and lasts 20 minutes with themed related songs including “God Bless the USA” and “Everybody Loves Kool-aid.”

More:Lynn Haven man's massive Disney-themed Christmas light show uses more than 100,000 lights

The show features a 30-foot Christmas light tree, eight-foot-tall candles with inspirational words, two synchronized inflatable tube men, a bubble machine and two flat-screen TVs. Price uses a transmitter that projects a signal from his house, allowing anyone within a mile radius to tune into 104.9 FM and listen to the songs used to guide the lights.

Price will accept monetary and toy donations this year to benefit Project 25 and An Angel’s Pantry charitable organizations. The show runs nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. on weeknights and from 5 to 10 p.m. on weekends until early January.

309 Brynn Court, Panama City Beach

The Christmas lights show at the home of Bill Porter, 309 Brynn Court in Panama City Beach, is synced to music.
The Christmas lights show at the home of Bill Porter, 309 Brynn Court in Panama City Beach, is synced to music.

Bill Porter's Electroluminosity Lights pixelated light show in Panama City Beach features more than 8,000 Christmas lights synchronized to popular Christmas tunes. Porter has been operating the show for eight years.

His most popular displays are the “singing faces,” which include a seven-foot singing Christmas tree that is synchronized with the music. The light show runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on weeknights and from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on weekends and shows every night through the second week in January.  Visitors can walk or drive to see the lights and tune in to 93.5 FM to get the best experience.

2715 W. 10th St., St. Andrews

The historic Christmas Village is now live at Oaks by the Bay Park in St. Andrews. The 20-plus-year tradition transforms the park into a Christmas light walkthrough with colorful displays to spread the holiday spirit.  The walkthrough is free to the public and runs each night through the new year.  Live music will also be featured every Friday night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. through Dec. 23.

The lights at Oaks By The Bay Park in St. Andrews are a colorful attraction drawing crowds of people.
The lights at Oaks By The Bay Park in St. Andrews are a colorful attraction drawing crowds of people.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Where to find the best Christmas light displays in Bay County