On Saturday, December 12, after dusk, the Homosassa River Lighted Boat Parade starts near Heritage Park. It runs past MacRae's, Crump's Landing and Seagrass, then heads back to the park. Earlier that evening, at 6 p.m., the Nature Coast Winds musicians play Christmas Music in the Park on the same grounds. One week before, Santa by the Sea fills that lawn from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Six years ago the park didn't exist. Old Homosassa's December now runs through a few acres of river frontage the Homosassa Civic Club bought on purpose, and the calendar has settled into a pattern you can plan around.
A Park Bought So the Commercial Boats Could Stay
On July 7, 2020, the Homosassa Civic Club purchased the Locklar Property with help from the DEP's Stan Mayfield Working Waterfront grant. The idea started more than five years before the purchase as a simple wish for a public spot on the river you could walk to and enjoy the view. It became the "Access to the River" committee, made up of members of the Civic Club, the Save the Homosassa River Alliance and the Old Homosassa Heritage Council.
The terms are why the park feels the way it does. The club's plan keeps it a true working waterfront: Shelley's Seafood, Wild Sassa and the slips holding commercial boats stay in place. The building on the property is planned as a museum of Old Homosassa history. The Civic Club was founded in 1950 and now has more than 150 members.
The park has been built out a piece at a time:
- The Shrimpboat Playground opened first, and a Lighthouse Slide followed.
- In August 2025, a new pavilion opened at the river's edge, built with help from local businesses and volunteers.
- In November 2025, sculptures were installed on the grounds.
- In spring 2025, the 3rd Annual Pirate Invasion at Crump's Landing raised $125,000. The Civic Club says the money will be split between Heritage Park and the Homosassa River Restoration Project, and the park's share is set aside for accessible restrooms.
Last December was the park's first holiday season with the pavilion open, and the Civic Club called the park "Christmas Central" that month. The park is at 5389 South Boulevard. It is unsupervised and normally closes at dusk, so the evening events are the exception to its posted hours.
The Season Opens This Weekend at the Festival Grounds
The Civic Club also starts the season. The 51st Homosassa Arts, Crafts & Seafood Festival runs this Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15, at the club's festival grounds in Old Homosassa.
| Detail | Festival weekend |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Nov. 14 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Sunday, Nov. 15 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Admission | $5 donation requested, ages 12 and up |
| Pets | Not allowed |
| Live music both days | Homosassa Yukers, 10 to 11:30 a.m. |
| Extra stop | Walking tour of the Homosassa History & Heritage Center |
There is a $4,000 juried art competition, along with handmade crafts, edible crafts, raffles, beer and wine, local seafood and a kids' zone. The festival page says proceeds go back to the community. For Old Homosassa, that means the same club that runs the festival in November runs Heritage Park in December, so the weekend's money and the park's holiday events come from one organization.
Two Saturdays at the River's Edge
In December the events move to the river. Here is the Civic Club's 2026 calendar next to what the park hosted in 2025:
| Event at Heritage Park | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Santa by the Sea, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Saturday, Dec. 6 | Saturday, Dec. 5 |
| Christmas Music in the Park, 6 p.m. | Saturday, Dec. 13 | Saturday, Dec. 12 |
| Homosassa River Lighted Boat Parade, after dusk | Saturday, Dec. 13 | Saturday, Dec. 12 |
The dates moved back a day because the calendar did, but both years use the first and second Saturdays of December. Santa by the Sea is free, with pictures with Santa, pizza, sweet treats and swag bags. The club's records show about 150 children and their families came to the 2024 edition.
The second Saturday stacks two events in one evening. Nature Coast Winds starts at 6 p.m., and the boats leave after dark. You can catch both from the park without moving.
Where the Parade Passes
The route, in order, according to the Civic Club calendar:
- Starts near Heritage Park, 5389 South Boulevard
- Passes MacRae's Landing
- Passes Crump's
- Passes Seagrass Restaurant
- Comes back to Heritage Park
Each stop on the route is a riverfront business with its own seating, so a fair amount of the crowd watches from somewhere other than the park:
- MacRae's of Homosassa, 5300 S Cherokee Way, combines waterfront lodging, pontoon rentals and a riverfront tiki bar with food, drinks and live entertainment.
- Crump's Landing, 11210 W Halls River Rd, is a waterfront restaurant and bar with more than 30 boat slips. It hosts the spring Pirate Invasion that helped pay for the park.
- Seagrass Waterfront Restaurant, 10386 W Halls River Rd, serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch and offers complimentary docking. Its dog-friendly Tiki Deck is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Monkey Island Riverside Resort is also on Cherokee Way, at 5297 S Cherokee Way. Its Monkey Bar serves stone-fired pizza, cocktails and local craft beer. Check holiday hours directly with each place before parade night.
The State Park Opens and Closes the Month
Heritage Park has the Saturdays. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, at 4150 S. Suncoast Blvd., has the events at the start and end of the month.
The Homosassa Community Christmas Tree Lighting is Friday, December 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the state park. It's free, with photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, refreshments and music.
The Friends of Homosassa Springs list the 35th Annual Celebration of Lights for December 18 through 23 and December 26, and the nightly schedule is worth confirming with them before you go. The Friends' event listing gives the details:
- Gates 5:30 to 9 p.m., first light show at 6 p.m.
- Suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children 3 to 12. Children 2 and under get in free.
- Parking at the Visitor Center and the West Entrance
- No pets or wagons
- Family night with Santa on December 22
For questions, call the Friends of Homosassa Springs State Park at 352-423-5600.
If you plan a daytime visit with guests this season, know that the shuttle boat has been out of service since February 4, 2026, because of low water. Regular park hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and ticket counters close at 4:45 p.m. Admission is $13 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. Manatee education talks are included with admission at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Wildlife Pavilion, with no registration needed. The Underwater Observatory lets you watch fish and manatees from beneath the spring's surface.
The last Civic Club event of the year is back in Old Homosassa. The Old Homosassa Christmas Golf Cart Parade meets at the Homosassa Civic Club at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 19. Celebration of Lights is scheduled for that evening too, so the golf cart parade in the morning and the lights after dark fit into the same day. The full schedule, including the club's monthly meetings, is on the Civic Club events page.
Old Homosassa kept its working waterfront when it built a park, and we love helping people find homes along that river. If you're thinking about what your place near the river is worth, or about a move closer to it, Hall Way Home can walk you through it. Find Your Way Home with a free home valuation.
