Head to Beach Street for weekend events

A Food Truck Rally with 16 vendors kicks off the weekend in downtown Daytona Beach Friday night. From 5 to 9 p.m., enjoy live music and food trucks on Magnolia Avenue and the restaurants on Beach Street.

Visit the Downtown Farmers’ Market from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday for farm-fresh produce and more! It’s the perfect place to shop for everyday fresh foods.

Tickets are on sale for the November Wine Walk this Saturday on Beach Street. Attendees can enjoy sampling wines at participating shops from 1 to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online at Nov-Wine-Walk.Eventbrite.com through 11:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets will be available Saturday for $30 per person until they sell out.

For information on the restaurants, shops and events downtown, visit www.RiverfrontShopsofDaytona.com. Free public parking is available behind the shops on Beach Street.

City Hall closed in observance of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving schedule

Happy Thanksgiving! We wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday. City offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 26, in observance of Thanksgiving.

Solid waste and recycling collections will change for the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no pickup on Thursday, Nov. 25. Thursday routes will be picked up on Friday and Friday routes will be picked up on Saturday. If you have any questions, please call (386) 788-8890.

Annual Turkey Run starts Thanksgiving Day

The annual Daytona Turkey Run, the largest combined classic car show and swap meet in the U.S., is next week starting on Thanksgiving Day at Daytona International Speedway. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15 Thursday through Saturday, per person, per day, and $10 on Sunday. For more information, visit www.turkeyrun.com.

Tickets on sale for The Nutcracker at Peabody Auditorium

Enjoy this magical holiday tradition Dec. 4 and 5 at Peabody Auditorium. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Volusia Civic Ballet will offer the following performances of The Nutcracker:

• Saturday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. (Condensed Family Series suitable for audiences with special needs, all levels of mobility and young children) The Family Series is just under one hour and provides a memorable holiday experience with several vignettes from Act I and a full Act II.
• Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. (full show with guest artists)
• Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m. (full show with guest artists)

The always highly anticipated Children’s Sugar Plum Tea is offered Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 one hour prior to the show. Children ages 3-12 will enjoy sweet confections and other holiday treats in a fairytale atmosphere with beautifully decorated trees and tables. A few of The Nutcracker characters will make an appearance to pose for photos to enhance the holiday experience.

• Saturday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m. (show ticket and Tea ticket required)
• Saturday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. (show ticket and Tea ticket required)
• Sunday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m. (show ticket and Tea ticket required)

During the performances, the Peabody Auditorium lobby will be transformed into a quaint German village. Patrons can purchase unique Nutcracker gifts from Frau Drosselmeyer’s Magical Toy Shop and indulge in sweet delights from the breathtaking Kingdom of Sweets Shoppe. Tickets start at $20 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online or in person at the Peabody Box Office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

New prize categories added for city’s Christmas Parade

Three new prize categories have been added for the city’s Bright Lights & Merry Nights Christmas Parade planned for Saturday, Dec. 11, on Beach Street.
New categories:

Best Float – First Place: $750, Second Place: $500
Best Decorated Golf Cart: $150

The new categories are in addition to the categories awarded previously:

Mayor’s Choice - Magic of Christmas Award
Given to the overall outstanding entry: $200
Storybook Christmas Award
Given to the most creative parade entry: $150
Friends of Rudolph Award
Given to the entry with the most holiday spirit: $100
Dancing Elves Award
Given to the most entertaining parade entry: $50

Presented by Brown & Brown Insurance and sponsored in part by the Daytona International Auto Mall, the Bright Lights & Merry Nights Christmas Parade will begin at 6 p.m. at Bethune Point Park (11 Bellevue Ave.) and travel north on Beach Street, ending at Bay Street.

For more information and to submit an entry application (there is no fee), visit www.codb.us/ChristmasParade.

Holiday Boat Parade is Saturday, Dec. 4

This year’s Daytona Beach Christmas Boat Parade is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Watch the boats travel south along the Halifax River starting at the Seabreeze Bridge. Best viewing spots include anywhere on City Island, west end of the Veteran's Memorial Bridge (also known as the Orange Avenue Bridge), and the Halifax Harbor Marina on South Beach Street. Prizes are awarded in several categories including best lights, best sound, best theme and best new entry.

For more information, visit www.hryc.com or call (386) 255-7459.

Tour offered at water treatment facility in December

Residents have an opportunity to learn about the former direct potable reuse demonstration testing system operated by the city for two years during an informational tour starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8.

Located at the city's wastewater treatment plant off LPGA Boulevard, the two-year data gathering effort of the system is complete and results are being reviewed as a final report is being prepared. The innovative facility processed treated effluent and produced purified water, which was then returned to the wastewater treatment process and was not placed in the city’s drinking water supply. The testing system was part of a pilot program with the St. Johns River Water Management District to provide valuable, continuous, real-time data.

Due to limited space in the facility, attendance for the tour will be capped at 15 people and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A minimum of 10 participants are required. Visit www.codb.us to register for the tour.