Seaside has gone all out with festive holiday lights this year, dazzling us with brilliance everywhere we look, the town ablaze with lights to put a smile on everyone's face. Families and couples return again to catch the best New Year's Eve celebrations anywhere along the Emerald Coast, mingling with newcomers experiencing this famous town for the first time.
A year-round destination on the Gulf Coast, Seaside offers a happy blend of small-town coastal charm, festive holiday lights and family-friendly celebrations. Rather than late-night crowds and city chaos, Seaside welcomes the New Year with walkable streets, glowing cottages, and a relaxed and joyful atmosphere perfect for all ages.
NYE Celebrations for Families
The new year of 2026 won't catch anyone by surprise in Seaside, as the town's signature event of Countdown Seaside begins in the late afternoon, making it easy for families with children to enjoy the festivities while the kids are still awake and excited. Central Square bursts into fun and family selfies by the Post Office, as the celebrations begin with live music, face painting, arts and crafts, and entertainment for all ages. No stress here, just new memories as we ring in the New Year, and keep ringing all the way into the nighttime fireworks.
Early Fireworks Over the Gulf of Mexico
One of the biggest highlights of New Year’s Eve in Seaside is the spectacular fireworks display over the Gulf, famously held around 9:00 pm, so younger children can share the magic of fireworks and still keep their bedtime routines intact. It's one of the many reasons Seaside is known as a top family-friendly holiday destination.
This year, Seaside brings back the popular Monsters of Yacht for their third annual New Year’s Eve performance, filling the Seaside Amphitheater with yacht-rock hits and festive family fun. From 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, guests can enjoy a full evening of activities throughout the town, including arts and crafts, face painting, balloon creations - and the chance to snap more family pictures in Seaside, beside America's most photographed Post Office, decked out for the season in lights and garlands, postcard-perfect for memorable holiday photos.
A Town Glowing With Holiday Lights
Throughout December, Seaside transforms into a glowing coastal village with over 114,000 twinkling holiday lights, pastel cottages wrapped in garland, and iconic white picket fences dressed for the season. The result is a nostalgic, “Norman Rockwell by the sea” setting that feels especially magical on New Year’s Eve - and perfect for holiday photos and evening strolls.
Mild Winter Weather & Outdoor Coastal Fun
Winter in Seaside is typically mild, making it easy to enjoy outdoor activities during the day. From quiet beach walks and sandcastle building to watching one of the stunning winter sunsets over the Gulf, a New Year’s Eve visit is as much about daytime coastal beauty as it is evening celebration.
New Year’s Eve at Bud & Alley’s
For those looking to celebrate into the evening, Bud & Alley’s New Year’s Eve Party offers a festive way to welcome the New Year. With dinner seatings at 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00 PM, guests can enjoy great food before transitioning into a lively celebration featuring live music, dancing, and a champagne toast at midnight - all set against Seaside’s iconic coastal backdrop.
A Meaningful Way to Welcome the New Year
Whether you’re watching early fireworks with children, strolling beneath thousands of holiday lights, or raising a glass by the Gulf, New Year’s Eve in Seaside, Florida is about connection, tradition, and starting the year feeling refreshed. It’s a place where families return year after year to celebrate, not louder, but better.
Seaside Cottages for the NYE Celebrations
Some people like to enjoy the fireworks show from their own private porch, and this is especially perfect from one of the many beachside homes available in Seaside.
Check out Dragonfly, a 3-bedroom home sleeping 8, in a prime beachside location with balcony views overlooking the Gulf - and astonishingly, this one is still available for New Year's Eve as we write - grab it quick!
For the larger crew, 5-bedroom Biscuits is a family-friendly renovated home sleeping 12 people, and tucked away on Forest Street. A stunning design with super-inviting porches, this home is saturated in coastal vibe and touches of oceangoing ships, the perfect place for a large family.
More Seaside Accommodations
We always try to make room in Seaside for you and yours to come visit, so check out availability here at the Homeowner's Collection, and if the choices are all too tempting, give us a call at 855-411-1557 and let us help you find the absolute perfect rental.
Oh - and Happy New Year!