Oak Hill Archives - Robert Redd Historian & Author

Posted on November 7, 2025 by Robert — Leave a comment

New Smyrna Beach 2025 Christmas Season Events

The Christmas season in New Smyrna Beach, Florida is truly a special time, with time honored and new events for everyone. So get out and enjoy the 2025 Christmas season as only New Smyrna Beach and the surrounding area can do it.

METHODOLOGY

So what I have done is scour the internet for events I feel are relevant to this post. I am including events from approximately, Thanksgiving, through the end of 2025. I am sure I am missing some things and that is where you the reader come in.

If you know of events or celebrations that I have not included please drop me a line and let me know. Please include as much information as possible; event name, date, time, address, website, phone number, cost, etc. If the event is appropriate, I will get it added ASAP. If you would like a more in-depth post about your individual event, please contact me so we can discuss.

As with any calendar of this nature, please confirm dates, times, and locations on your own. Events are always subject to change.

So without further Ado, let’s get to celebrating the 2025 Christmas and holiday season, New Smyrna Beach style!

NOVEMBER 2025

November 15

Port Orange Holiday Grinch Fest
11:00a-4:00p
Port Orange City Center 1000 City Center Circle
Vendors, Artisans, Food trucks, The Grinch

November 20

Canal Street Nights
5:O00p-8:30p
Canal Street
Vendors, food trucks, extended shopping hours, entertainment

November 21 and 22

Festival of Trees
10:00a-4:00p on the 21st and 9:00a-1:00p on the 22nd
2000 Turnbull Bay Road
Decorated trees, silent auction, gift baskets, bakeshop, floral arrangements

November 22

Flagler Avenue Slider Challenge
1:00p-5:00p
Flagler Avenue
Passports are $20 in advance or day of event. Day of event sales are on a first come, first serve basis and are cash only. This event traditionally sells out.

November 27

Gobble Wobble Beach 5K
8:00-11:00a
Flagler Avenue Boardwalk
$25, $30 day of event

November 28 through December 1

Canal Street Window Decorating Contest
Begins on November 28, voting through December 1
Canal Street businesses
Canal Street merchants decorate their hearts out, seeking your vote, in this fun, yet competitive contest

November 28

Spark the Spirit
5:00p-7:30p
Canal Street will be closed to vehicular traffic
The biggest annual event featuring tree lighting, live entertainment, shopping, and the arrival of Santa Claus. This is a great event to really kick off the holiday season.

November 28 through 30

Joy to the Arts
Hours vary by day, click the link for details
The HUB on Canal and Jane’s Art Center, 132 Canal Street
Celebrate the season by shopping small, with local artists, kids crafting, gift card specials, drink specials, and more. Stop in while attending the Coastal Christmas Market or other events

November 29

Coastal Christmas Market
9:00a-5:00p
Canal Street will be closed to vehicular traffic
Shop with local artisans and Canal Street merchants in one of the largest “shop local” events of the season

November 29

Flagler Avenue Wine Walk
Starts at noon
Flagler Avenue
$30 for 20 tasting tickets. Purchase online or beginning at noon on the day of the event. In person tickets are available on a cash only basis.
Click the link for full event details including where to purchase tickets and to pick up tasting glasses

November 29

Edgefest Light Up the Night
6:00p-10:00p
Hawks Park, 1108 S. Ridgewood Avenue
Christmas lights, train rides, weather forecasts are predicting snow, Santa Claus, more

November 29

Venetian Bay Holiday Pop Up Market
10:00a-3:00p
Luna Bella Lane in Venetian Bay
Artisans, crafters, more

DECEMBER 2025

December 4

Girls Night Out
5:00p-8:30p
Canal Street
You and your friends are invited to a fun filled evening in Downtown New Smyrna Beach for wonderful shopping, delicious food, live music, photo ops, and more. Your favorite downtown shops, restaurants, and bars will be open for extended hours during Girls’ Night Out

December 4 – 14 Select Dates

Miracle on 34th Street
Select Dates and Times
Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach, 726 E. 3rd Avenue, 386-423-1246
$22 plus service charges
When a department store hires a man, Kris Kringle, to play Santa for the Thanksgiving Day parade, he quickly becomes a hit and is hired to play Santa at the store’s main location. When he claims to be the real Santa Claus and his sanity is questioned, he must prove his authenticity in court

December 5

Light Up Flagler
5:00p-8:30p
Flagler Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic
Merchants open house, pictures with Santa, tree lighting, trackless train rides, kids craft station, Santa Paws Pooch Parade, Crazy Golf Cart Christmas Parade, more

December 5

Great Homemade Christmas Cookie Challenge
4:00p-8:00p
Flagler Avenue
$15 online in advance, limited availability the day of, on a cash only basis.
Sample different cookies, receive a recipe card for each cookie, a holiday cookie box, a map of host locations, voting for your favorites at the end!

December 6

New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade
Begins at 3:00p
Flagler Avenue, over the bridge, and west on Canal Street
See the incredible floats businesses and organizations create, listen to local school bands, and be sure to wave to Santa Claus

December 6

Santa’s Workshop Craft Fair
9:00a-5:30p
Sacred Heart Church, 998 Father Donlan Drive
Free admission and parking. Vendors, food,

December 7

Holiday Craft and Vendor Show
10:30a-3:30p
Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Drive
Free admission and parking

December 11 – 14

Drive Through Bethlehem
6:00p-8:00p
Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church, 3140 S. Atlantic Avenue
Journey back in time to the village of Bethlehem—right from your vehicle! As you drive through, you’ll witness the nativity where Jesus was born, see animals grazing in the Shepherd’s field, and explore the bustling marketplace. Don’t forget to stop by the baker’s stall for a sweet treat!
Free. Donations gratefully accepted.

December 12

Norwood’s Holiday Wine Festival
6:00p-9:30p
Norwood’s, 402 E. 2nd Avenue, New Smyrna Beach
General Admission tickets are $99 per person
Over 150 wines will be available for sample, food, live entertainment

December 13

Edgewater Christmas Parade
10:00a
30th Street from Hibiscus Drive to Silver Palm Drive
This is a residential neighborhood. Do not park in peoples yards and driveways. You might be towed.

December 13

Holiday Boat Parade
Begins at 6:00p
Viewing locations around Riverside Park

December 13

Oak Hill Christmas Parade
2:00p
Contact the City of Oak Hill at 386-345-3522 option 2 for details

December 13

Classic Cars on Canal
3:00p-6:00p
Canal Street will be closed to vehicular traffic
Classic cars, live music, local restaurants

December 13

Christmas Under the Palms
9:00a-3:00p
United Methodist Church, 211 N. Ridgewood, Edgewater
50+ vendors with crafts, art, seasonal decor, food, and more

December 13

A Taste of the Holidays
3:00p-5:00p
Crimson House, 219 N. Orange St.
$64.48 per person
Sample 60 wines, seltzers, and a sangria bar, appetizers, live music

December 14

Santa Claus
2:00p-4:00p
Frosty King, 1020 S. Ridgewood, Edgewater
Meet Santa Claus, take photos, and enjoy delicious ice cream with the family

December 16

Christmas Concert at the Pacetti Hotel
11:00a
Pacetti Hotel, 4928 S. Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet
Included with paid admission to Lighthouse and Hotel

December 18

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
6:00p-8:00p
Crimson House, 219 N. Orange St

December 20

Breakfast with Santa
9:00a-11:00a
Babe James Center, 201 N. Myrtle Avenue

December 24

Christmas Eve services
Contact your preferred church for information

December 26 – January 1

Kwanzaa
Please contact the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum at the link above for details.

December 28

Grilled Cheese Challenge
1:00p-5:00p
Flagler Avenue
$20 tasting passport. It is recommended to purchase online, in advance.

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Posted on November 3, 2024November 11, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

Oak Hill Village Improvement Association Historic Marker

Thank you for your interest in learning about the Oak Hill Village Improvement Association building and historic marker. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and a state of Florida historic marker is located outside. The building is now owned by the city of Oak Hill and houses a small community museum. Hopefully one day I will find the museum open.

Oak Hill

Oak Hill, Florida is a small, tight knight community located near the extreme southeast corner of Volusia County. The 2020 United States Census Bureau report showed a population of just under 2,000 residents. While still small, the town has grown significantly since the turn of the century. Residential property development will increase the population dramatically in the next few years. These new residents will potentially place a strain on limited governmental resources as new services will be required.

Early settlers in what is now the Oak Hill area included Jacob Davy Mitchell. Mitchell founded a citrus business and in the following years many similar business sprang to life. By 1887 the area contained 220 acres of citrus trees. Fishing and seafood were another popular and profitable business. With the Intracoastal Waterway on the doorstep and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, fishermen worked hard, but were able to earn a living. The arrival of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway allowed for fish and fruit to be shipped but also brought need goods and materials to the small group of settlers.

The first city charter was created in 1927 but was soon abandoned in 1930. The city operated on an informal basis for more than three decades. It was in 1962 that local residents re-incorporated.

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Association Hall

Prior to the first incorporation in 1927, in 1906, local residents F. W. Hatch, H. J. Magruder, and Leonard Mosby formed the Oak Hill Village Improvement Association with goals of organizing community events and resolving any local problems. The Association purchased a lot located at what is now 146 U.S. Highway 1. Here, they constructed a Town Hall building as a meeting space. The building was constructed in a single story octagonal design. The reason this design was created and the name of the architect are lost to time according to the NRHP nomination form.

As stated, the building was originally constructed on what is now US 1. By 1915, the makeup of the town had changed and residents began to consider whether a new location for the Hall would be more suitable. Joan Howes donated a lot on Halifax Avenue. Using a team of horses and logs, the building was moved approximately two tenths of a mile to a prominent location, near the town business district. Today, the building is across Halifax Avenue from the post office and library buildings.

It was in the Association building that critical issues, such as the 1927 incorporation of the town, and the 1930 discontinuation of the town charter were discussed and approved. When the city charter was reactivated in 1962, the VIA Hall served as the home of city government until the new City Hall was constructed in 1965.

Other uses of the unusually shaped building included being used as a voting precinct, social events such as community dances, and boy and girl scout troop meetings. The building served for seven months as home to Baldwin’s Store, after the community grocery store burned to the ground in September 1935. The VIA Hall was home to the Howard Putnam Library during the years of 1943 through 1970, when the growing library moved to the new City Hall building before moving across the street from the Hall in 1974.

After many years of active community involvement, The Oak Hill Village Improvement Association experienced a membership decline in the 1990s and discontinued their operations in 2002. The building, which was in need of considerable repairs and upgrades, was deeded to the city. City leaders began to explore funding opportunities in order to bring the VIA Hall back to life. They received two crucial lifelines allowing work to proceed.

Restoration

The first came in the form of a $35,000 donation from Korean businessman and benefactor, Dr. K. T. Chung. These crucial funds would be used as partial match for a County of Volusia ECHO (environmental, cultural, historic, outdoor) grant. With nearly $150,000 from the county and the required dollar for dollar match, Oak Hill was on its way.

A park, adjacent to the Hall was dedicated in Dr. Chung’s honor on May 21, 1995. Approximately 100 persons turned out for the ceremony which featured a chorus from Burns-Oak Hill Elementary School and a solo from singer Pat Plummer. A reception in Dr. Chung’s honor was held in the Hall after the park dedication.

When the project had been completed in 2009 work accomplished included building stabilization, restoration of the interior, and adding ADA compliant restrooms and entrance ramps.

In January 2023, the Florida Department of State announced that the Oak Hill Village Improvement Association Hall had been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Historic Marker

As a part of the National Register nomination, the city applied for a State of Florida historic marker. This marker was awarded in 2023 and reads

Village Improvement Association Hall

In 1906, residents of Oak Hill complete this octagonal wooden structure. It was built on land donated by Fred W. Hatch, who saw the need for a community center. Citizens formed the Village Improvement Association (VIA) to maintain and schedule use of the building. In 1917, community leaders voted to move the building closer to the center of the growing town. A team of horses pulled the building on skids to its new location on land donated by Joan Howes. In 1927, citizens established the city’s first charter in the VIA Hall. That government did not survive the Great Depression. In 1960, citizens again met at the VIA Hall to organize a second charter. Since its construction, the building has served as a town hall, school, dancehall, and clubhouse. local fishermen used it as a place to repair their nets. In 2006, storms damaged the building. Community leaders worked with the city to obtain grant funding for the building’s restoration. With the goal of sharing the everyday history of this community, the refurbished building opened as the Oak Hill Historical Museum.

A Florida Heritage Site Sponsored by the City of Oak Hill and the Florida Department of State

F-1246

Sources

Dewees, Mary. History and Memories of Oak Hill, Florida. Oak Hill: Self Published. 1984.

Florida Department of State. Press Release: Secretary Byrd Announces the Designation of Village Improvement Association Hall in the National Register of Historic Places. January 24, 2023.

Goodrich, Marie S. “Korea, Oak Hill Find Park Common Ground.” Daytona Beach News Journal. May 23, 1995.

National Park Service. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. August 16, 2022.

Thompson, Dana. Oak Hill (Images of America). Charleston: Arcadia Publishing. 2009.

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Posted on February 9, 2022February 17, 2023 by Robert — Leave a comment

Restaurant Review–Jimmy Doodles Sunset Grill

Jimmy Doodles Sunset Grill in Oak Hill, FL

UPDATE FEBRUARY 17, 2023

Jimmy Doodles Sunset Grill has been sold and is currently closed and undergoing renovations. When I drove by this afternoon the windows were taped over but the old sign still remained. The new owners, Doug and Karen Elliott, plan to reopen during March 2023 with a completely new theme. This will now be a pizza and subs restaurant.

I currently have no information on a name or a menu. I do not know whether this will be dine in only or if they will offer delivery. Once I have more details I will create a new post with the announcement. If the food is good this will be a welcome addition to the area, especially for those living in the Oak Hill area, far from most delivery options.

We had the opportunity recently to try a new restaurant in Oak Hill, Jimmy Doodles Sunset Grill. Located adjacent to the Oak Hill Flea and Farmers Market, in the old Camelot Restaurant building, Jimmy Doodles is a nice option for those living in the New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and Oak Hill.

Jimmy Doodles is open from 7am until 9pm seven days a week. The restaurant features indoor and covered outdoor seating. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor area. During our first visit, there was outdoor entertainment so we selected inside dining but sat outside with our dog during our second visit. Several other diners had their dogs with them so it was a nice atmosphere.

The service was very good our first visit while the second it was obvious our server was still learning. She forgot our appetizer but we were not billed for it. No big deal when you see the size of the portions. She was trying hard and I am sure she is much more comfortable by now. She offset her inexperience with her friendly nature.

The menu is pretty much standard diner fare as would be expected. It is not just short order out
of a frozen pouch or bucket though. The food all appears to be prepared to order. The meals look
fresh and appetizing.

We have not visited for breakfast yet but the menu is loaded with omelets, pancakes, biscuits &
gravy, and combo meals. Fresh orange juice from Oak Hill Country Market is available in
addition to coffee, tea, and other standard drink options.

Lunch and dinner menus include Hoffman hotdogs, ½-pound burgers, a variety of sandwiches,
and French fry baskets that are incredible in size and taste. Be sure to check the daily specials on
the board inside or ask your server. Salad options are also available. A selection of sides
including potato salad, cole slaw, beans, and more is available.

You cannot visit a diner and not try a burger. I opted for the Maytown Burger; a ½-pound patty with onion rings, pepper jack cheese, and bbq sauce. I selected tater tots as my side. This was a wise choice. Kitchen staff cooked the burger to a perfect medium. My wife had the Chili Cheese Tots and it was more than she could finish. Tater tots topped with house made steak and black bean chili and cheddar cheese sauce. Make sure you get extra napkins.

During our second visit, I tried the haddock sandwich special with fries. This sandwich was loaded with delicious fried fish. It was really overflowing and probably would have been two sandwiches at many restaurants. My wife had the Loaded BLT, which had a seemingly never ending pile of bacon.

You might want to try to save some room once you see the ice cream menu featuring Hershey’s
Brand ice cream. Sundaes, banana splits, shakes, malts, and scoops are available. I see they are
offering a new flavor, chocolate raspberry truffle. Sounds good.

Prices are good with breakfast omelets running $5-$8. Burgers are around $10 with fries/tots.
The loaded fry baskets are $10-$13 with most at the lower end of that range. Hot dogs are $4-$5
and sandwiches are around $10. Most drinks are $3.

Good food, service, and pricing. We will certainly be back and I recommend you stop in if you
are in the New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, or Oak Hill area. It is even worth the drive from
northern Brevard County. If you are at the weekend flea market this is a no brainer, just walk
over.

Jimmy Doodles is located at 351 US-1 in Oak Hill, FL. Their phone number is 386-210-4170.

Tag: Oak Hill

New Smyrna Beach 2025 Christmas Season Events

METHODOLOGY

NOVEMBER 2025

DECEMBER 2025

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.

Oak Hill Village Improvement Association Historic Marker

Oak Hill

Association Hall

Restoration

Historic Marker

Sources

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.

Restaurant Review–Jimmy Doodles Sunset Grill

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