The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach has announced Winter WonderIsland, a seasonal event set to run from November 28, 2025, through January 5, 2026. The event aims to bring holiday-themed activities and entertainment to the Emerald Coast.
During Winter WonderIsland, the resort will feature Coastal Winter Chalets available for private rental. Each chalet accommodates up to eight guests and includes amenities such as a tabletop fire pit, s’mores, hot cocoa kits, dedicated cocktail service, and one hour of curling rink access.
April Sarver, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach, stated: “The holidays are a special time along the Emerald Coast, and we wanted to create something that truly captures the coastal magic. Winter WonderIsland brings together everything we love about the season – community, connection and celebration – all with the beauty of the Gulf as the backdrop.”
Guests can participate in curling matches on a seaside rink and sample themed cocktails including the Island Exclusive Old Fashioned and Mistletoe Margarita. Food trucks will offer snacks while live entertainment is scheduled throughout the season. Families can send letters to Santa via a red mailbox located in the resort’s lobby.
Weekly programming during December includes holiday movie nights, gingerbread house decorating sessions, and hot chocolate Fridays. Special events include Breakfast with Santa on December 13; Cookies & Crafts with The Grump on December 20–21; a Christmas dinner buffet on December 25; and a Noon Kids’ Eve Ball Drop on December 31 followed by an adult champagne toast at midnight in Coastal Kitchen.
The resort will also host its fifth annual Beachy Little Christmas: A Sandcastle Spectacular on Saturday, December 13. This public event features live music, local vendors, crafts activities, an appearance by Misty the Mermaid, and Christmas-themed sandcastle building along the beach.
Established in 1966 on Okaloosa Island, The Island Resort offers over five onsite dining options across its ten-acre property with three pools—including what it says is the only swim-up bar on Florida’s Emerald Coast—and more than 24,000 square feet of meeting space overlooking both Gulf and Bay waters. For further information or reservations visit www.theislandfl.com or contact their toll-free number.
