Across West Volusia, events rang in the holiday season in exciting fashion. From parades to Christmas tree lightings to meetings with Santa, lots of people got in on the fun.
1 of 20

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Santa, as portrayed by Bob Brown, learns what Kalysta Leola Langer wants for Christmas.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Kids celebrate in some fake snow, which, in Central Florida, is the closest they’ll get to a white Christmas.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
The DeLand Christmas
Parade has been a tradition since it began in 1948. The parade brings
business owners,
children and people from all over DeLand together
to celebrate the holiday season.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Members of the Tau Chi
Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority are pictured after singing some holiday tunes for everyone gathered to see the city’s Christmas tree.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Students from DeLand High School’s chorus
sing Christmas carols in Downtown DeLand Dec. 2

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Santa Claus in DeLand, portrayed by Victor Berger, reads to kids and finds out what they want for Christmas during the Teddy Bear Brunch hosted by the Museum of Art - DeLand Dec. 3

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Santa Claus in DeLand, portrayed by Victor Berger, reads to kids and finds out what they want for Christmas during the Teddy Bear Brunch hosted by the Museum of Art - DeLand Dec. 3

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
The DeLand Christmas Parade Dec. 3 brought out tons of DeLandites in more than 100 parade entries.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
ADJ Unity Funeral Home Director
Dawn Johnson-Myles and her dog Sampson
wave at the camera.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
A young child gets a good
look at a snowman hardy enough to survive in Florida.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
DeLand Mayor Chris Cloudman greets Santa
Claus. What do you think he asked Santa for?

PHOTO COURTESY ORANGE CITY
Orange City got
in on the fun with a Christmas tree lighting Dec. 2. Standing in front of a festive Christmas tree, from left, are Mayor
Gary Blair, City Council Members Alex Tiamson, Kelli Marks, Casandra Jones, Fran Darms and Vice Mayor Bill O’Connor.