Happy Friday, Palm Coast. In today’s edition: Pet licensing fees, Bunnell christmas 2025, holiday tour of homes, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Why pet licensing matters: Palm Coast raised pet licensing fees effective February 2026, increasing general licenses to $35, spayed or neutered to $25, and dangerous dog fees to $300, projecting $195,720 in revenue — get the details on licensing.

County conservation effort accelerates: Flagler County beat the Florida Forever deadline, filing for funds to buy 153 acres of Bulow Creek headwaters floodplain near Veranda Bay. Ratification is expected Dec. 15 — get all the details.

Modernizing fire services: Flagler County broke ground on a new Fire Station 51, replacing the Espanola station and promising faster response for Mondex and west Flagler, with opening targeted within a year — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Play Plant Bingo at The Brass Tap
• Mobile food pantry supports Bunnell neighbors
• Share breakfast and photos with Santa
• Family Christmas fun and toy donations here
• Play Christmas bingo at Serendipity Marketplace
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

Ribbon-cutting marks new chapter: Flagler County’s long-awaited Nexus Center is now open, giving the Bunnell Library and Health and Human Services a shared home after a decade-long push. The hub adds passport services and community space, aimed at improving access in the county’s south and west. The $16 million project was partly grant-funded, with the county covering the rest. Get details on services and hours.

Free preview shows announced: Tickets are on sale for the 2026 Palm Coast Songwriters Festival, April 23–26 at Daytona State College Palm Coast Amphitheater and Flagler County venues. Expect more than 45 hitmaking Nashville writers, including Jeffrey Steele and Jamie O’Neal. Four-day passes start at $190.34, single-day at $40.70. Proceeds support local education and family nonprofits. See schedule, lineup and prices.

Low-key hair upgrade: Craving a refresh without salon chaos? Hair Way to Heaven offers cuts, color, and targeted treatments in a calm, one-on-one setting. Corner stations give real privacy, so you can tame frizz, soften sparkles, and leave feeling like yourself… just a little glossier.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎄 Bunnell Christmas 2025 @ JB King Park | Friday (12/12) at 5:00pm – Ready to see snow without scraping a windshield? Bunnell’s Christmas bash at JB King Park is free, with a carnival area, Florida snow, Christmas characters, music, free s’mores, and hands-on holiday activities. Bring the grandkids, your patience, and a few bucks for the food trucks.

🔥 Winter Solstice Goddess Retreat Night! Restore, Crafts, Sound Bath, Connect, Bonfire| Friday (12/12) at 6:30pm – Solstice night here means trading errands for a women-only reset with restorative yoga, Yoga Nidra, a sound bath, and a full-moon bonfire. Make orange pomanders and intention lanterns, breathe aromatherapy, connect in circle, and call it well-earned self-care. Only nine spots, $35.

This weekend

🌱 Green Heritage Nursery’s Holiday Market @ Green Heritage Nursery | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Green Heritage Nursery is turning the grounds into a holiday market, and yes, it smells like pine and cocoa in the best way. Shop local from artisans, crafters, and bakers, sip something warm, let the kids craft and charm Santa, then call it quality time.

🔧 Elf Workshop – PC @ Cut Up and Sew | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Give Amazon the day off and play elf at this all-day sewing workshop. They prep the materials, you bring your machine, pins, and holiday thread, then whip up quick, charming gifts for everyone on your list. Fewer crowds, more joy, handmade bragging rights included.

⛵ Regatta of Lights 2025| Saturday (12/13) at 6:00pm – If you prefer your holiday lights on water, the yacht club’s Nights of Lights parade turns the river into a floating Christmas tree farm. Claim a shoreline perch, bring a thermos, and enjoy a fleet of decked-out boats, festive vibes, and zero mall-parking drama.

🎄 Christmas Market @ Poppy’s True Market | Sunday (12/14) at 10:00am – Consider this your stress-free holiday pit stop: a Christmas market at Poppy’s True Market with local vendors, live music, and food that tastes homemade, not mass-produced. Knock out gifts, sip something warm, grab a Santa photo, and support small businesses.

🏠 Holiday Tour of Homes – 2025| Sunday (12/14) at 12:00pm – Holiday decor meets house envy with a rare chance to peek inside historic private homes, decked to the rafters. It is like sanctioned neighborhood snooping, minus the binoculars. Expect twinkly trees, creaky floors, serious crown molding, and enough garland to make your mantel jealous.

Next week

💡 Lighthouse Illuminations: Tides, Tidings, and Trees @ St. Augustine Lighthouse | Monday (12/15) at 6:30pm – Nothing beats a lighthouse climb after dark, especially when the grounds are packed with twinkling, decorated trees. Stroll the displays, then tackle the stairs to the top for salty air, quiet views, and the kind of cardio that excuses a nightcap.

🎷 A Peter White Christmas with Mindi Abair and Vincent Ingala @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | Monday (12/15) at 8:00pm – Holiday season at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall means silky sax, sparkling guitar, and more cheer than your HOA’s cookie exchange. Peter White, Mindi Abair, and Vincent Ingala serve up classy Christmas tunes, zero tinsel tackiness, and just enough groove to loosen your sweater.

🌱 Master Gardener Horticultural Workshop @ Palm Coast Community Center | Tuesday (12/16) at 6:30pm – Whether your poinsettia thrives or silently plots its escape, the Master Gardener Horticultural Workshop will teach you how to keep holiday plants alive, pretty, and not crispy. Hands-on tips, local know-how, zero fluff. Register through Palm Coast Community Center.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/12 Greg Johnson @ Guy Harvey Oceanfront Resort – 4 pm
• 12/13 Ugly Sweater Night @ Golden Lion Cafe – 5 pm
• 12/14 Yael Zaza Flamenca @ Casa Monica Resort – 11 am
• 12/15 The Good Life Band @ Beachside Bar Deck – 5 pm
• 12/16 Holiday Pops @ Flagler College – 7:30 pm
• 12/17 Francesca Tarantino @ Pierre’s Pub – 1 pm
• 12/18 Venardos Circus @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre – 7 pm
• 12/19 Matt Fowler @ Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach – 5 pm
• 12/20 Brett Blackshear and more @ Colonial Oak Music Park – 2 pm
• 12/21 Winter Wonder Jams @ Colonial Oak Music Park – 3 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Palm Coast edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Frank Sockman (GRAND LIVING REALTY)

Intracoastal-front, fully furnished single-level estate in Grand Haven, 4,012 square feet of indoor-outdoor flow. Boat dock with lift, grotto pool, expansive screened lanai, outdoor fireplace, and a summer kitchen with dedicated dining. Inside, a light-filled plan centers on a custom theater with recliners. The primary suite adds a coffee station, lounge or office, and a luxe bath. Three bedrooms and four baths keep everything on one level.

Grand Haven brings championship golf, fitness, clubhouse perks, trails, and 24-hour security, minutes to beaches, dining, and coastal parks. Essentially a private resort with a boat slip and front-row water living.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →