Happy Friday, Palm Coast. In today’s edition: Airport lead report, Starlight Parade, Downton Abbey tea and movie, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Public education effort brewing: A consultant’s report found lead at Flagler County Airport well below OSHA and state thresholds, easing exposure concerns as residents renewed complaints and officials explored limited steps within FAA authority — see what the tests found.

Festive night in Town Center: Palm Coast’s Starlight Parade at Central Park on December 6 features pre-parade festivities from 4 p.m., a 6 p.m. kickoff, 68 floats, and Rotary’s Fantasy Lights continuing through December 30 — get all the event details.

New rules at City Hall: Palm Coast’s council approved meeting changes, cutting to three meetings a month, formalizing remote attendance and voting, barring off‑agenda votes, and shifting workshop times while keeping public remote participation off‑limits — get all the details.

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

• Win live plants at holiday bingo
• Run Santa Suits 5K to support youth
• Discover honeybee heroes at family workshop
• Watch boats sparkle in holiday parade
• Gentle prenatal yoga supporting expecting moms
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Seasonal safety initiative: Palm Coast Fire Department’s Project Green Wreath runs through December, with wreaths at all five stations turning red for each structure fire. Help keep them green by practicing holiday fire safety, like checking lights, watering live trees, minding candles, and watching the stove. Stay safe and festive. Get holiday fire safety tips.

County mobility under review: Got five minutes? Flagler County wants your take on getting around town. A quick survey is open now to collect your travel experiences and input on public transportation. Your feedback will help shape future transit options across the county. Take the 5-minute survey.

Tap night made easy: When your fridge IPA falls flat, Cork & Pint keeps a deep tap lineup and 200+ craft beers, with a solid wine list for non-beer friends. Set in European Village, weekend live music keeps the hangout easy.

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 that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity 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

🍵 Downton Abbey Tea and Movie Time @ Southeast Branch Public Library | Friday (12/5) at 2:30pm – Polish the pearls, press the tweed, and pop over to the library for afternoon tea with a screening of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Expect polite gossip, cinematic sighs, and treats that make you sit up straight and mind your manners.

🌿 Fresh Wreath Making Workshop @ Coconut Barrel | Friday (12/5) at 3:30pm – Your front door deserves better than a tired plastic wreath. Meet Tammy and Designer Sabannah at Coconut Barrel, make a fresh 18 inch beauty with all the trimmings, choose traditional or coastal, and walk out smelling like pine, pride, and a little hot glue, $75.

This weekend

🕊️ St. Augustine Out of the Darkness Walk @ Pier Park Pavilion | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Lace up and walk St. Augustine’s Out of the Darkness, a community stroll that raises funds, hope, and conversations around suicide prevention. It’s not a race, just neighbors showing up. Register, bring your empathy, and maybe a friend.

🥁 Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival 2025 @ Armstrong Park | Saturday (12/6) at 12:00pm – Armstrong Park turns into a living lesson in Gullah Geechee culture, celebrating centuries of West African roots with ring shouters, soul-jazz acts, traditional dance, and crafts, plus Rails-to-Trails bike warmup if your knees cooperate. Free, family friendly, and dog approved, benefiting SEA Community Resource Center.

✨ Starlight Parade @ Palm Coast Central Park | Saturday (12/6) at 4:00pm – Central Park gets its annual glow-up as the Starlight Parade rolls through with lit-up floats, marching bands, and unapologetic holiday cheer. Come early for food vendors and family-friendly antics, stay for the nostalgia, and if you’ve got a float, go register and show it off.

🐚 Set of 5 3D 6″ Coastal Ornaments Workshop @ Sherry’s Art Studio | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – Get delightfully paint-splattered at Sherry’s Art Studio while you craft five 6-inch 3D coastal wood ornaments, personalized with your flair. All supplies are included, resin is optional for extra shine, and these beauties double as gift tags, because homemade beats store-bought, and you know it.

☀️ Sunshine Excursion @ Haw Creek Preserve State Park | Sunday (12/7) at 12:00pm – Whether you paddle, stroll the boardwalk, or enjoy pointing at birds, this Haw Creek Preserve jaunt is the kind of Flagler day you brag about later. Meet in the parking lot, RSVP to save your sunshine, and mind the gators, ospreys, and your fishing line.

🎀 Christmas Wreath Making Workshop @ The Art House | Sunday (12/7) at 5:30pm – Trade the box of tangled decor for a fresh wreath you design yourself. The Art House brings the greenery and your first drink on the house; you bring your opinions on ribbon and baubles, and leave with a custom door showpiece.

Next week

🌊 Lighthouse Illuminations: Tides, Tidings, and Trees @ St. Augustine Lighthouse | Monday (12/8) at 6:30pm – Think your quads remember stairs? Stroll the lighthouse grounds lined with decorated trees, then climb to the top for those familiar views, the salty breeze, and a smug sense of local superiority. Festive, nostalgic, and no mall parking, line-cutting, or tinny carols required.

🛍️ Winter Night Market @ The St. Augustine Amphitheatre | Tuesday (12/9) at 5:00pm – Winter nights call for browsing at The Amp, not wrestling outlets parking. Wander stalls, meet local makers, sip from the bar, graze food trucks, and let The House Cats handle the soundtrack, then knock out gift shopping with no fluorescent lighting. Free, family friendly, local.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 Improvisitas! @ P.A.C.C. of Palm Coast – 8 pm
• 12/6 Magic Hideaway @ Casa Monica Resort and Spa – 6 pm
• 12/7 Andy Frasco & The U.N. @ Colonial Oak Music Park – 6 pm
• 12/8 Zak Toscani @ Spinster Abbott’s Bodega – 7:30 pm
• 12/9 Tas Cru @ Cafe Eleven – 8 pm
• 12/10 Coyote Island @ Colonial Oak Music Park – 6 pm
• 12/11 Billy Buchanan @ Hammock Dunes Club – 6 pm
• 12/12 Greg Johnson @ Guy Harvey Oceanfront Resort – 4 pm
• 12/13 Jon Pardi: The Christmas Show @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre – 7:30 pm
• 12/14 The Casualties and more @ Colonial Oak Music Park – 6 pm