Christmas at Thanksgiving*
November 20-26, 2023
Celebrate Christmas this Thanksgiving at Ocean Lakes Family Campground! Families and friends gather together to give thanks and celebrate the Christmas Season. Also, enjoy dining, shopping, and holiday shows (stop by the Recreation Office for discounted show tickets).
2022 Highlights | Our team is working on 2023 plans, but you get the idea when you read about 2022!
See photos and info on our Cafe Food Blog! See Activities photos and more on our Holiday Blog!
Download our Ocean Lakes App for Contests, AR fun, and Scavenger Hunts! Watch for a very special guest to arrive (besides the Big Guy).
2022 Thanksgiving Activities | 2023 TBA
See our Cafe Dinner Specials beginning on Monday, Nov. 21st-26th, including Cafe’s Thanksgiving Day Meal (pre-order now).
Holiday Wreath Workshop | Monday, November 21, 4 PM – 5 PM
We have added an exciting new workshop hosted by Rock N’ Roots Plant Co. This class is open to all campers and will provide the necessary materials to teach and walk you through making your very own holiday wreath. Cost is $54 + tax; you will pay the instructor upon arrival at class. Class runs from 4 PM – 5 PM. Please sign up by emailing hello@rocknrootsplantco.com or by using the QR codes provided on the flyers at the Recreation Office.
Turkey Bingo | Monday, November 21, 7 PM – 8 PM
We’ll play 10 games of bingo. The Grand Prize will be a turkey! 1 Card per person. Held in the Recreation Center. No Fee!
Thanksgiving Mason Jar Make & Take | Tuesday, November 22, 2 PM – 4 PM
Join us at the Recreation Center, Room C, to make your very own Thanksgiving mason jar. Recommended for ages 8 and up. We will provide all the materials necessary to paint and decorate your unique Jar. You can use your imagination to create something or follow the examples we provide for you. Please be sure to arrive at class on time. No new painters will be accepted into class after 3 PM. All painters will have until 4 PM to finish their jars. You will pay the instructor $5 per jar upon arrival to class.
Thanksgiving Bingo | Wednesday, November 23, 7 PM
We’ll play 10 games of bingo; all prizes will be items that will help with your Thanksgiving Feast! 1 card per person. Held in the Recreation Center. NO FEE.
Gingerbread House Contest | Thursday, November 24, 9 AM-8 PM
All houses need to be submitted by 8 PM.
Gingerbread Contestants | Starting Thursday morning at 9 AM, drop off your hand-crafted one-of-a-kind Gingerbread houses. All houses must arrive no later than 8 PM on Thursday night. You have 2 options: You can make your house at home and bring it in or if you have little space, you can use Recreation Center, Room A to create your house. Please note the Recreation Team does not provide any materials. You must bring all the materials to make your house with you! Winners will be announced and posted on Saturday at 6 PM.
Gingerbread Judges | ♥ Please Note: Technology is needed for Voting
We encourage all to come to join us in the Recreation Center to vote for their favorite Gingerbread Houses. Voting will be held from 9 AM Friday until 5 PM on Saturday. Voting will be done virtually using Ocean Lakes’ App – click “Vote” to enter your favorites.
Starfish Strut Run/Walk 5K | Thursday, November 25th starting at 9 AM
Bring your family out for this NEW Ocean Lakes tradition. Sign up at the Recreation Office anytime starting on Wednesday, November 23rd. We will provide you with a packet that includes instructions. You can walk/run the path anytime on Thanksgiving Day before 8 PM to win a prize. Please Note: You will need a way to track your walk/run via a smartwatch or a walking app. You will then need to show your results at the Recreation Office to receive your prize. NO FEE.
Pie Bingo | Thursday, November 25, 3 PM
We’ll play 10 games of bingo, and our lucky 10 winners will receive pies as prizes. 1 card per person. Held at the Recreation Center. NO FEE.
25% OFF Sale begins Friday, November 25th – Sunday, November 27, 2022. This discount is additional on already discounted items! (Excludes Groceries and Tobacco.) See more shopping options and brand names below!
2022 Christmas Activities | 2023 TBA
Ugly Sweater Contest | Friday, November 25, 9 AM until Saturday, November 26, 4 PM
Ocean Lakes App is needed to submit Ugly Sweater photo submissions
Think you have the ugliest sweater just lying around? Well then, this is the competition for you! New this year is our Ugly Sweater Competition. To enter, go to our Photo Area in the Recreation Center to take a picture of your sweater. You will then upload that picture via the Ocean Lakes App or link below.
Entering | ♥ Please Note: Technology is needed for Entry
You can enter the Ugly Sweater competition and win in the following categories: Best Crafted Sweater, Craziest Sweater, Most Creative Sweater, Most Embellished Sweater, Funniest Sweater, and Best Overall Ugliest Sweater. Winners will be announced Saturday evening.
Photos must be submitted by 4 PM on Saturday, November 26th. NO FEE
Christmas Mason Jar Make & Take | Friday, November 25, 2 PM – 4 PM
Join us at the Recreation Center, Room C, to make your very own Christmas mason jar. Recommended for ages 8 and up. We will provide all the materials necessary to paint and decorate your unique Jar. You can use your imagination to create something or follow the examples we provide for you. Please be sure to arrive at class on time. No new painters will be accepted into class after 3 PM. All painters will have until 4 PM to finish their jars. You will pay the instructor $5 per jar upon arrival to class.
Christmas Music Bingo & Stupid Trivia | Friday, November 25, 6 PM
Come to the Recreation Center for this fun, musical twist on the original bingo game we typically play. Snippets of songs in different categories will be played, and you will have to match up the song played with the song’s title on your bingo card. We will give a few hints along the way. In between rounds of music bingo, we will play 3 rounds of stupid trivia. 10 Wacky, crazy questions in each round. NO cheating! NO FEE.
Christmas Lights & Sites Contest | Friday, November 25 – Saturday, November 26 at 8 PM
We could all use a little more holiday cheer!
Site Contestants | We encourage all to decorate your beautiful houses/campsites and spread that extra holiday cheer. We are creating a list of participating sites that will “Deck the Halls” this holiday season. Please stop by the Recreation Center to sign up before 8 PM on Thanksgiving Day to get your site on the list. The top 3 favorite sites will win a prize!! Winners will be announced Saturday Evening. NO FEE.
Site Judges | ♥ Please Note: Technology is needed for Voting
A list of participating sites will be available Friday, November 25th at Noon at the Recreation Office. When it gets dark, you can take the “Lights & Sites” tour and choose your 3 favorite Christmas Sites. Vote virtually using Ocean Lakes’ App – click “Vote” to enter your Top 3 choices. All votes need to be in by 7 PM on Saturday, November 26th to be counted.
Tree Trimming Event | Saturday, November 26, 10 AM -12 PM
Bring your holiday spirit to the Recreation Center on Saturday morning to help decorate the Ocean lakes Christmas tree for Santa’s arrival later in the afternoon. All decorations used to trim the tree have been provided by our wonderful guests throughout the years. We encourage you to bring your own special ornament to add to our collection. We will also be adding a new tree to our collection. This will be called the “Memory Tree” and will be pictures of yourself and your kids from past years sitting on Santa’s lap. Beverages and small snacks will be provided during the event. NO FEE.
Santa Claus is Visiting Ocean Lakes | Saturday, November 26, 2 PM – 5 PM
Ocean Lakes welcomes Santa Claus & Mrs. Claus on Saturday, November 26th from 2 PM–5 PM. Stop by the Recreation Center to take your pictures with the big man himself. We have lots of fun planned for you and your family! There will be a Christmas Photo Booth, Gingerbread House Voting, Candy Guess Jars, Festival Games, Gift Goodie bags, Face Painting (sign-up begins at 2 PM, first-come-first-serve), and an Ornament Making Class ($5.00 per ornament).
Please arrive before 4 PM to see Santa, as the line can get long. We don’t want you to miss out on your chance to talk to Santa before he heads back to the North Pole. We are encouraging each child to write their own personal letter to Santa that he can read later. Letters will be provided for each child to fill out (download the letter to fill out). We encourage parents to print and have their little ones finish letters ahead of time. There will be a special mailbox located at the Recreation Center to drop off your child’s letter to Santa. Make sure to do this, as we will deliver each note directly to Santa. Who knows, he may write back! NO FEE!
Gingerbread House Voting & Candy Guess Jars | ♥ Please Note: Technology is needed for Entry
Remember to vote for your favorite Gingerbread House from Friday at 9 AM through Saturday at 5 PM (see details above).
Enter your best guess via our app for the Candy Guess Jars
Shop for Christmas Gifts & Souvenirs | You never have to leave the campground!Main Office Gift Shop | Sandy Mart | Ocean Lakes RV Center | Ocean Lakes Golf Cars | Gift Certificates
Do you have an Ocean Lakes fan on your Christmas List? How about the latest YETI products or new Maui Jim Sunglasses – all at Ocean Lakes RV Center! Don’t miss shopping for unique Ocean Lakes souvenirs, including our commemorative Christmas ornament, Simply Southern Collection, Sandy Starfish wrapping paper. Our Ocean Lakes beach bucket makes a great “gift bag” to fill with Ocean Lakes goodies! Check out our 3-D magnet stocking stuffer! Shop golf cars and accessories at Ocean Lakes Golf Cars. The Main Office also has Gift Certificates that can be purchased for any amount – guaranteed to fit! Pick up the 52-page story of Ocean Lakes filled with never-before-seen photos of Ocean Lakes.
