Florida Christmas Events and Attractions – Holiday Lights, Theme Parks, Festivals and More
December 2nd, 2009
Christmas time in Florida is celebrated differently than our neighbors to the north. Even with all the things to do in Florida, most of us still miss the snow, so we have to be more creative and therefore tend to go overboard with light and holiday displays. We even have Christmas Boat Parades, where captains decorate their vessels with lights and everything from sleighs to small castles.
Christmas Light Shows & Events
Holidays At The Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates
The Edison Museum in Fort Myers will celebrate the holidays with decorations and good cheer Dec 11 – Jan 2 until 9 pm except for Christmas Eve Night and Christmas Day. Call for ticket information and group reservations at 239.334.7419 or View Website »
Suwannee Christmas Lights 2009 Extravaganza
Suwannee Lights will light up your Christmas season Children’s faces will light up with joy, their smiles will be magical and you’ll be making memories when the family experiences the Suwannee Christmas Lights 2009 extravaganza until Dec 24 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla.
A wonderland of more than 5 million lights and colorful 3-D displays will delight the entire family this year in the always bigger and better annual Christmas event. Guests drive through the winding, 2-mile long magical exhibit of lighted, handmade Christmas scenes on the grounds of the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) while in the comfort of your vehicle. The displays have been lovingly designed, shaped and prepared by our staff just for you and your holiday enjoyment. View Website »
Christmas Boat Parades
When we deck our halls for Christmas, we include our boats as well with twinkling lights far up the masts and from bow to stern. After they are all decorated we show them in parades which are a great way to get the whole family in the holiday spirit. Here is a list of upcoming boat parades, look for one near you.
More about Florida Christmas Boat Parades »
Leesburg Main Street Christmas House
14th Annual Leesburg Main Street Christmas House is open Mon-Sat 9:30am to 5pm, Sun 12noon to 4pm. Over 100 Holiday Crafters until Dec 12, featuring over 50,000 items unique handcrafted holiday decoration and gifts. Presented by Leesburg Partnership, call 352.365.0053 or View Website »
Wildwood Winterfest
The Wildwood Winterfest, Dec 11-12, is a free family fun holiday event hosted by the City of Wildwood and the Sumter County Fair Association. It features a parade, fireworks, arts/crafts, BBQ cookoff, and snow. This year we are extending it into a to day event featuring concerts, a carnival, and 5K walk/run. View Website »
Nights of Lights in St. Augustine
A spectacular display, The Nights of Lights in St. Augustine, will have millions of tiny white lights glowing along the ancient streets and historic buildings of the Nation’s oldest city through Jan 31. View Website »
Boynton Beach’s Holiday Extravaganza
Boynton Beach’s Holiday Extravaganza will take place Dec 5 at 5 pm and the 39th Annual Holiday Parade 6:30 pm – Lighting Ceremony of Boynton’s 50-foot holiday tree, Kwanza and Menorah displays. 7:00 PM – FREE concert on Ocean Avenue by Grammy Award winning “Queen of Disco” Gloria Gaynor. Call 561.742.6246 or View Website »
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo – Wild Wonderland
During Wild Wonderland, the Zoo is illuminated with holiday lights, sights and sounds on select nights in December. Millions of twinkling lights and glimmering holiday displays light up the night. Thousands of LEDs (energy efficient lights) bring new technology to animated displays. Shooting stars and lasers produce more “oohs and ahhs” than ever before. A new Visions of Sugarplums display features a forest with giant trees, holiday fairies, magical scenes and sounds of music boxes. Meet Santa and his real reindeer who have made the journey from the North Pole. See a dazzling Frozen Forest with crystal animals, trees and dancing fountains set to the sounds of festive music. Hear the jingle bells ring on a special holiday horse-drawn carriage ride.
Holiday magic runs wild in Tampa at Wild Wonderland December 4-5, 10-13, 17-23 and 26-30 from 6-9 p.m. General admission is $13 for adults (ages 12 and over), $11 for children (ages 3-11) and free for children age 2 and under. Annual Zoo Pass holders receive discounted admission. Admission includes free unlimited rides, with the exception of the Jingle Bells horse drawn carriage ride* which is $4 per person. View Website »
Florida Keys
From Key Largo to Key West, the calendar is packed with events designed to spread holiday cheer – including a trio of festive lighted boat parades featuring vessels whose decorations range from traditional greenery to offbeat salutes to the season. Listed are some holiday highlights, all spiced with an individualistic Florida Keys flair.
More about Florida Keys Christmas Events »
Christmas at the Orlando Attractions
Universal Studios Christmas Celebrations
Universal Orlando Resort will soon kick off the largest Holidays celebration in the event’s history, featuring more entertainment than ever before. Mannheim Steamroller, Chris Isaak and Natalie Cole – to the already beloved Grinchmas celebration and the Macy’s Holiday Parade.
More about Universal Studios Holiday Celebrations »
ICE! at Gaylord Palms
In its seventh season, ICE! will reflect the theme “Welcome to the North Pole,” taking guests through nine dramatic holiday scenes. Inside, guests explore a whimsical winter wonderland of larger-than-life, three-dimensional hand-carved ice monuments and sculptures, including fantastic frozen creations, slippery ice slides, and memorable holiday scenes. As for the chill, visitors are given oversized parkas to stay comfortable inside the attraction, which is kept at a blustery 9 degrees. The attraction is carved by a team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China. The talented artisans spend nearly an entire month in Kissimmee creating this one-of-a-kind attraction.
More about Gaylord Palms ICE! »
Disney World Holiday Events & Attractions
Ar Disney World Resorts this holiday season, themed décor will blanket the Vacation Kingdom as Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney and 24 resorts unwrap their sleighs full of yuletide gaiety. Here’s a closer look at the transformation into a winter wonderland
More about Christmas Events at Disney World »
SeaWorld and Polar Express
This holiday season, families and friends can celebrate the holidays like never before at SeaWorld Orlando. Guests can take an exciting trip to the North Pole aboard The Polar Express Experience.
More about Polar Express SeaWorld »
* All event times and dates subject to change
