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Christmas Weekend 2025 in Orlando Top Things To Do: Theme Park Festivals, Holiday Lights, and More

Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island is back with a supersized Christmas tree, snow flurries, Christmas lights, Santa, and more! Photo courtesy Wekiva Island
Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island is back with a supersized Christmas tree, snow flurries, Christmas lights, Santa, and more! Photo courtesy Wekiva Island
12/23/25 - By Charlotte B

Looking for the best things to do in Orlando this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

Christmas weekend is here— hopefully the tree is decorated, presents are wrapped, and holiday plans are finalized. Assuming you're looking to get out of the house on Christmas weekend, Orlando is brimming with things to do. Celebrate Christmas in Orlando at SeaWorld, Epcot, Universal, or any of the other Central Florida theme parks open during the holiday weekend. Looking for Christmas lights? Check out amazing displays at Daytona International Speedway and Leu Gardens.

We've also rounded up the best Orlando Restaurants Open on Christmas Day as well as What's Open on Christmas Day in Orlando. Whatever your plans this weekend, have a very happy holiday from your friends at Mommy Poppins!

More Things To Do in Orlando this Week with Kids:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Things to Do Christmas Weekend in Orlando

Promenade at Sunset Walk Holinights Celebration

Kissimmee - FREE
Nightly through December 25, 2025
Join the Promenade at Sunset Walk for our annual Holinights Celebration, featuring Santa Claus and his Mischievous Elves, towering toy soldiers, and the nightly lighting of our 40-foot animated Holinights Christmas tree at 6:30 PM. READ MORE

Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island

Longwood
Daily through December 25, 2025
Wekiva Island’s Winter Wonderland has returned for the holiday season, offering festive activities throughout December. Guests can enjoy daily “snow” flurries, a Christmas tree forest featuring a 30-foot tree, visits from beloved Christmas characters, and a chance to meet Santa at his on-site Workshop. READ MORE

Orlando Ballet's The Nutcracker

Orlando
December 23 & 24, 2025
Step into a world of holiday magic with breathtaking battles, sparkling snowfalls, and larger-than-life sets in this unforgettable celebration of the season. Follow Clara’s enchanting journey through the Land of Sweets, filled with soaring choreography, dazzling costumes, and whimsical wonder. READ MORE

Morse Museum Christmas Eve Celebration

Winter Park - FREE
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
On Christmas Eve, enjoy free admission to the Morse Museum galleries with live music. READ MORE

Surfing Santas of Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach - FREE
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Surfing Santas is an annual Cocoa Beach tradition that brings hundreds of surfers of all ages and thousands of spectators—all dressed up as Santa, elves, snowmen, and everything else in between. Watch them ride in on the waves and kick off your holiday beachside at this FREE event that benefits local charitable causes. READ MORE

Holidays at Legoland Florida

Winter Haven
December 24-31, 2025
Sleigh into the jolliest time of year as Holidays at LEGOLAND returns to LEGOLAND Florida Resort! Surprise your family with bricktastic holiday fun coming down the chimney, including tons of holly jolly LEGO décor and lights, a gigantic LEGO Christmas Tree, and festive LEGO entertainment. Plus, meet the Minifigure in the red suit, LEGO Santa, and his cheery LEGO Holiday Minifigure crew throughout the Park. READ MORE

OCLS Winter Movie: Jack Frost

Orlando - FREE
Friday, December 26, 2025
Enjoy a movie snack and some hot cocoa as we watch the wintertime classic Jack Frost.  READ MORE

A Merry Winter Garden Light Show

Winter Garden - FREE
December 26 & 27, 2025
This annual animated holiday light extravaganza has become a holiday tradition to so many households. The front façade of Winter Garden City Hall becomes the canvas for this spectacular show synchronized to music. READ MORE

Free Family Movie Night: Elf

Sanford - FREE
Saturday, December 27, 2025
The Ritz Theater invites guests to enjoy the spirit of the holiday season with a showing of Elf, rated PG. This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity. READ MORE

Central Florida Soap Box Derby’s Holiday Rally

Sanford - FREE
December 27 & 28, 2025
Bring the kids to Derby Park to watch the soap box derby. Races are free to watch and kids can enjoy the playground at the park afterward. READ MORE

Peanut Butter Matinee Family Film

Maitland
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Bring the family to Enzian for its Peanut Butter Matinee Family Film series. A special kids' menu is available. READ MORE

Phantasmagoria

Ocala
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Celebrate the holidays with Central Florida's Steampunk Storytelling Troupe Phantasmagoria for an evening of ghost stories and Christmas cheer, a festive journey through whimsical and haunted tales of the holidays. READ MORE

Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

Lake Buena Vista
Through December 30, 2025
Discover holiday traditions at Epcot's 11 World Showcase nations with live holiday entertainment, seasonal foods and treats, festive decor, and the famous annual candlelight processional. READ MORE

Holidays in Space at Kennedy Space Center

Melbourne
Through December 30, 2025 (closed Christmas Day)
This December, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex hosts Holidays in Space, a festive celebration blending holiday spirit with the excitement of space exploration. The event features an all-new drone show that highlights NASA’s greatest achievements, as well as the return of Kennedy Under the Stars for two themed nights. READ MORE

Celebration's Now Snowing

Celebration - FREE
Through December 31, 2025
Celebration's annual Now Snowing event features snowfall nightly, as well as ice skating, strolling Carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, train rides, and photos with Santa. READ MORE

Magic of Lights Daytona

Daytona
Through January 3, 2026
Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. READ MORE

Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens

Orlando
Select nights through January 4, 2026
Year 6 brings more lights and a longer path for the biggest Dazzling Nights yet! Live music all night long and more live entertainment offerings. READ MORE

Frontyard Holiday Festival at Dr. Phillips Center

Orlando - FREE
Through January 4, 2026
This holiday season, Dr. Phillips Center welcomes you to stop and wonder. Gather your near and dearest and step into the pages of a storybook holiday – all playing out on the Center's glittering front yard. With a FREE calendar of sights, sounds, and experiences to make every moment richer, it's your one-stop, joy-all-around destination. READ MORE

Holidays at Disney Springs

Lake Buena Vista - FREE
Through January 4, 2026
Celebrate the holidays at Disney Springs with a Disney Christmas Tree Stroll, snow flurries, toy soldier stilt-walkers, and snowflake skaters. Visit with jolly Old St. Nick through December 24. A virtual queue is available to meet with Santa. READ MORE

Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort

Orlando
Through January 4, 2026
During the holidays at Universal, families can enjoy the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's, and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. READ MORE

Colorful Christmas at Crayola Experience Orlando

Orlando
Through January 5, 2026
Bring the kids to Crayola Experience Orlando's Colorful Christmas experience with snow-tastic adventures: craft handmade gifts from the heart, complete a seasonal scavenger hunt, pose in holiday photo-ops, and more.  READ MORE

SeaWorld Orlando Christmas Celebration

Orlando
Through January 5, 2026
Gather your family and join all your festive friends at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, select dates, November 7 - January 5. This annual event includes millions of sparkling lights, a sea of trees, snow flurries, award-winning live shows, ice-skating, delicious holiday foods, and your favorite Christmas friends like Santa, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and more. READ MORE

City of Orlando's Downtown for the Holidays

Orlando - FREE
Through January 6, 2026
Stroll Lake Eola and watch the Eola Wonderland Christmas Tree come alive with lights and music. Weekends through December 21, see snowfall and meet Santa at the Lake Eola House. READ MORE

Christmas at Gaylord Palms

Kissimmee
Through January 7, 2026
Experience so much Christmas with dazzling displays, tempting treats, holiday shows, and festive activities. ICE! features beloved scenes from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" brought to life through colorful, colossal ice sculptures. READ MORE

Florida Citrus Tower Holiday Light Show

Clermont - FREE
Through January 7, 2026
The Annual Citrus Tower Spectacular Light Show invites the community to enjoy a festive display of lights, music, and holiday cheer. The event runs nightly with showtimes from 7–8 PM and 8–9 PM. Admission is free for all, and guests are encouraged to bring family, friends, and holiday spirit to share in the celebration. READ MORE

Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo

Sanford
Select nights through January 18, 2026
This holiday season, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will glow once again as it hosts the Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild. Wander the three-quarter-mile pathway filled with all-new, handcrafted lantern scenes, each glowing with thousands of LED lights. Ocean-inspired landscapes meet mythical creatures, from graceful ice dragons and unicorns to a new twist on our beloved showcase dragon. READ MORE
The Grinch is ready to entertain families at Universal Orlando Resort. Photo courtesy of venue
The Grinch is ready to entertain families at Universal Orlando Resort. Photo courtesy of venue

More Things to Do in Orlando This Week With Kids

What's Open on Christmas Day 2025 in Orlando: A List of Awesome Things To Do

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The Florida Mall goes beyond just shopping --kids will LOVE it! READ MORE

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When it comes to December in Orlando, it seems like every day is a party! READ MORE
Hang out with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin. Photo courtesy of hotel
Hang out with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin. Photo courtesy of hotel

More Fun Holiday Things To Do With Kids

Nights of Lights, St. Augustine, Florida: What to Know Before You Go

Come see the lights this holiday season. READ MORE

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Orlando

Give the gift of light this holiday season at Orlando Christmas light shows! READ MORE

Orlando’s Unusual & Underrated Christmas and Holiday Activities

Meet Gator Claus and other odd characters at these Xmas events! READ MORE

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Orlando

We've gathered Orlando homes with dazzling Christmas lights! READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Winter Garden City Hall
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Celebration Town Center
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Florida Citrus Tower
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Bivona Christmas Light Show

About the Author

Charlotte Blanton
Charlotte Blanton, a Central Florida native and mom of three, holds a business degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After a career in corporate finance, she pivoted to stay home with her kids and found her passion for writing through Mommy Poppins. She loves exploring local theme parks and discovering fun activities for families in Central Florida.
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