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Dazzling Nights is back at Leu Gardens with its dazzling winter wonderland of lights. Photo by Creative City Project
11/8/24 - By Charlotte B

Get ready for fun, family-friendly Orlando Christmas events this holiday season, including theme park holiday lights, holiday parades, Christmas tree ceremonies, and more! At the theme parks, awe at more than 3 million lights on display at SeaWorld Orlando or explore a magical Harry Potter Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort. Families can visit the charming town of Mount Dora for a lighted boat parade, experience ICE! at Gaylord Palms, enjoy a Florida "snowfall" at Celebration Town Center, and more.

Read on for the top holiday and Christmas events near Orlando to help make the season magical. Browse our Orlando events calendar for a complete list of activities, with even more options in our Orlando Christmas Guide. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest and greatest happenings around Orlando!

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The City of Kissimmee's Festival of Lights features an annual parade and holiday fun to celebrate the holiday season. Photo courtesy the City of Kissimmee
The City of Kissimmee's Festival of Lights features an annual parade and holiday fun to celebrate the holiday season. Photo courtesy the City of Kissimmee

Fun Christmas Events at Orlando Theme Parks

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Lake Buena Vista
November 8 - December 20, 2024
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a limited capacity after hours event featuring Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, character meet and greets, stage shows, themed foods, and more. And best of all, enjoy fewer wait times at popular attractions. READ MORE

Holidays at Disney Springs

Lake Buena Vista - FREE
November 8 - December 24, 2024
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

Disney Jollywood Nights

Lake Buena Vista
November 9 - December 21, 2024
Disney Jollywood Nights is a limited capacity after hours event at Hollywood Studios. Get glammed up for festive photo ops, event-exclusive shows, themed food and entertainment, and lower wait times for rides. READ MORE

SeaWorld Orlando Christmas Celebration

Orlando
November 16, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Enjoy more than 3 million lights on display, a Christmas parade, live shows, ice skating, and more at SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration. Families can also visit Santa near the Wild Arctic area. READ MORE

Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort

Orlando
November 22 - December 31, 2024
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
November 23, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Bring the kids to Crayola Experience Orlando's Colorful Christmas experience with snow-tastic adventures including animatronic Christmas characters, a life-size snowglobe, a light show starring Scarlet and her singing reindeer friends, and more. Kids can also create unique gifts while visiting. READ MORE

Holidays at Legoland Florida

Winter Haven
Select days, November 29 - December 31, 2024
Sleigh into the holly jolliest time of year at Holidays at Legoland Florida Resort. Surprise your family with tons of bricktastic holiday fun coming down the chimney, including an all-new ginormous Lego brick-built Christmas Tree, a festive Lego crew, new elf-tastic entertainment, and bunches of new holly jolly Lego décor. READ MORE

Top Orlando Holiday Parades and Lighted Boat Parades

Mount Dora Lighted Boat Parade

Mount Dora - FREE
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Enjoy the annual lighted Christmas Boat Parade on Lake Dora, where local boat owners deck their boats in holiday lights. Spectators can also stroll along the Mount Dora Boating Center and Marina, which is covered in an ornate light display. READ MORE

Oviedo Christmas Parade

Oviedo - FREE
Saturday, December 7, 2024
The Oviedo Christmas Parade features holiday floats, local bands, and more. Parade departs the Oviedo Gym & Aquatics Center at approximately 7pm and flows through Oviedo Boulevard ending at the corner of Center Lake Lane and City Plaza. READ MORE

St. Cloud Annual Christmas Parade

St. Cloud - FREE
Saturday, December 7, 2024
The theme of this year's St. Cloud Christmas Parade is "Toys on Parade," with more than 100 community organizations and businesses with floats and displays participating. READ MORE

Winter Garden Christmas Parade

Winter Garden - FREE
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Bring the family out to enjoy the annual Winter Garden tradition of floats, local organizations, and Santa himself in the holiday parade. READ MORE

Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade

Winter Park - FREE
Saturday, December 7, 2024
The annual Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade marches down Park Avenue with more than 80 organizations, including marching bands, local police and fire departments, floats, and Santa Claus himself. READ MORE

Apopka Christmas Parade

Apopka - FREE
Saturday, December 14, 2024
The Foliage Sertoma Club of Apopka and the City of Apopka present this annual parade. The theme for 2024 is "A Golden Christmas in Apopka." READ MORE

Kissimmee Festival of Lights

Kissimmee - FREE
Saturday, December 14, 2024
The City of Kissimmee's Festival of Lights features an annual parade and holiday festival, a celebration of the holiday season. Experience the enchantment as community, business, and groups illuminate the streets with dazzling floats. Embrace the spirit of the season and come together to create cherished memories and spread joy throughout the community. READ MORE

Sanford Christmas Parade of Lights

Sanford - FREE
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Bring the family out for an evening of festive fun at the annual downtown Sanford illuminated Christmas parade. READ MORE
Take advantage of the holiday photos ops at the Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island. Photo by the author
Take advantage of the holiday photos ops at the Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island. Photo by the author

More Fun Orlando Christmas & Holiday Events for Kids

Christmas at Gaylord Palms

Kissimmee
November 15, 2024 - January 4, 2025
If you haven't experienced Christmas at Gaylord Palms, add it to your calendar this season. Enjoy holiday activities and things to do, including the return of the iconic ICE! experience with two million pounds of colorful ice, a Cirque Spirit of Christmas show, snow tubing, photos with Santa, snow factory, Shine Light Show with thousands of dancing lights, a Christmas Tree Trail, and much more. READ MORE

Festival of Trees at Orlando Museum of Art

Orlando
November 16-24, 2024
Get in the holiday spirit while browsing a wonderland full of decorated trees, wreaths, decor, and gingerbread houses. Also enjoy live entertainment and programs throughout the week. READ MORE

Holinights Celebration

Kissimmee - FREE
Select nights, November 21 - December 25, 2024
Join the Promenade at Sunset Walk for their annual Holinights Celebration, featuring Santa Claus, Mischievous Elves, towering toy soldiers, live music, and the nightly lighting of the 45-foot animated Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m. READ MORE

Ivanhoe Village Jingle Eve

Orlando - FREE
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Jingle Eve is the annual kickoff of the Orlando holiday season. Families and adults alike find no shortage of yuletide festivities. From beer gardens to music, local artisans, food trucks, a children’s holiday village, and special event promotions by Ivanhoe Village retailers, restaurants, and bars. The evening culminates with fireworks displayed high above the shores of Lake Ivanhoe. READ MORE

Santa's Christmas Tree Forest

Eustis
Select days, November 23 - December 22, 2024
Admission to this event includes access to the farm, Christmas tree lot and u-cut tree field as well as the hayride, petting zoo and Jolly Acres play area complete with jump pillow, barrel train rides, maze, trike track, and more. READ MORE

Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens

Orlando
November 29, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Dazzling Nights is back with its winter wonderland of lights throughout Leu Gardens, featuring music and interactive elements. Walk through a 70-ft long light tunnel, see a laser light show, enjoy snowfall, and more. Kids will love exploring the play area as well. READ MORE

Celebration's Now Snowing

Celebration - FREE
November 30 - December 31, 2024
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

Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island

Longwood
December 1-25, 2024
Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island is back with a supersized Christmas tree, nightly snow flurries, Christmas lights, Santa & holiday character visits, and special events. READ MORE

Oh What Fun! Lake Nona Holiday Festival

Lake Nona - FREE
Select days, December 6-22, 2024
Lake Nona’s annual Oh What Fun! holiday festival returns on select nights in Lake Nona Town Center. Visit Central Florida’s magical, open-air winter wonderland for dazzling decorations, festive treats, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, nightly snowfalls, and hourly live entertainment guaranteed to spread holiday cheer. READ MORE

City of Orlando's Downtown for the Holidays

Orlando - FREE
December 6, 2024 - January 6, 2025
Stroll Lake Eola and watch the Eola Wonderland Christmas Tree come alive with lights and music. Weekends through December 22, see snowfall and meet Santa at the Lake Eola House. READ MORE

Avalon Aglow

Orlando - FREE
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Avalon Aglow is a free community event featuring a parade, a bounce park, real snow, train rides, community performances, pictures with Santa, and fireworks to end the night. READ MORE

Celebrate the Season at Reiter Park

Longwood - FREE
Friday, December 13, 2024
This holiday street party features an array of activities including photo opportunities with Santa, music by DJ Dennis, performances by One School of the Arts, an inflatable snow maze, giant fun slides, a Snow Flurry Zone, a trackless train, 10+ food trucks and a major laser light show throughout the event. READ MORE

Oviedo Winterfest

Oviedo
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Fresh from the North Pole, tons of fun at Center Lake Park! With the purchase of an all inclusive wristband, you will have unlimited access to all the different activities, rides, and attractions. READ MORE

CRJ Chanukkah Festival

Orlando - FREE
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Join Shalom Orlando to celebrate with fun Chanukkah games & activities, Latkes & sufganiyot, and more. It's fun for the whole family. READ MORE

Jewish Heritage Night with the Orlando Magic

Orlando
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Jewish Heritage Night gives the city of Orlando the opportunity to celebrate and share the fun spirit of the Chanukah season together with the Orlando Magic by promoting unity and positivity, allowing everyone to tap into this incredible holiday. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World - Hollywood Studios
Mount Dora Boating Center & Marina
Oviedo Gym & Aquatics Center
Apopka Christmas Parade Route
Kissimmee Lakefront Park
Orlando Museum of Art
Celebration Town Center
Congregation of Reform Judaism