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Dazzling Nights is back with a winter wonderland of lights throughout Leu Gardens. Photo courtesy of Leu Gardens
Dazzling Nights is back with a winter wonderland of lights throughout Leu Gardens. Photo courtesy of Leu Gardens
12/2/22 - By Charlotte B

As the calendar inches toward Christmas, Central Florida is shining with seasonal celebrations to enjoy with your family this December. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Orlando in December!

The theme parks are in full force with lights and festive holiday decor, from SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration to Epcot's International Festival of the Holidays. Christmas parades are taking place in cities all around Central Florida, including Apopka, St. Cloud, and Winter Park, just to name a few. Perhaps enjoy an outdoor holiday movie in Altamonte or Clermont. Read on for the top events in Orlando and happening around Central Florida this December!

Find more December fun in our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for Orlando Kids, including festive Holiday Shows for Orlando Families, Orlando Holiday Light Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows, and local Breakfast with Santa Events.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters. Plus, follow us on Facebook!

 

Lake Nona's holiday festival features fun activities for the whole family, including snowfalls, live shows, and entertainment. Photo courtesy of the festival
Lake Nona's holiday festival features fun activities for the whole family, including snowfalls, live shows, and entertainment. Photo courtesy of the festival

Top Things to Do in Orlando with Kids this December

Santa's Christmas Tree Forest

Eustis - Through December 18, 2022
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, elf maze, trike track, and double barrel slide. READ MORE

Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

Lake Buena Vista - Daily through December 30, 2022
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

Celebration's Now Snowing

Celebration - Daily through December 31, 2022
Free
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

Christmas at Gaylord Palms

Kissimmee - Daily through January 1, 2023
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

Night of a Million Lights

Kissimmee - Nightly through January 1, 2023
Night of a Million Lights returns at a new venue this year. Watch as Island H2O Water Park is transformed into a winter wonderland featuring millions of lights. New this year is a children's zone, live entertainment, and a dancing lights show atop a five-story waterslide. This event benefits Give Kids the World Village. READ MORE

Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens

Orlando - Nightly through January 1, 2023
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

SeaWorld Orlando Christmas Celebration

Orlando - Daily through January 3, 2023
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

Christmas Movie Night at Southern Hill Farms

Clermont - Fridays & Saturdays, December 2-17, 2022
Watch a holiday movie at Southern Hill Farms and enjoy a Christmas village, kids' activities, jumping pads, carousel, yard games, playground, and more. READ MORE

Orlando Ballet's The Nutcracker

Orlando - December 2-18, 2022
Enjoy Orlando Ballet's take on the holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Parents and children are taken to a world of color, imagination, and magic. READ MORE

Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island

Longwood - December 2-25, 2022
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

Avalon Aglow

Orlando - Saturday, December 3, 2022
Free
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

St. Cloud Annual Christmas Parade

St. Cloud - Saturday, December 3, 2022
Free
The theme of this year's St. Cloud Christmas Parade is "Christmas Movie Time," with more than 100 community organizations and businesses with floats and displays participating. READ MORE

Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade

Winter Park - Saturday, December 3, 2022
Free
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

Gatorland's Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho-Down

Orlando - Weekends December 3-18, 2022
Visit the “Alligator Capital of the World” for holiday festivities each weekend, including holiday displays, characters, festive foods, a Floridian holiday photo opp with Gator Claus and Krampus Croc, and sing “Cryptid carols” with the Gatorland's Florida Skunk Ape. READ MORE

Holiday Movie Night at Cranes Roost Park

Altamonte Springs - December 8 & 22, 2022
Free
Enjoy an outdoor holiday movie with the family at Cranes Roost Park, surrounded by thousands of holiday lights. READ MORE

Apopka Christmas Parade

Apopka - Saturday, December 10, 2022
Free
The Apopka Christmas Parade's theme is "A Christmas Story In Apopka." READ MORE

Oviedo Winterfest

Oviedo - Saturday, December 10, 2022
Oviedo's annual Winter Fest features a day full of festive family fun activities. Food trucks and vendors will also be onsite. READ MORE

Santa's Coming to Hamlin

Winter Garden - Saturday, December 10, 2022
Free
Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Hamlin, and enjoy more family fun such as stilt walkers, cookie decorating, crafts, games, face painting, food trucks, and more. READ MORE

Winter Park Christmas Boat Parade

Winter Park - Saturday, December 10, 2022
Families can enjoy this annual boat parade with decorated boats from local homeowners. READ MORE

Chanukah Night with the Orlando Magic

Orlando - Sunday, December 11, 2022
Celebrate the spirit of the Chanukah season with the Orlando Magic as they take on the Toronto Raptors. The Grand Menorah will be lit at halftime on center court. Guests can enjoy a pre-game Chanukah carnival and in-game interactions. READ MORE

Holidays in Space at Kennedy Space Center

Merritt Island - December 16-30, 2022
Visit the Kennedy Space Center as its transformed into a winter wonderland with holidays light displays, street performances, and more. This event features a projection mapping show called Starflake's Holiday Voyage, as well as a 50-ft tree illuminating the Rocket Garden, astronaut nutcrackers, and more. READ MORE

Matthew's Hope Community Christmas Carnival

Winter Garden - Saturday, December 17, 2022
This community event features carnival-style booths with games for kids, carnival foods, and a Santa meet and greet. Kids can window shop with the help of an elf as they wait to visit Santa, and parents in need of assistance are invited back a few days later to "shop" Santa's toy shop. READ MORE

Winter Garden Santa Bike Ride

Winter Garden - Saturday, December 17, 2022
Free
Winter Garden Wheel Works is hosting its annual Santa Bike Ride. Families can meet Santa and his elves at the shop from 3-5pm. Bike parade led by Santa will begin at 6pm. Participants will be caroling through the streets of Winter Garden. READ MORE

Chanukah on the Park

Winter Park - Sunday, December 18, 2022
This annual celebration is full of Chanukah spirit for the whole family, including live music, Kosher food, dog show, face painting, balloon twisting, Chanukah crafts, strolling magic, jugglers on stilts, and a Grand Menorah lighting with the Mayor. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Fireworks at Legoland Florida

Winter Haven - December 26-31, 2022
Celebrate the New Year at a kid-friendly hour at Legoland. Activities include lights, music, fireworks and a "brick drop" to welcome in 2024! READ MORE

New Year's Eve at SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando - Friday, December 31, 2022
Countdown to the New Year in SeaWorld style, with sea life, music, entertainment, and a fireworks display. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Celebration Town Center
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Apopka Christmas Parade Route
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Central Park - Winter Park