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Light Up Events, Christmas Parades, and More Festive Things to Do in Orlando This Weekend With Kids

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce hosts the 72nd annual Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade. Photos by Hughes Fioretti Photography
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11/20/24 - By Charlotte B

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

This weekend is packed with festive fun to kick off the holiday season in style! Start your celebrations on Friday with enchanting Light Up events in Apopka, Sanford, Winter Garden, Lake Eola, and St. Cloud. On Saturday, don’t miss the magic of Christmas parades in Mount Dora, Oviedo, Winter Park, and Winter Springs. It's also the opening weekend for Lake Nona's Oh What Fun! Holiday Festival, Orlando Ballet's The Nutcracker, and Gatorland's Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho-Down. And that’s just the beginning! Scroll down for all the exciting details.

More Things To Do in Orlando this Week with Kids

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Best Things to Do This Weekend in Orlando with Kids

Apopka Tree Lighting

Apopka - FREE
Friday, December 6
Join the City of Apopka as the community comes together to celebrate the holiday season with festive lights, holiday displays, and a special tree lighting ceremony.   READ MORE

Edgewood Santa Fly In

Orlando - FREE
Friday, December 6
Watch as Santa arrives via helicopter (around 6:30pm) to meet his friends in the City of Edgewood. Event features Santa meet and greet, food and dessert vendors, bounce houses, Christmas lights in Bagshaw Park, holiday music, face painting, letter to Santa station, and more. READ MORE

Free Family Movie Night: Elf

Sanford - FREE
Friday, December 6
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

Lake Eola Tree Lighting Celebration

Downtown Orlando - FREE
Friday, December 6
The annual Tree Lighting Celebration at Lake Eola includes live music and holiday performances, Florida snowfall, Santa, holiday market, food trucks, and the lighting of the 72-foot Christmas tree. READ MORE

Lake Mary Holiday in the Park

Lake Mary - FREE
Friday, December 6
This free holiday event includes food, vendors, entertainment, a kids activity zone, and a skating rink with light shows every 30 minutes! Make sure to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus too. The first light show and tree lighting will begin after opening ceremony at 6:30pm. READ MORE

Light Up Sanford

Sanford - FREE
Friday, December 6
Experience the enchantment of the Magnolia Square Christmas Tree and downtown as the City of Sanford illuminates the night. Get ready for holiday entertainment, a visit from Ol’ Saint Nick, his helpers, and more. READ MORE

Light Up Winter Garden

Winter Garden - FREE
Friday, December 6
This annual event kicks off the holiday season with entertainment, activities, and of course, the lighting of the streets of downtown Winter Garden. READ MORE

St. Cloud Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

St. CLoud - FREE
Friday, December 6
Kick off the holidays in St. Cloud with this free family event including the annual tree lighting as well as visits with Santa, a snow slide, crafts, games, rides, and more. READ MORE

Winter on the Avenue

Winter Park - FREE
Friday, December 6
Winter on the Avenue is a holiday street party complete with tree-lighting, strolling carolers, Chanukah menorah lighting ceremony, s'mores, snow slides, children's choirs, The Bubble Bus, Popcorn Flicks in the park, and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus. READ MORE

Oh What Fun! Lake Nona Holiday Festival

Lake Nona - FREE
Opening Weekend! Select nights, December 6-22
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

Orlando Ballet's The Nutcracker

Orlando
Opening Weekend! Select days, December 6-22
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

Avalon Aglow

Orlando - FREE
Saturday, December 7
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

Christmas at Hamlin

Winter Garden - FREE
Saturday, December 7
Christmas at Hamlin promises a blend of holiday traditions and festive fun for all. The inaugural Lighting of the Tree will take place at 6pm, kicking off a brand-new annual holiday tradition for Hamlin. Thousands of twinkling lights will illuminate a magnificent 25-foot Christmas tree transforming the night into pure holiday enchantment. READ MORE

Light Up The Holidays at Cranes Roost Park

Altamonte Springs - FREE
Saturday, December 7
Bring the family out to Cranes Roost Park for their annual Light Up the Holidays event, featuring kids activities, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, train rides, vendors, live music, holiday lights, and a fireworks show. READ MORE

Mount Dora Christmas Parade

Mount Dora - FREE
Saturday, December 7
Bring the family to downtown Mount Dora to enjoy this annual Christmas parade complete with lots of holiday floats and Santa himself. READ MORE

Oviedo Christmas Parade

Oviedo - FREE
Saturday, December 7
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

Season of Light Celebration

Maitland - FREE
Saturday, December 7
Celebrate the holidays at Lake Lily Park with games, vendors, entertainment, tree lighting, fireworks, and photos with Santa. READ MORE

St. Cloud Annual Christmas Parade

St. Cloud - FREE
Saturday, December 7
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
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
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

Winter Springs Winter Wonderland

Winter Springs - FREE
Saturday, December 7
Experience the enchantment of the holiday season at Winter Wonderland. This year's festivities feature the annual Holiday Parade, the ceremonial tree lighting, performances by local talent, and a special visit from Santa Claus. READ MORE

Cracker Christmas at Fort Christmas Historical Park

Christmas - FREE
December 7-8
Experience an 1800's to early 1900's Florida Cracker Christmas with seasonal decor, music, and traditions taking place in the historical buildings and reconstructed fort. READ MORE

Repticon Orlando

Orlando
December 7-8
At Repticon, adults and kids get up-close animal interactions with several live reptiles. There are also animal-related seminars throughout the two-day event. READ MORE

Symphony Storytime: Holiday Harmonies

Orlando
December 7-8
Join the Orlando Philharmonic’s Brass Quintet as they capture the spirit of the season with this fun holiday story. Dance and sing along as musicians play their way through holiday favorites. READ MORE

Gatorland's Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho-Down

Orlando
Opening Weekend! Weekends, December 7-22
Gatorland's signature holiday extravaganza unfolds with a delightful mix of holiday tunes, festive displays, interactive characters, and seasonal treats available for purchase. Capture the essence of a Floridian holiday by snapping a photo with Gator Claus aboard his swamp-worthy sleigh. Meet the mischievous Krampus Croc and sing along with the Florida Skunk Ape as he performs his favorite “Cryptid carols.” READ MORE

Promenade at Sunset Walk's Toy Drive Car & Truck Show

Kissimmee - FREE
Sunday, December 8
The Promenade at Sunset Walk, in partnership with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, is hosting a Toy Drive Car & Truck Show. The event features appearances by Santa Claus, music by DJ Jennifer, and prizes for car owners, including a resort stay and Merchant's Choice Trophies. READ MORE

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Places featured in this article:

Winter Garden City Hall
St. Cloud City Hall Courtyard
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Mount Dora Christmas Parade
Oviedo Gym & Aquatics Center
Winter Springs Town Center
Central Florida Fairgrounds
Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom