The holiday season is here and there is no shortage of events in Central Florida to help you get into the holiday spirit. Here is a rundown of what is happening in Central Florida. If we missed an event in your neighborhood, please leave a note in the comments so we can add it to the list!
Events by date
Cypress Grove Park’s Festival of Lights
Where: Cypress Grove Park, 290 W. Holden Avenue, Orlando 32839
Dates: November 30th through December 4th – 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Cost: $3 per drive-thru vehicle, per night
37th Annual Christmas in the Park
Where: Central Park, Winter Park
Date: Thursday, December 3rd – 6:15-8:00pm
Cost: Free
Christmas Village – Joy!
Where: CrossLife Church, 45. W. Broadway St., Oviedo 32765
Dates: December 4th – December 6th – 6:00-10:00pm nightly
Cost: Free
Downtown for the Holidays Tree Lighting Celebration
Where: Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park
Date: Friday, December 4th – 5:00-10:00pm
Cost: Free
Winter on the Avenue
Where: Park Avenue, Winter Park
Date: Friday, December 4th – 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Price: Most activities are free
28th Annual Light Up Winter Garden
Where: Plant Street, Winter Garden
Date: Friday, December 4th – 6:00-9:00pm
Cost: Free
Popcorn Flicks in the Park presented by the Enzian
Where: Central Park, Winter Park
Date: Friday, December 4th – 7:00pm
Cost: Free (Bring a blanket!)
Winter Park Christmas Parade
Where: Park Avenue, Winter Park
Date: Saturday, December 5th – 9:00am
Price: Free
Fort Christmas Historical Park’s Cracker Christmas
Where: 1300 N. Fort Christmas Road, Christmas 32709
Date: December 5th through December 6th – 10:00am-4:00pm daily
Price: Free admission; bring a toy to donate to Holiday Heroes Toy Drive
Winter Garden Christmas Parade
Where: South Dillard Street and Plant Street, Winter Garden
Date: Saturday, December 5th – 1:00pm
Price: Free
Avalon Aglow
Where: Avalon Park Town Center, Orlando
Date: Saturday, December 5th – 3:00-9:00pm
Price: Free
Sanford Holiday Tour of Homes
Where: Tour begins at 801 Palmetto Avenue, Sanford
Date: Saturday, December 5th – 4:00-9:00pm
Price: $25 in advance; $30 on Saturday
Winter Springs Winter Wonderland
Where: Winter Springs Town Center
Date: Saturday, December 5th – 5:00-9:00pm
Cost: Free
Casselberry Tree Lighting Ceremony
Where: Lake Concord Park, Casselberry
Date: Saturday, December 5th – 6:00-8:00pm
Cost: Free
23rd Annual Lighted Boat Parade
Where: Marina at Gilbert Park, Mt. Dora
Date: Saturday, December 5th – 7:00pm
Price: Free
Meet the Grinch! Story Time
Where: Pottery Barn Kids, Mall of Millenia
Date: Tuesday, December 8th – 11:00am
Price: Free
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Where: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Dates: December 8th through December 13th – Show times vary
Price: Tickets start at $33.75
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream Holiday Party
An evening of crafts, games, and photos with Santa!
Where: Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream – 3114 Corrine Drive, Orlando 32803
Date: Thursday, December 10th – 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Price: Bring a non perishable food item for the local food pantry!
Christmas Village – Joy!
Where: CrossLife Church, 45. W. Broadway St., Oviedo 32765
Dates: December 11th – December 13th – 6:00-10:00pm nightly
Cost: Free
Reindeer Run 5K
Where: SeaWorld Orlando
Date: Saturday, December 12th – 7:15am
Price: $27 – $35
Candy Cane 5K
Where: Central Winds Park, Winter Springs
Date: Saturday, December 12th – 8:00am
Price: $20 – $35
Breakfast (or Brunch) with Santa! – Registration is required.
Where: Central Florida Zoo
Date: Saturday, December 12th – 9:00-10:30am; 11:00am-12:30pm
Price: Ticket prices vary
An Afternoon with Santa at Magnolia Park
Where: 2929 S Binion Rd, Apopka 32703
Date: Saturday, December 12th – 2:00-5:00pm
Price: $4 per child
City of Oviedo Snow Mountain and Holiday Parade
Where: Oviedo Mall
Date: Saturday, December 12th – 4:00-9:00pm
Price: Ticket prices vary
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Where: Amway Center
Date: Saturday, December 12th – 3:00pm and 8:00pm
Price: Ticket prices vary
Moss Park’s Light Up The Wild!
Where: 12901 Moss Park Road, Orlando 32832
Date: December 13th through December 19th, 6:00-9:00pm nightly
Price: $5 per car
Movie Under the Stars – The Polar Express
Where: Avalon Park Town Park, Orlando
Date: Saturday, December 18th – 7:00pm
Price: Free
Moss Park 5K Santa Run
Where: Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando 32808
Date: Sunday, December 20th – 5:30pm
Price: $10 (ages 5-14); $20 (ages 15 and up)
Ongoing Events
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – This is your last chance to see it!
Where: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Dates: November 6th, 2015 through January 3rd, 2016
Price: Admission to the park
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Where: Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Dates: Select nights November 8th through December 18th
Price: Admission to the park
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical
Where: Orlando Repertory Theatre
Dates: November 9th through December 27th – Show times vary
Price: Tickets start at $14
Light Up UCF
Where: CFE Arena at the University of Central Florida
Dates: November 13th, 2015 through January 3rd, 2016
Price: Varies by activity
Winter in the Park Ice Skating
Where: Central Park West Meadow, Winter Park
Dates: November 20th, 2015 through January 10th, 2016
Price: $12
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
Where: SeaWorld Orlando
Dates: Select dates November 21st through December 31st
Price: Admission to the park
ICE! featuring ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Where: Gaylord Palms
Dates: November 24th, 2015 through January 3rd, 2016
Price: $29.99 (Adult), $16.99 (Ages 4-12), Free (Children 3 and under)
Disney’s Candlelight Processional
Where: Disney’s Epcot
Dates: November 27th through December 30th
Price: Admission to the park
Orange Blossom Cannonball Christmas Express
Where: Tavares, Florida
Dates: Select dates November 27th through December 23rd
Price: $28 (Adult), $20 (Ages 3-12), Free (Under 3)
Peter and the Starcatcher
Where: Orlando Shakespeare Theater
Dates: Select dates December 2nd, 2015 through January 3rd, 2016
Price: Ticket prices vary
Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort
Where: Universal Orlando
Dates: December 5th, 2015 through January 2nd, 2016
Price: Admission to the park
Happy Holidays!
Just a note… The Sanford Toirnof Homes is NOT kid friendly. They specifically request no kids on the website, and also no babies in carriers.
This is great, so much to do during this season!