Top 13 Unique Christmas Celebrations in Florida: Disney Festivities to Festive Boat Parades

Trade pine trees for palm trees and spend Christmas in Florida. Here are the top events and things to do this holiday season.

Despite the absence of snow, the Sunshine State is still a very merry place to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Winter is an ideal time to visit Florida because the weather is simply glorious; while the northern and central parts of the state can get chilly (but never cold enough to snow), its southern half offers mild temperatures and bright, sunny days. It’s also a great time to take advantage of Florida’s many great resorts.

If you’re sick of the cold and are happy to trade pine trees for palm trees — and the white stuff for white sand — here are our favorite ways to celebrate the holiday season in Florida.

Go to Nights of Lights in St. Augustine

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the U.S., founded by Spanish colonists in 1565. It’s also one of the most festive places. Stay in the historic district during Nights of Lights and enjoy strolling its colorful streets while three million lights bring it to life. The display runs from mid-November through the end of January each year. Aside from the many seasonal tours available via train, trolley, boat, or helicopter, you can shop the city’s boutiques, which are often festooned with seasonal decor, and dine outdoors — yes, even in winter — within view of the impressive illuminations.

Celebrate with Mickey at Walt Disney World

It doesn’t get better than the “Most Magical Place on Earth” at the most wonderful time of the year. The jolliest event of the season, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, takes place on certain nights in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park from early November until just before Christmas. You’ll find exclusive attractions like Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration at Cinderella Castle. All the usual attractions will also be decked out for the season, and you’ll find plenty of themed food, drinks, and merchandise to remember your holiday visit by.

While the other Walt Disney World theme parks (Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) have special events planned for the season, the most notable is Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays. Here, you can sample seasonal dishes and hear stories about unique Christmas traditions across the globe as you visit the 11 countries of its World Showcase — Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, the United States, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and Mexico.

Check out the holiday festivities at other Florida theme parks

Christmas is also a major event nearby at Universal Orlando Resort, featuring Grinchmas — a show based on “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” — and a special holiday parade showcasing popular floats from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For a delightful experience, visit both parks to enjoy Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with festive decor and performances in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida and in Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Don’t forget to warm up with a hot mug of (non-alcoholic) Butterbeer at either location.

Plan a day trip to Busch Gardens’ Christmas Town (about a 90-minute drive away in Tampa) to check out themed offerings like the Holly Jolly Express train, Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland, and Santa’s North Pole Experience. If you have time and little Lego fans, visit Holidays at Legoland in Winter Haven (around an hour’s drive from Orlando) for a photo op with its famous Lego Christmas tree and to meet Lego Santa.

See the Sandi Tree in West Palm Beach

Your town might put up a giant Christmas tree in the middle of Main Street every year, but only in West Palm Beach will you find a 35-foot, 700-ton tree made entirely of sand. The Sandi Tree is the star of the city’s Holiday in Paradise celebrations, which take over the waterfront each December. Expect fun holiday happenings including smaller Christmas-themed sand sculptures, photo ops, and regional bands. Stick around after dark, when nightly light displays featuring synchronized music are projected onto the carved sand, starting at a quarter past every hour between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. (or until midnight on New Year’s Eve).

Mail Your Holiday Cards from Christmas

Did you know there’s a town in Florida called Christmas? While there aren’t many attractions to explore, there is one point of interest that draws many visitors each year: a post office with a stamp cancellation proudly bearing its name. If you’re in Florida for the holidays, it’s worth the drive to this spot about a half hour from Orlando to mail your holiday cards and ensure each recipient on your list receives an extra-special season’s greeting.

Explore Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami

Forget cozy pajamas and staying home for the holidays. Miami is home to the world’s largest holiday theme park, Santa’s Enchanted Forest, which boasts more than 100 rides, shows, and games. You’ll also find a number of attractions, like Mistletoe Lane, Christmas karaoke, South Florida’s tallest Christmas tree, life-size holiday displays, and a spectacular light show.

If you opt to spend Christmas in Miami, there are plenty of other things to see and do during the holidays. Take in a holiday-themed evening stroll — Historic Holiday Décor: Holidays in Wonderland, A Lewis Carroll Story — at the historic Deering Estate (Dec. 1 and Dec. 13, 2023). You can also catch a performance by the Miami City Ballet of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 8–30, 2023), check out Zoo Lights Miami (select nights Nov. 24–Dec. 30, 2023), or indulge in delicious cinnamon rolls from Knaus Berry Farm — while you may wait in line for at least an hour, that first bite makes it all worth it.

Watch a Holiday Boat Parade

Many big cities and small towns up and down the coasts of Florida organize holiday boat parades. This fun Christmastime activity includes hundreds of boats decked out in full holiday regalia parading along a waterway, often in support of a good local cause. Some of the most popular boat parades in the state include the 12-mile Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale (Dec. 16, 2023), the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade in Jupiter (Dec. 2, 2023), and the Jacksonville Light Boat Parade along the St. Johns River on Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 25, 2023).

See the Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach

This Cocoa Beach tradition is one of the jolliest in Florida. Each year, the Surfing Santas — a group of surfers dressed as the man himself — gather to hit the waves or paddle around on their stand-up paddleboards on Christmas Eve morning. It’s a sight to behold, and a perfectly Floridian way to kick off the holiday.

Experience Enchant in St. Petersburg

Christmas lights enthusiasts of all ages won’t want to miss Enchant, an annual holiday spectacular held in St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field ballpark from late November through December. Enjoy a relaxing stroll through the light maze, shop for arts and crafts at the winter village, take a spin on the ice skating trail, sip seasonal beverages, and have your photo taken with Santa. Family-of-four ticket packages are available, as are special discounts for active duty military members and veterans, groups of 10 or more, and those willing to visit during the last two hours on select nights.

Celebrate in Victorian Style at Dickens on Centre

Each year in early December, downtown Fernandina Beach, located about 40 minutes from Jacksonville on Amelia Island, celebrates the start of the holiday season with a Dickens-inspired festival that transforms the city into a scene from Victorian London. Get into the spirit by dressing up for the annual costume party, having your photo taken with Jolly Old St. Nick, and letting kids blow off some steam in Tiny Tim’s Kid Zone. There’s also a night parade, a dog-friendly fun run, and the crowd-favorite, the Parade of Paws, featuring pups decked out in their best Victorian attire. The festivities began in 2014 to honor the city’s British heritage — Amelia Island was named for King George II’s daughter during the period when the area was still under English rule.

Check out the Christkindlmarkt in Lake Worth

If you can’t make it across the pond to one of Germany’s renowned Christmas markets this year, Lake Worth’s annual Christkindlmarkt is the next best thing. Hosted by the American German Club of the Palm Beaches in early December, you can indulge in traditional foods (like schnitzel and bratwurst) and beverages including schnapps and glühwein (spiced mulled wine). Participate in a lantern parade, enjoy a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, see performances by German folk dancers, and sing along with the choir to your favorite holiday hits.

Enjoy Winterfest in Pensacola

Pensacola’s annual Winterfest occurs downtown on select days from late November until just before Christmas. Starting in the early evening, you can catch a delightful holiday-themed show at the corner of Palafox Place and Government Street every 15 minutes until 8 p.m. Reserve a spot to have your photo taken with Santa or the Grinch. The primary attraction, however, is the event’s themed open-air trolley tours: One is based on “The Polar Express,” including a tap-dancing performance on the steps of the courthouse, a cup of hot cocoa, and a 20-minute musical journey. Others are inspired by “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “A Christmas Carol,” featuring costumed characters and plenty of photo opportunities.

Make Sand Angels

If you start feeling green with envy when friends and family post their pictures of cozy fireside moments, head straight to the beach and make a few sand angels. Trust us, you’ll feel better.