Florida Events in December: 15 Celebrations Full of Christmas Fun!
We love Florida events in December because so many of them are also Christmas celebrations. It’s hard to beat the cheery atmosphere of the holidays! Combine that with a sprinkle of Sunshine State goodness, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the most delightful months of the entire year.
Many of the theme parks are decked out in decorations and have exclusive holiday-themed snacks, characters, and activities. There are also some excellent local festivals and one-night-only holiday performances we think you’ll really enjoy.
Let’s get this Christmas party started!
Fun-filled Florida Events in December
There’s a lot happening in our fair state this month, and several Florida festivals are centered around the holidays! Most theme parks in the area are hosting some kind of holiday bash, but there are also some really fun independent festivals as well! While some events are a little pricey, others are surprisingly budget-friendly or even free. We hope there’s something on our list to pique your interest and get you into the holiday spirit!
1. Holiday Nights at H20 Waterpark (Give Kids the World)
November 8 – December 10 (Wednesdays through Sundays), December 13 – 31 (nightly)
Night of a Million Lights is one of our favorite Florida events in December, and this year, it’s being revamped into “Holiday Nights” at the snazzy H20 Waterpark! As always, a portion of the proceeds will be going to Give Kids the World, an outstanding charity that provides week-long wish vacations to terminally ill children and their families at no charge.
This all-new event will include neon light displays, interactive experiences for the kids, live performances, tasty holiday treats, and more! Admission is $34.99 for adults and $29.99 for the kiddos. We’re so excited for this holiday H20/Give Kids the World collab and can’t wait to visit!
2. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
November 9 – December 22 (select nights)
Ongoing from last month, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a highly anticipated event in the Magic Kingdom. This after-hours celebration has it all: parades, fireworks, delicious holiday snacks, character meet and greets (Mickey and Minnie are dressed in their cutest Christmas outfits!), as well as the opportunity to enjoy holiday versions of your favorite rides. (For example, Jungle Cruise becomes the Jingle Cruise!)
You do NOT need a regular admissions ticket to enter this evening-only event (unless you want to spend the day at the park beforehand), but the necessary Christmas Party tickets do sell out quickly. If you have your heart set on this holiday bash, we recommend grabbing your tickets from Mickey ASAP!
3. SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
November 10 – January 2
Another ongoing theme park soiree, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is an incredibly fun time to visit the park. Glittering with millions of Christmas lights, SeaWorld comes alive with a gorgeous glow after dusk.
During the day, there are also special performances, like an ice-skating show, a Sesame Street play, and our personal favorite, O Wondrous Night, the biblical Christmas story told with animals! There are also fireworks, opportunities to meet Santa, and lots of yummy snacks.
These Christmastime extras are included with your regular SeaWorld admission. However, certain shows may only be available on certain days, so be sure to check SeaWorld’s official calendar when scheduling your visit.
4. Christmas at Gaylord Palms Resort
November 17 – January 3
Gaylord Palms isn’t just a fancy hotel. It’s also the location of one of the coolest Florida events in December!
With their annual “ICE!” display, Gaylord Palms brings a touch of the frozen north to the Sunshine State, which really helps us get into the Christmas spirit! This year’s colorful, life-sized ice sculptures are recreating scenes from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
You can also interact with the snow and ice firsthand when you “ice tube” down Snow Flow Mountain or craft snowballs and engage in target practice at the Snow Factory! Less chilly activities include gingerbread house decorating, stories with Mrs. Claus, meeting Santa, The Greatest Story stage show, and so much more!
5. Nights of Lights St. Augustine
November 18 – January 31
If you’re easily enchanted by shiny things, then Nights of Lights in St. Augustine is for you! Covering the historic district of the Nation’s Oldest City, this incredible light display is definitely one of the top Florida events in December, and it’s also one of the top holiday displays in the world.
Over three million lights will twinkle to life every evening. You’re welcome to walk through dazzling downtown for FREE, or you can book a trolley, train, yacht, or even helicopter tour of the sparkling spectacle.
Businesses stay open late during Nights of Lights, so you can also grab a delicious dinner or do some holiday shopping, all beneath the magical glow of Christmas lights.
6. EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
November 24 – December 30
Ongoing from November, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is a fan-favorite fest for this park. The outdoor holiday kitchens are serving up delectable bites from around the world as holiday storytellers share their own Christmastime legends, dances, and songs.
The most iconic part of this park-wide celebration is the Candlelight Processional. This performance alone makes it one of our favorite Florida festivals of the entire year. An enormous choir and orchestra perform classic Christmas carols as a celebrity narrator reads the biblical Christmas narrative. This year’s guest list includes Neil Patrick Harris, Brendan Fraser, Simu Liu, and many more!
Festival admission is included with your regular park ticket, though portions of the festival, like scavenger hunts, may have a small fee.
7. Holidays at LEGOLAND
November 24 – December 31 (select days)
LEGOLAND has been busy building one of the best Florida Christmas events. Holidays at LEGOLAND puts a Christmastime twist on the usual park activities, including the decor, shows, and snacks!
You’ll find a towering LEGO Christmas tree that’s perfect for family pictures; it also doubles as a 360-degree light show when the sun goes down! Speaking of pictures, you’ll want to snap a few “elfies” with the exclusive holiday LEGO characters like LEGO Santa, LEGO Gingerbread Man, and Holiday UniKitty. Don’t forget to catch the holiday live shows and partake in those tasty treats! These activities are included with your regular LEGOLAND admission. Just be sure to check the park’s schedule to ensure the extravaganza will be going on when you visit, as it only takes place on select days (mostly weekends).
8. White Christmas at Athens Theatre (DeLand)
November 26 – December 17 (select nights)
There’s nothing more classically Christmas than Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. That’s why we were thrilled to see it being presented by Athens Theatre in DeLand, Florida (located between Orlando and Daytona Beach). This performance of White Christmas is happening on select evenings at 7:30 p.m., making it the perfect holiday date night! Tickets are $35.00 for adults.
Based on the famous film starring Bing Crosby, the musical production will follow the story of two WWII veterans and a pair of singing sisters as they journey to Vermont. Love is in the air as they make their way to a ski lodge owned by the veterans’ retired General, but they’re shocked to discover the lodge is on the brink of closing. Can they do something to save their friend’s business? Or will the General’s livelihood slip away, along with the veterans’ possibility of romance?
Featuring classic songs including “White Christmas,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” and the oh-so-catchy “Sisters” ditty, this holiday story is sure to enrapture the whole family! Full of dancing, laughter, and romance, it’s a holly jolly performance you won’t want to miss!
9. Siesta Beach Seafood & Music Festival
December 1 – 3
A list of Florida events in December – or any time of the year – wouldn’t be complete without a bite of seafood! Thankfully, the good folks of Sarasota have us covered with the Annual Siesta Beach Seafood & Music Festival.
Located at the Siesta Key Pavilion, the wide variety of seafood is locally sourced and cooked fresh on-site to create the best-tasting bites! There will also be live music performances and arts and crafts booths. Admission to the festival is FREE, though you may want to plan on spending a bit of cash if you wish to purchase anything from the booths.
10. Riptide Music Festival (Fort Lauderdale Beach)
December 2 & 3
Head on down to Fort Lauderdale Beach for an incredibly fun wintertime concert! Featuring several different artists over the course of two days – and two stages! – you can jam out to your heart’s content at the Riptide Music Festival.
The Black Keys, Jellyroll, and Bleachers are just a few of the artists you’ll get to hear at this Alternative and Classic Hits festival. Good vibes and great music are the ultimate combo for a perfect beach weekend! 2-day tickets start at $109.
11. Holidays at Universal Orlando
Ongoing throughout winter
Not be outdone by the other theme parks, Universal Orlando also hosts some of the most fun Florida Christmas events. During Holidays at Universal, you can experience the Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s balloons, special Wizarding World festivities, and a seasonal performance of the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular!
Christmas in the Wizarding World is particularly special for Harry Potter fans as Hogwarts castle will be illuminated by a special light show, and Flitwick’s Frog Choir will be performing magical carols. Grinchmas is also irresistibly funny, and we recommend attending the show if you’re in the Seuss Landing area!
12. Pentatonix: The Most Wonderful Tour of the Year (Orlando)
December 13
Among the many amazing Florida Christmas events, there is a one-night-only concert that we just couldn’t resist putting on our list. Pentatonix will be in town for their Most Wonderful Tour of the Year!
Pentatonix is a Grammy-winning a capella group known for its innovative sound. Using nothing but their own vocal cords, the five members put together complex arrangements of their favorite songs. “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Hallelujah,” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” have never sounded so cool!
The event will be held at the Amway Center, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary greatly depending on seat placement (anywhere from $21.00 to $245.00). As of writing, many sections of the Amway Center have already sold out, so grab your own tickets ASAP if you plan to go!
13. Candlelight (Miami)
December 14 – 23 (select nights and differing programs)
There’s no shortage of amazing musical Florida events in December, but one that is particularly unique is Candlelight in Miami. Surrounded by nothing but sound and the soft glow of candlelight, you can let your favorite music whisk you away for the evening!
There are several different Candlelight events happening throughout the month of December:
- Dec. 14 @ The Berry Farm: Holiday Jazz and Soul Classics feat. Ella Fitzgerald
- Dec. 15 – 16 @ Miami Scottish Rite: Holiday Special featuring “The Nutcracker” and More
- Dec. 17 @ Miami Scottish Rite: The Best of Metallica and Schubert
- Dec. 17 @ Coral Gables Congregational Church: A Tribute to Linkin Park
- Dec. 21 @ Jungle Island: Holiday Jazz and Soul Classics feat. Ella Fitzgerald
- Dec. 22 – 23 @ Loews Coral Gables Hotel: Holiday Special featuring “The Nutcracker” and More
14. The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade
December 16
Celebrating its 52nd year, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade will drift along the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Participants range from private boats to show boats to megayachts, and each one will be decked out in thousands of lights and feature a mix of music, performers, and celebrities on board. This 12-mile parade garners around one million viewers who are able to enjoy the floating extravaganza for FREE!
15. NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet (Jacksonville)
December 27
Going to see The Nutcracker is a time-honored winter tradition, and that goes for Florida events in December, too! That’s why the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville is putting on the NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet.
With an outstanding international cast and Ukrainian Principal Artists performing at the top of their class in traditional European ballet, you’re in for a breathtaking show. With physics-defying acrobatics, handcrafted sets, costumes, and spectacular puppets, it’s a performance the whole family is sure to enjoy.
There are so many must-experience Florida events in December that it’s difficult to choose which ones to prioritize! Hopefully, you found a few activities on this list that you’re excited to experience.
Which Florida festivals are you looking forward to the most? Have you been to one of these events before? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
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