That time is here once again: Start shopping for gifts, preparing to host family, and cramming in all the holiday happenings you can before the end of 2024. We may not get the weather to go along with it, but there are plenty of ways to get in your festive feels this holiday season.

From snowfalls to twinkle lights to ice skating and more, here are Orlando’s best ways to get holly, jolly and bright. 

Christmas at the Gaylord Palms 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee Various dates Though not a theme park, Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee is known for having theme park-level attractions and entertainment and for being a destination vacation spot during the holidays with activities like a naughty or nice escape room, a scavenger hunt, photos with Santa and more. It’s also one of the few places that Floridians can experience true winter temperatures. Credit: Photo via Gaylord Palms/Facebook
Creative City Project’s Dazzling Nights 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando Nov. 29-Jan. 5 This family-friendly event transforms Leu Gardens into a stunning winter wonderland featuring twinkly lights, shining forests, magical displays, music and festive sculptures. Credit: Photo via Creative City Project
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration SeaWorld Orlando Through Jan. 5 SeaWorld Orlando’s popular Christmas Celebration features a slate of holiday shows, live entertainment, immersive decor and snow flurries on the Waterfront. Popular attractions include the “O Wondrous Night” stage show retelling the story of Christmas through life-sized puppets and animal actors and “Mrs. Claus’ Magic Kitchen” cooking show. There’s also the Sea of Trees in the park’s lagoon, ice skating at Bayside Stadium, meet-and-greets with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus, and the Holiday Reflections Fireworks Finale every night. Credit: Photo via SeaWorld
Christmas Wonderland at Dezerland Park 5250 International Drive, Orlando Nov. 29-Dec. 24 Dezerland Park is now home to a synthetic “ice” skating rink at the iconic I-Drive destination, where the whole family can skate together at their own pace in a comfortable environment for everyone. All season long, visitors can also explore the Holiday Village and enjoy hot cocoa, warm spiced apple cider and other holiday treats from Dezerland’s Food Hall. Credit: Photo via Dezerland Park
Severt’s Tree Lot Multiple locations including Sanford, Lake Mary, Kissimmee and Winter Garden Open daily starting Nov. 23 This family-owned Christmas tree farm offers tons of tree varieties and a fun, festive experience at several lots across Florida. Credit: Photo via Severt's Tree Farm/Facebook

Lake Nona’s “Oh, What Fun!” holiday festival

6955 Tavistock Lakes Boulevard, Orlando
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays Dec. 6-22
Lake Nona’s “Oh, What Fun!” holiday event features nightly “snowfalls,” live entertainment, holiday photo-ops and Santa meet-and-greets. Credit: Photo via Lake Nona/Facebook
Disney Jollywood Nights Disney’s Hollywood Studios Through Dec. 21 Hollywood Studios brought back its ticketed Christmas event this year through Dec. 21. Like Mickey’s Party, Jollywood Nights also has exclusive character experiences, merchandise, food and entertainment. New this year is “Glisten!” — a skating show on Hollywood Boulevard featuring a holiday soundtrack of original songs and Disney favorites. There’s also a Pixar Disco dance party, “The Muppet Christmas Carol” photo moment inside the Stage 1 Company Store and more in store. Credit: Photo via Disney Jollywood Nights
Josario’s Christmas Trees 300 E. Michigan St., Orlando Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Josario’s Christmas Trees, family-owned and operated since 1994, was started by Jose Rivas to support his family while he attended law school. The business has grown into a family tradition and now operates at two locations in Central Florida, one in Orlando and one in Oviedo. The spot specializes in Fraser fir Christmas trees and handmade wreaths. Credit: Photo via Josario's Christmas Trees
Gaylord Palms’ ICE: “Elf” 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee Through Jan. 4 The beloved ICE attraction is back at Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee. This year’s exhibit brings 2003’s Elf to frigid life. Inside, guests don parkas to walk through the chilly 9-degree experience that re-creates iconic characters and scenes from the movie — including the elf classroom in the North Pole, Gimbels toy shop, the snowball fight in Central Park, Mr. Narwhal and more. Credit: Photo via Gaylord Palms/Facebook
Holidays at Universal Orlando 6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando Nov. 22 through Dec. 31 Holiday festivities at Universal Orlando return on Nov. 22 and run through Dec. 31 at both parks and CityWalk. That includes Grinchmas in Islands of Adventure, Christmas in the Wizarding World, the Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, a new Holiday Tribute Store and new menus of festive treats. Credit: Photo via Universal Orlando/Facebook

Kelly’s Christmas Trees

1401 S. Hiawassee Road, Orlando
Open now until trees run out
This tree lot specializes in tall Northern trees, selling trees up to 20 feet tall for those looking for a very dramatic Christmas vibe. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. until trees run out. Credit: Photo via Kelly's Christmas Trees tree lot/Facebook
Winter Wonder DeLand Downtown DeLand Dec. 6 through Jan. 2 This month-long holiday celebration offers festive lighting displays, ice skating, Santa’s Workshop, Christmas crafts for kids, live music performances and more (like the chance to watch Santa skydive down to the Downtown DeLand tree). Credit: Photo via DeLand/Facebook
The Santa Workshop Experience at Icon Park 8375 International Drive, Orlando Dates open: Nov. 10 through Dec. 24; open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cost: $20-$60 Icon Park’s Santa photo-op experience is one of the most popular in the area, plus it comes with a free ride on The Wheel. Credit: Photo via Icon Park/Facebook
Amber Brooke Farms’ Winter Fest 36111 County Road 44A, Eustis Various dates through December The farm’s most wonderful time of year offers Santa photo-ops, a winter wonderland with snow flurries, treats like hot chocolate, seasonal music, and even the chance to pick your own strawberries and sunflowers. Credit: Photo via Amber Brooke Farms/Facebook
Holidays at Legoland 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven Nov. 29-Dec. 31 Holidays at Legoland presented by Hallmark Channel returns Nov. 29 and runs select dates through Dec. 31. The biggest (literally) new attraction this year is the Lego Christmas Tree — made of nearly 365,000 Lego and Duplo bricks and towering over 30 feet high. There are also dozens of Lego holiday displays, a life-sized Lego sleigh with reindeer, a giant Lego wreath and Lego Santa, gingerbread man, snowman and nutcracker. Miniland USA also gets in the holiday spirit with festive decor. Credit: Photo via Legoland/Facebook
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Through December This annual ticketed event is a Christmas sensory overload at Magic Kingdom. Mickey’s after-hours Christmas party promises low ride wait times, strolling for cookies and cocoa around the park, meet-and-greets with characters in their holiday outfits, exclusive holiday treats and merchandise, and a dizzying amount of live entertainment. Credit: Photo via Disney Parks

Celebration’s Now Snowing Festival

Between Highway 192 and I-4 near Walt Disney World
Nov. 30-Dec. 31
Celebration’s “Now Snowing” offers a synthetic ice rink, plus community performances by local young talent and special concert events throughout the holiday season. Credit: Photo via Celebration/Facebook
Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays Disney World’s Epcot Through December Over at the prototype community of tomorrow, the Festival of the Holidays showcases wintertime traditions from around the world. Stroll through festive decor and hear holiday tales from storytellers at select countries in World Showcase, like Norway’s Barn Santa and Italy’s La Befana. Indulge in classic and cultural food fare at outdoor kitchens around the park, and partake in the popular Christmas cookie stroll to take home a sweet souvenir. Credit: Photo via Disney Parks
Santa Photo Experience at the Mall at Millenia 4200 Conroy Road, Orlando Now through December Take some time out of your Christmas shopping to meet and take photos with Santa Claus at the Mall at Millenia. There’s also a mailbox for depositing those wish lists. Advance reservations are required for photos and visits, so make sure to check out the website before making your way down to Santa’s setup. Credit: Photo via Mall at Millenia/Facebook

Ocala National Forest Christmas Tree U-Pick

just off Highway 40 in Silver Springs
Through December
Just north of Orlando, you can roll up your sleeves and cut down your very own Christmas tree in the Ocala National Forest. All that’s required is a $10 permit that can be purchased online plus some elbow grease. Credit: Photo via U.S. Government Recreation/Website
Gatorland’s Ho Ho Ho-Down 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando Dates not yet announced for 2024 Gatorland’s Ho Ho Ho-Down holiday event features Christmas-themed set-ups, music, festive food and plenty of wild photo-ops. Credit: Photo via Gatorland/Facebook

Ciro and Sons Christmas Trees

Three locations across Central Florida including Orlando, Winter Garden and Lake Nona
Hours differ across locations
The story of Ciro and Sons began in Claire, Michigan, in 1965, when Ciro’s father came up with the idea to provide quality trees in the Central Florida area. A few decades later, Ciro is still committed to the same mission with his sons working alongside him. Credit: Ciro and Sons Christmas Trees/Facebook

Give Kids the World Village

210 S. Bass Road, Kissimmee
Select dates through December
Hosted at the 89-acre GKTW facility, Give Kids the World holiday events offer guests the chance to enjoy escorted VIP tours to select venues on the Avenue of Angels, view a dazzling tree trail, explore holiday vignettes and take festive photos. Credit: Photo via Give Kids the World/Facebook
Credit: Photo via Gaylord Palms/Facebook

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