‘Tis the season to enjoy a slight chill in the Florida breeze and to get in all the festive feels while you can. We definitely won’t be seeing a white Christmas this year, but Orlandoans still have a whole city filled with holiday events to explore.
From ice skating to holiday parties to tree lightings and festive alligator feedings, here are all the Christmas bucket list activities you can do in Orlando this season.
530 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora
Select dates through Dec. 31
Keep the celebration going throughout the entire month of December in festive Mount Dora. With activities like Snow in the Park, the Lighted Boat Parade and Christmas at the Market, there are plenty of ways to remain cheery and bright through the season. Credit: Courtesy photoThe Santa Workshop Experience at ICON Park
(8375 International Drive Orlando, Florida 32819; 407-601-7907)
Dates open: November 5 – December 24; Dec. 3 – 24: open 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Cost: $20 – $60 Credit:Photo via Icon Park/Facebook
16313 New Independence Parkway, Orlando Throughout December Santa’s Winter Wonderland is open once again this holiday season, featuring Santa’s Workshop, holiday foods and thousands of Christmas lights and displays. Credit: Photo via Santa's Winter Wonderland Village/Facebook
421 Broadway, Kissimmee Through December Kissimmee’s Historic Downtown will be covered with holiday decor and lights. Make sure to check out their Puerto Rican Parranda Pa’l Pueblo, a Christmas tradition that boasts great food, music and drinks. Credit: Photo via City of Kissimmee/Facebook
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
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/FacebookHoliday happenings at Dezerland Park
5250 International Drive, Orlando
Dates open: Select dates Dec. 2-17
Cost: 15 minutes of skating for $7.95, 30 minutes for $13.95 per person
Dezerland Park is now home to a synthetic “ice” skating rink at the iconic I-Drive destination. 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 courtesy Dezerland ParkChristmas at the Gaylord Palms
6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee
ICE! Returns to Gaylord Palms this season, complete with masterful ice sculptures and slides. This year’s event is themed to A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring characters, scenes and other holiday vignettes carved out of 2 million pounds of clear and colored ice to fill the 20,000-square-foot attraction. In this year’s exhibit, you’ll see the story come to life, including Charlie Brown’s sad Christmas tree, Lucy’s psychiatric help stand, the auditorium where the kids do their holiday dance and other classic scenes. Credit: Photo via Gaylord Palms/FacebookICE: “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee
Dates open: Nov. 17 – Jan. 3
Cost: Tickets are $22.99 for kids and $32.99 for adults
The most popular event at Gaylord Palms is ICE, a 20,000-square-foot walk-through exhibit filled with characters, slides and decor carved from 2 million pounds of ice. Since it’s a literal frozen attraction, ICE is kept at a frigid 9 degrees. Thick socks, gloves, hats and Gaylord Palms-provided blue parkas are highly recommended. This year’s theme is “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” in which classic Peanuts characters and scenes come to life. Credit: Photo via Gaylord PalmsThe Fye’s Christmas House
407 Eagle Circle, Casselberry
The Fye’s Crazy Christmas House has nearly 50,000 lights, a music light show and a sleigh, perfect for a photo op. There’s even a mailbox waiting to be stuffed with letters to Santa
Photo via The Fye’s Christmas House/FacebookDinos in Lights at the Orlando Science Center
777 E. Princeton St., Orlando
Head over to the Orlando Science Center to catch your favorite prehistoric pals decked out in festive holiday lights. This shimmering display is available every 30 minutes between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Credit: Photo via Orlando Science Center/Facebook
100 N. Country Club Road, Lake Mary Throughout December Hosted at Central Park, the Christmas celebration will include a holiday tree lighting ceremony, dancing light show and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. There will also be plenty of activities such as a winter maze, balloon artists, holiday carolers, food vendors and more throughout the holiday season. Credit: Photo via Lake Mary/FacebookCreative City Project’s Dazzling Nights
Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando
Dates open: Nov. 17 through Jan. 6, 2024
Cost: Tickets start at $15
This family-friendly event transforms Leu Gardens into a stunning winter wonderland featuring dazzling lights, shining forests, magical displays, music and festive sculptures. Credit: Photo via Creative City ProjectLake Nona’s “Oh, What Fun!” holiday festival
Lake Nona Town Center, 6955 Tavistock Lakes Blvd., Orlando
Dates open: Dec. 7 through Dec. 23
Cost: Ticketed activities range from free to $20
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
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
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/FacebookA Merry Winter Garden Light Show
300 W. Plant St., Winter Garden
Winter Garden’s downtown center will be covered in wreaths, lights and trees as it rings in the holiday season. Throughout the holiday they’ll have festive farmers markets, a golf cart Christmas parade and horse-drawn carriage tours. Credit: Photo via We Are Winter Garden/Facebook
8375 International Drive, Orlando Through December The 50-foot tall tree on I-Drive is worth braving the deepest pits of tourist hell. For one night, guests can see the tree’s actual lighting, before it lights up the area for the holiday season. Credit: Photo via International Drive/FacebookLake Nona’s ‘Oh, What Fun’ Holiday Festival
6955 Tavistock Lakes Blvd., Lake Nona
Pay a visit to the Lake Nona Town Center Evergreen Tree Trail, Santa’s cottage and starlight stage from Dec. 7 to 23. Don’t miss a chance to capture the perfect family photo in front of a 24-foot Christmas tree at Peppermint Square. Credit: Photo via Lake Nona/Facebook
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/FacebookSeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration
7007 SeaWorld Drive, Orlando
Dates open: Nov. 10 through Jan. 2, 2024
Cost: Park tickets $55-$78, event upgrades range from free to $55
The coaster- and sea life-filled park gets turned into a winter wonderland with millions of lights, holiday decor, live entertainment and pop-up kitchens serving festive and cozy fare. Christmas Celebration features shows like “O Wondrous Night,” the Holiday Reflections fireworks finale, Elmo’s Christmas Wish show and Sesame Street Christmas Parade and Christmas movie at the Seafire Grill. There are also snow flurries at the Waterfront, the Sea of Trees in the lagoon, Winter Wonderland on Ice show and visits with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus himself. Credit: Photo via SeaWorld/FacebookHolidays at Universal Orlando
6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando
Holidays at Universal kicks off on Nov. 17, with many experiences running daily through Dec. 31 at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. This year, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter gets a twinkly makeover, there will be a Hogwarts castle show, and of course the park’s Macy’s parade, all illuminated by festive lights. Credit: Photo via Universal Orlando
Lake Eola Park, 195 N. Rosalind Ave. Through December Orlando’s 64-foot Christmas tree will be lit up and adorned with 2,000 ornaments at Lake Eola’s Washington plaza. Keep a look out for holiday performances at the Walt Disney Amphitheater, as well as food trucks, a holiday market, vendor village, Santa visits, Florida “snowfall” and more. Credit: Photo via Lake Eola Park/Facebook
