COUNTY-BY-COUNTY GUIDE: Central Florida holiday events to get in the spirit this 2024 season

ORLANDO, Fla. – The time to take in the cool nights and enjoy holiday lights is finally here!

From markets to festivals to drive-through displays, the options are endless when it comes to holiday fun.

If you have any events you’d like added to the list, please send information to web@wkmg.com.

[RELATED: Where to find Christmas lights twinkling around Central Florida]

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Brevard County

Holiday Market and Snowfest

• When: Nov. 22-23
• Where: Melbourne Auditorium
• What: Holiday spirit awaits you at this holiday tradition in the making. Vendors will be selling that perfect gift for you to put under the tree. Event will include shopping, food, Kids zone $5 (Friday only - includes snow slide, Santa, cookie decorating), and so much more. Click here for more.

Light Up Viera Christmas Parade

• When: Nov. 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Near Viera High School
• What: Forty decorated floats will take off and end in a “stunning holiday fireworks display” along Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Stadium Parkway and Bresley Drive, according to the sheriff’s office. To learn more, click here.

Light Up Rockledge & Festival of Trees

• When: Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Where: Rockledge Civic Hub
• What: Free event featuring a Christmas tree stroll, food trucks, live music and more. Click here to learn more.

Cocoa Village Holiday Boat Parade

• When: Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Where: Cocoa Village
• What: Check out boats decked out for the holidays as they compete for awards. Click here for more.

Christmas in the Park

• When: Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Community Center
• What: Come celebrate the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Santa’s Workshop, choral performances, arts and crafts, and refreshments. Click here for more.

Holidays in Space

• When: Dec. 20-30
• Where: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
• What: Enjoy festive holiday decor, a 50-foot tree, the NASA meatball-turned-holiday-ornament and more. Click here to check out more and tickets.

Flagler County

Palm Coast Tree Lighting Ceremony

• When: Nov. 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Central Park Town Center
• Join Santa Claus, the Palm Coast City Council, and the Rotary Club of Flagler County for a night of festivities and merriment. Santa will arrive on a Palm Coast Fire Engine! There will be food trucks, Santa’s Village, Letters to Santa station, limited edition 25th anniversary Christmas ornament giveaway (while supplies last), and kids crafts. Photos with Santa will be on-site. Click here for more.

Fantasy Lights Festival

• When: Nov. 30-Dec. 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Central Park Town Center
• What: Every night will feature 56 animated light displays and music throughout the park. Santa’s Village has several elf houses for the kids to explore, Santa’s Merry Train Ride offers rides nightly and more. Click here to see all the details.

Lake County

Light Up Mount Dora

• When: Nov. 23 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Donnelly Park
• This beloved event promises festive fun, dazzling lights, and entertainment for all ages across three parks. Click here to see schedule.

Light Up Eustis

• When: Nov. 29 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Ferran Park
• What: Enjoy food and craft vendors in the park, FREE pictures with Santa and more. Click here for timing.

Leesburg Christmas Festival & Parade

• When: Dec. 7 at 1 p.m.
• Where: Leesburg Towne Square
• What: Enjoy delicious food and warm drinks to fill your holiday spirit. There will also be free ice skating, free face painting, and free photos with Santa—making this a day full of family fun! Don’t miss the special guest appearance from The Grinch—ready to spread both cheer and mischief. Click here for more.

Lady Lake ‘A Storybook Christmas’ Parade

• When: Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Where: Old Dixie Highway
• The Town of Lady Lake’s charming Smalltown Christmas Parade, themed “A Storybook Christmas,” will bring beloved holiday tales to life with festive floats and cheerful music. Click here for more.

Light Up Lady Lake

• When: Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where: Veterans Park
• What: Step into a winter wonderland as we light up Lady Lake with thousands of lights. Enjoy pictures with Santa, live entertainment, choirs, bounce houses, food trucks and more. Click here for event details.

Marion County

Light Up Ocala

• When: Nov. 23 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where: Downtown Ocala
• What: Light Up Ocala will have over 100 vendors including crafts, art and plenty of food options to choose from! Live entertainment will fill the air with festive sounds and an interactive kids zone will keep the whole family entertained. Click here to learn more.

Winter Wonderland spectacular at the World Equestrian Center

• When: Nov. 29-Dec. 23
• Where: World Equestrian Center
• What: Holiday season spirit is taking over the Grand Plaza with more than a million Christmas lights, larger-than-life ornaments, a Christmas tree 60-foot tall and more. Click here for details.

Symphony Under the Lights

• When: Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Tuscawilla Park
• What: Complimentary holiday concert. Bring chairs, a blanket, some hot chocolate and enjoy the sounds of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, joined by the Ocala Youth Symphony, for holiday favorites. Click here for more.

Downtown Ocala Christmas Golf Cart Parade

• When: Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Where: Downtown Ocala
• What: Check out decked out golf carts taking over downtown for the annual event. Click here for more.

Ocala Christmas Parade

• When: Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
• Where: The route begins at the intersection of SE 25th Avenue and Ft. King Street, moving North to E Silver Springs Blvd. It turns left/West onto the Boulevard and goes 1.6 miles to NE 8th Avenue. The parade then turns right/North onto 8th Avenue, ending at NE 3rd Street, just before Tuscawilla Park.
• What: Celebrate the holiday season with festive fun! Click here to learn more.

Orange County

Dazzling Nights

• When: Nov. 29-Jan. 5
• Where: Leu Gardens
• What: A million twinkling lights will once again cover Orlando’s Leu Gardens, bringing guests into an immersive winter experience this holiday season. Click here for everything you need to know.

College Park Holiday on the Drive

• When: Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Edgewater Drive
• What: This enchanting event offers something for everyone - from activities for the little ones to an artisan vendor village for unique holiday gift hunting. Santa will be there to spread cheer, and the air will be alive with music and entertainment. Click here for more.

Oh, What Fun! Lake Nona Holiday Festival

• When: Dec. 6-22
• Where: Lake Nona Town Center
• What: Watch as Lake Nona Town Center transforms into a winter wonderland, known as Peppermint Square, with a calendar full of celebrations and events. Click here for the full lineup.

Orlando 2024 Tree Lighting Celebration

• When: Dec. 6 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Lake Eola Park
• What: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer invites Central Florida residents and visitors to ring in the holiday season and help countdown to the lighting of the City of Orlando’s Christmas tree at Lake Eola Park’s Washington Plaza. Returning this year at Lake Eola is the downtown Merry Market, available each weekend through Dec. 22. Click here to learn more.

Apopka Tree Lighting

• When: Dec. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where: Kit Land Nelson Park
• What: Join the City of Apopka as the community comes together to celebrate the holiday season with festive lights, holiday displays, and a special tree lighting ceremony. Click here to learn more.

Light Up Winter Garden

• When: Dec. 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Winter Garden City Hall
• What: The momentous flipping of the switch to turn on the holiday lights and watch downtown glow. Holiday activities and entertainment for all to enjoy will continue through the evening. Click here for more.

Winter Garden Christmas Parade

• When: Dec. 7 at 10 a.m.
• Where: South Dillar Street and West Plant Street
• What: The Winter Garden Christmas Parade is a long-standing community holiday tradition that delights spectators and brings in holiday cheer! Do not forget to look for the Big Guy himself at the end of the parade. Click here for more info.

Winter Garden Holiday Night Market

• When: Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where: Downtown Pavilion
• What: A new event for 2024, the Holiday Night Market transforms the Downtown Pavilion area to a picturesque festive open-air market bustling with market stalls of vendor booths of holiday goods for sale such as décor, unique gifts, festive treats and beverages, and more. Click here for details.

Winter Park Christmas Parade

• When: Dec. 7 at 9 a.m.
• Where: Park Avenue
• What: More than 80 organizations participate including marching bands, local police and fire departments, scouting groups, local dignitaries and, of course, Santa Claus. Click here for more.

Maitland Season of Light

• When: Dec. 7 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Where: Lake Lily Park
• What: Bring the family for games and activities, vendors, live music, a tree lighting ceremony, fireworks, and a visit from Santa. Admission is free. Click here for more.

Osceola County

Now Snowing

• When: Nov. 30-Dec. 31
• Where: Celebration Town Center
• What: Now Snowing is a month-long Winter Wonderland Spectacular featuring strolling Charles Dickens style Carolers, photos with Santa, horse drawn carriage rides, train rides, ice skating, and nightly snowfall. Click here to learn more.

St. Cloud Holiday Festival

• When: Dec. 7-8
• Where: Downtown St. Cloud
• What: Vendors, food, kids zone and more for holiday fun.

Festival of Lights Festival & Parade

• When: Dec. 14
• Where: Kissimmee City Hall
• What: The Holiday Festival will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a kids zone and family-friendly activities. Then, the Festival of Lights Parade will “take the lights and holiday cheer along Broadway, Sproule Street, Church Street, and Stewart Avenue, bringing the spectacle even closer to the heart of downtown Kissimmee.” Click here to learn more.

Polk County

43rd annual Lakeland Christmas Parade

• When: Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
• Where: Lake Mirror
• What: The event will start with a dazzling fireworks display over Lake Mirror at 7 p.m. As the first firework is launched, the parade will officially begin. Leaving the RP Funding Center, the 1.25-mile parade route travels down Lemon Street toward downtown. The parade then turns at Main Street to Cedar Street and winds around Lake Mirror, travels Orange Street and ends at the RP Funding Center. Click here for more.

Havendale Christmas Parade

• When: Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
• Where: Spring Haven Retirement Center along Havendale Boulevard
• What: The cities of Auburndale and Winter Haven will join together for the annual Havendale Christmas Parade. Click here for more.

Seminole County

Oviedo Tree Lighting

• When: Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Center Lake Park
• What; Join us for a Christmas vacation kind of Tree Lighting Experience at Center Lake Park in Oviedo. There will be FREE photos with Santa! Live reindeer! Carolers! Food trucks and more. Click here to learn more.

Longwood Concert & Tree Lighting

• When: Dec. 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Reiter Park
• What: Join for tree lighting and a holiday jazz concert featuring Groove Slayer! Click here for more.

Lake Mary Holiday in the Park

• When: Dec. 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Central Park at City Hall
• What: Holiday festivities to celebrate the season. Click here for more.

Light Up The Holidays Altamonte Springs

• When: Dec. 7 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Cranes Roost Park
• What: Watch as the park comes alive with spectacular holiday displays featuring 200,000 lights and a 60-foot tree decorated with thousands of ornaments and garland. Click here to learn more.

Longwood Christmas Parade

• When: Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.
• Where: Ronald Reagan Boulevard
• What: Celebrate the holiday season!

Wekiva Island’s Winter Wonderland

• When: December
• Where: Wekiva Island
• What: In addition to our well-loved activities like daily “snow” flurries, the Christmas tree forest and our 30-ft tall tree, and visits from your favorite Christmas characters, and Santa is inviting all the good boys and girls to his Workshop, right here at Wekiva Island. Click here for more.

Longwood Celebrate the Season

• When: Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Reiter Park
• What: Photos with Santa, games, food trucks, snow maze and more. Click here for details.

Sumter County

Lake Sumter Landing Tree Lighting Festival

• When: Nov. 30 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Lake Sumter Landing Market Square
• What: Live music, dancing, Santa’s Village and more. Click here for complete details.

Brownwood Tree Lighting Festival

• When: Dec. 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Brownwood Paddock Square
• What: Live music, dance teams and more. Click here to check it out.

Volusia County

Magic of Lights Daytona

• When: Nov. 22-Jan. 4, 2025
• Where: Daytona International Speedway
• What: This holiday season, the World Center of Racing will transform into a holiday wonderland with the Magic of Lights. Guests will be able to enjoy this holiday drive-through tradition featuring over one million lights at Daytona International Speedway. Click here to learn more.

Light Up DeLand

• When: Dec. 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where: Volusia County Historic Courthouse
• What: This memorable night will include ice skating, Santa’s Workshop with Christmas crafts for children, pictures with Santa, and more! The best part of the night: watching Santa skydive in from above to light our tree! Click here for more.

Light Up Orange City

• When: Dec. 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where: Block of City Hall
• What: Enjoy the tree lighting, food trucks, kid zone, train ride, Santa photos, and a holiday movie. The city will provide free hot cocoa and cookies. Food trucks will have food available for purchase. Click here to learn more.

Port Orange Christmas in the Park

• When: Dec. 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where: City Center Park
• What: Help light up City Center with a Christmas concert and lots of fun family activities. Here are the details.

Daytona Beach Shores Tree Lighting

• When: Dec. 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Where: Veterans Park
• What: Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while listening to music by Daniel “Saxman” Fuqua! Bring your own chair. Click here for more.

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