ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s Christmas time in the city and light displays are going up around Central Florida, with something for everyone to enjoy.
There are free nightly displays in city and town parks, there are drive-through displays put on by groups large and small, Christmas light tours by bike and by boat, and special light shows too.
Recommended Videos
We’ve gone looking for light displays and events around Central Florida. The list below is sorted by county, location, and then by date. Click the links to learn more.
If you know of a light display we should add to our list, send it to czizo@wkmg.com.
[COUNTY-BY-COUNTY GUIDE: Central Florida holiday events to get in the spirit this 2024 season]
Brevard County
MERRITT ISLAND
2024 Holidays in Space — Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
- When: Dec. 20 through Dec. 30
- Details: Space gets festive with holiday decor throughout the complex, a nightly projection show, a 50-foot Christmas tree and the Rocket Tree Trail. Holidays in Space is included with regular park admission, which starts at $75 for adults and $65 for children. Go to the Kennedy Space Center website for details.
Flagler County
PALM COAST
Fantasy of Lights Festival — Central Park Town Center
- When: Nov. 30 through Dec. 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Details: Walk along the lake at Central Park Town Center and take in 56 light displays while enjoying Christmas music. This annual festival also includes events and a Santa’s Village with a nightly train ride and snow on the weekends. Learn more on the Rotary Club of Flagler County website.
Lake County
CLERMONT
Enchanted Forest of Trees — Victory Pointe
- When: Nov. 23 through Jan. 5
- Details: Over 70 Christmas trees decorated by local groups and businesses will line Victory Pointe in Clermont. Those trees shine during the day and light up at night. Go to the city of Clermont website for details.
LADY LAKE
Light Up Lady Lake — Veterans' Park
- When: Friday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Details: The town of Lady Lake is hosting several holiday events throughout December, and on Dec. 13 the town will illuminate Veterans' Park with thousands of Christmas lights. There will also be live entertainment, bounce houses, food trucks and photos with Santa. Learn about all of Lady Lake’s Christmas events on the town website.
MOUNT DORA
Light Up Mount Dora — Downtown Mount Dora
- When: Nov. 23 through Jan. 9
- Details: Mount Dora is a holiday wonderland with events throughout the season. Light Up Mount Dora kicks off the season on Nov. 23, but Christmas lights will be up around the downtown area, and especially at the parks and at the Mount Dora Boating Center and Marina. A full list of events is on the city of Mount Dora website.
Marion County
OCALA
‘Tis the Season — Downtown Ocala
- When: Nightly starting Nov. 23
- Details: Christmas lights bring downtown Ocala to life with Christmas events throughout the holiday season, starting with Light Up Ocala on Nov. 23. See a full list of events on the city’s website.
Holiday Lights — Circle Square Commons
- When: Nov. 29 through Jan. 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Details: Get your Instagram-worthy Christmas pictures done in The Town Square at Circle Square Commons. On Fridays and Saturdays enjoy live entertainment, dancing and food trucks. The event is free. Find details on the Circle Square Commons Facebook page.
Winter Wonderland — World Equestrian Center
- When: Nov. 29 through Dec. 23, Wednesdays through Sundays
- Details: Over 1 million lights and decorations adorn the World Equestrian Center throughout December. On select days you can also meet Santa Claus, enjoy holiday entertainers and live music, and enjoy other family-friendly activities. Guests must pay a parking fee to enter the event. Fees start at $10 per vehicle, depending on the day. Find details at the WEC website.
Orange County
ORLANDO
Downtown for the Holidays — Downtown Orlando
- When: Nov. 22 through Jan. 6
- Details: Downtown Orlando brings out the Christmas lights with a slew of events beginning in November. From the iconic Jack Kazanzas Star on Orange Avenue to the Eola Wonderland Christmas Tree Show to the Holiday Stroll around Lake Eola Park and the Central Business district, you can find light displays, decorations, music, events, markets and more every night to enjoy, much of it free. Head to the downtown Orlando website for a full list of events.
Dazzling Nights — Harry P. Leu Gardens
- When: Nov. 29 through Jan. 5, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Details: A three-quarter mile interactive experience featuring hundreds of thousands of lights among a forest of trees, topiaries and sculptures, along with lighted tunnels. Tickets start at $22 for adults, $19 for children. More details on the Dazzling Nights website.
Oh, What fun! — Lake Nona Town Center
- When: Weekends Dec. 6 through Dec. 22; Hanukkah Celebration of Lights on Dec. 28
- Details: Holiday light displays frame a month of activities around Lake Nona Town Center on the weekends. It all kicks off Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. with the Opening Night and Tree Lighting event. Look for live shows, “snowfall,” vendors and more. Full details are on the festival website.
13th annual Christmas Light Ride — College Park and Ivanhoe Village
- When: Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
- Details: Retro City Cycles is hosting its 13th annual bike ride to see the light displays around the College Park and Ivanhoe Village areas. This six-mile bike ride is also a gift donation drive benefiting One Heart for Women and Children. Find more information on the Retro City Cycles Facebook page.
WINTER GARDEN
Tis the Season to Make Merry Memories — Downtown Winter Garden
- When: Dec. 6 through Jan. 5, nightly
- Details: Christmas lights and displays transform Plant Street in Downtown Winter Garden and serve as the centerpiece for a month of events (many of them free!) including parades, markets, light shows, live entertainment and more. Holiday-themed photo stations will also be available to help you really catch the spirit of the season. Find a full list of events on the city of Winter Garden website.
Osceola County
CELEBRATION
Now Snowing Nightly — Celebration Town Center
- When: Nightly Nov. 30 through Dec. 31
- Details: Snow is the centerpiece of this holiday festival, but you’ll also find Christmas lights, a tree, and more in Celebration, like an art festival, a synthetic ice rink and Christmas Carolers. The festival is free. Details on the Celebration website.
KISSIMMEE
Holinights Celebration — Promenade at Sunset Walk
- When: Select nights Nov. 21 through Dec. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Details: A nightly lighting of a 45-foot animated Christmas tree is the centerpiece of this festival which also includes street markets, car shows, live music, Santa Claus and more. The event is free. Find details on the Sunset Walk website.
Seminole County
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Holiday Light Displays and Fountain Show — Cranes Roost Park
- When: Nov. 28 through Jan. 1 nightly
- Details: The lights come on every night at dusk around Cranes Roost Park, with a 60-foot-tall Christmas tree, over 8,000 dazzling LEDs and more. There will also be a nightly fountain show with dancing water and lights set to holiday tunes. More information on the Uptown Altamonte website.
SANFORD
Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild — Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- When: Select nights Nov. 15 through Jan. 19, starting at 6 p.m.
- Details: This annual holiday tradition at the Central Florida Zoo features giant lantern displays illuminated with thousands of lights along a 3/4-mile loop around the zoo. Tickets start at $24.99, with family four-packs of tickets for $80. Visit the Central Florida Zoo website for more information.
WINTER SPRINGS
Light Up Central Winds — Central Winds Park
- When: Dec. 15-20, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Walk-thru night on Saturday, Dec. 21.
- Details: Enjoy a drive-thru experience at Central Winds Park with holiday light tunnels and displays for free. On Dec. 21, the park turns into a walk-through wonderland with Santa, food trucks and a movie in the park. Full details on the Winter Springs website.
Sumter County
THE VILLAGES
Tree Lighting Festival — The Villages
- When: Starting Nov. 30
- Details: Christmas trees light up on different nights for festivals at each of the squares in The Villages: Lake Sumter Landing Market Square, Brownwood Paddock Square and Spanish Springs Town Square. Live music and holiday markets complete the holiday vibe. Details on The Villages Entertainment website.
Volusia County
DAYTONA BEACH
Magic of Lights Daytona — Daytona International Speedway
- When: Nov. 22 through Jan. 4, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Details: Drive through a light display with over 1 million lights that takes guests behind the ticket and tours building and through the motorsports building. Tickets are sold online for $22, and at the gate for $30. Head to the website for more details.
DELAND
Winter Wonder DeLand — Downtown DeLand
- When: Dec. 6 through the beginning of January, nightly.
- Details: Winter Wonder DeLand is a month-long celebration of the holidays with light displays downtown and other events and activities. It all kicks off with Light Up DeLand on Friday, Dec. 6. Lights will be located in the areas of Woodland Boulevard, Indiana Avenue, Chess Park and Pioneer Park. The city is also hosting a home decorating contest. More details are on the DeLand website.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: