Florida may not be the first destination you think of when you dream of Christmas festivities and holiday light displays, but we’ve got plenty of Christmas events to get you in the holiday spirit! And, who doesn’t love decorated palm trees, 80 degree weather, and no snow to shovel! Let’s look at some can’t miss Christmas Light Displays in Florida.
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Night of a Million Lights, Kissimmee, Florida
Located in Central Florida, in 2020 this event was named the “Number One Thing To Do In December In Orlando” by US Today in its debut year. Night of a Million Lights gives visitors plenty of holiday cheer with over 3 million Christmas lights, a sparkling tree trail, holiday displays, and a tram guided tour of 100 decorated villas. Portions of the ticket, food and drink, and merchandise sales benefit Give Kids the World; who provide wishes to critically ill children and their families.
Address: 210 S Bass Rd, Kissimmee
Website: gktw.org
Santa’s Enchanted Forest, Hialeah, Florida
While cancelled in 2020, Santa’s Enchanted Forest is back and moving to Hialeah from Miami. This seasonal, pop up theme park has a 40 year history in South Florida. At Santa’s Enchanted Forest, you’ll find South Florida’s Tallest Christmas Tree, a Christmas Light Show Spectacular, life sized holiday displays, food stands, performers, and so much more.
Address: 3100 East 4th Avenue, Hialeah
Website: santasenchantedforest.com
Sowell’s North Pole, Milton, Florida
Sowell Farms puts up over 1 million lights in their award winning Christmas light display each holiday season. After you’ve viewed the lights, be sure to check out the train rides, photos with Santa, camel rides, and festive food.
Address: 7650 Sowell Road, Milton
Website: sowellfarms.com
Magic of Lights, Daytona Beach, Florida
If you prefer to see holiday decorations with social distancing, head to Magic of Lights at Daytona International Speedway. This drive through event showcases holiday scenes using digital technology, animation, and plenty of sparkling lights. The best part? At the Magic of Lights, you pay per car for admission – so load up the whole family!
Address: 1801 West International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach
Website: magicoflights.com
The DeLand Christmas Light Show, DeLand, Florida
Hosted by Stetson Baptist Church the event boasts over 10,000 LED lights and 2,100 lighting channels. The show can be viewed several times a night from your car. The Christmas Light Show also shares the story of the birth of Jesus through lights and music.
Address: 1025 W Minnesota Ave, DeLand
Website: stetsonbaptistchurch.org
Pensacola Winterfest, Pensacola, Florida
During Pensacola Winterfest, the downtown area of Pensacola is transformed into a shimmering winter wonderland, full of Christmas lights. Pensacola Winterfest includes magical Florida snow, photos with Santa, the Grinch, tours on the Polar Express, and more. This not for profit event is entirely volunteer run.
Address: 223 South Palafox Place, Pensacola
Website: pensacolawinterfest.org
Holiday Fantasy of Lights, Coconut Creek, Florida
Now in its 27th year, the Holiday Fantasy of Lights is a nearly 3 mile long Christmas light display that showcases more than 65 displays, animations, and 3-D experiences. You won’t want to forget to pick up a pair of 3-D glasses, available at the event.
Address: 3600 W Sample Road, Coconut Creek
Website: holidaylightsdrivethru.com
Santa’s Winter Wonderland Village, Orlando, Florida
This holiday event features thousands of Christmas lights and holiday displays. Santa’s Winter Wonderland Village also includes photo opportunities with Santa, the Grinch, Snowman, Tin Soldiers, and more. Holiday steel drum music and carnival rides are also available at the event.
Address: 413 North Alafaya Trail, Orlando
Website: santaswinterwonderlandvillage.com
Christmas at the Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Disney’s Magic Kingdom puts on quite the holiday show using projections onto Cinderella’s Castle, laser lights, and fireworks. They also host an after hours event called Disney Very Merriest After Hours with a themed holiday parade, food and drinks, decorations, and more.
There is more holiday cheer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Epcot, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom with each park offering different holiday festivities. If you’ve got time, check out Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to view the life sized gingerbread house. Then, head over to Disney’s Beach Club Resort to see the life sized gingerbread carousel.
Address: 1180 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista (Magic Kingdom)
Website: disneyworld.disney.go.com
The Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village, Auburndale, Florida
A mile long drive through Christmas light display located at the International Market World. After you’ve seen the lights, stick around to see the shows which include aerial acts, juggling, magic, and more. You can also visit Santa, interact with the animals of Bethlehem, and shop with numerous vendors.
Address: 1052 US-92, Auburndale
Website: thewonderlandoflights.com
Christmas Lights in Downtown, Mount Dora, Florida
Mount Dora is a charming and quaint town located in Central Florida. During the holiday season, they hang over 2 million lights in downtown Donnelly Park. After you’ve visited there, be sure to head to Donnelly House, the Mount Dora Boating Center and Marina, and the nearby Singing Christmas Tree. If you still haven’t gotten your fill of holiday cheer, Mount Dora hosts a holiday parade, a lighted boat parade, snow, and other holiday events throughout the season.
Address: 530 North Donnelly St, Mount Dora
Website: mountdorachristmas.com
Sea of Trees at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, Orlando, Florida
This Christmas season, head over to SeaWorld Orlando to view the Sea of Trees display. Located in SeaWorld’s lagoon, dozens of lit up Christmas trees seem to float on the water and dance to choreographed music. After you’ve watched the show, head over to the rest of SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration that include a walkthrough Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer story, ice skating, themed holiday food and drinks, performers, and a chance to meet Santa Claus.
Address: 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando
Website: seaworld.com
Holiday Lights in the Garden, Largo, Florida
The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation is in its 21st year of presenting the Holiday Lights in the Garden. This light display features 1 million twinkling LED lights, laser lights, and lighted figures. Additionally, some nights include model trains, local performers, and holiday concessions.
Address: 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo
Website: flbgfoundation.org
Busch Gardens Christmas Town, Tampa, Florida
Each year, Busch Gardens hosts one of North America’s largest holiday displays with more than 10 million sparkling lights. In addition to the holiday light display, guests can ride coasters, shop in the holiday market, eat festive food, visit with Santa Claus, see Rudolph, and much more.
Address: 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa
Website: buschgardens.com
Christmas Spectacular Home Tours, DeLand, Florida
The Stetson Mansion in DeLand was the first luxury home in the state of Florida, built in 1886. This private mansion opens for tours during the holiday season. Rather than focus on the history of the Stetson Mansion, tours highlight the real meaning of Christmas. Visitors to the home are treated to plenty of lights, designer decorations, and 24 nativities from around the world. Unlike other events, this tour is not recommended for children.
Address: 1031 Camphor Lane, DeLand
Website: stetsonmansion.com
Nights of Lights, St. Augustine, Florida
Nights of Lights is an award winning holiday light display that features more than 3 million lights throughout the Nation’s Oldest City. White lights light up everything in the historic downtown St. Augustine area, but be sure to head to the Plaza de la Constitución for the nightly lighting ceremony and Christmas tree display. And, the pedestrian friendly shops and businesses of St. George Street stay open late into the evening so visitors can shop and dine. Too large of an area for you to walk? Guided tours of the area are available through local carriage companies and trolley companies.
Address: 1 Cathedral Street, St. Augustine
Website: visitstaugustine.com
Space Coast Lightfest, Melbourne, Florida
The Space Coast Lightfest is another socially distanced, drive through event. Featuring 3 million lights in a dazzling display, this event also charges per car – so load up the family and bring a few friends. If you would rather walk through the event, you can do so on select nights. Proceeds from the Space Coast Lightfest benefit Boy Scouts of America.
Address: 2785 Leisure Way, Melbourne
Website: spacecoastlightfest.com
Cranes Roost Park Holiday Light Displays, Altamonte Springs, Florida
This holiday event in Cranes Roost Park features 200,000 lights, on more than 100 holiday displays, a 60 foot tall tree, 2,600 ornaments, and over one mile of garland. Lights are turned on at dusk each night, and don’t miss the nightly Holiday Fountain Show.
Address: 274 Cranes Roost Boulevard, Altamonte Springs
Website: altamonte.org
Christmas at Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, Florida
If you’ve never stepped foot inside the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, head over there this holiday season. The 4.6 acre glass roofed atrium is decorated for the holidays with over 2 million lights, a 60 foot tree, and a free light show. After you’ve viewed the lights, stick around for the stage shows, Santa visits, Elf Academy, Christmas Tree Trail, and so much more.
Address: 6000 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee
Website: christmasatgaylordpalms.marriott.com
The Enchanted Place, North Miami, Florida
If you are in South Florida, you are in for a treat. A neighborhood of about 30 homes puts on a winter wonderland of Christmas lights each holiday season. This tradition began in the 1980’s and now thousands visit each year to drive down the street and admire the lights.
Address: NE 137th Terrace, North Miami
Website: facebook.com/EnchantedNoMi
Holiday Lights Celebration at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers, Florida
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are now in their 46th year of the Holiday Lights Celebration. Guests will be able to view thousands of lights, hundreds of historic decorations, visits with Santa, carolers, and much more. Be sure to view their event calendar for musical performances, refreshments, and discount admission days.
Address: 2350 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers
Website: edisonfordwinterestates.org
Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami, Miami, Florida
If you are looking for something a little different this holiday season, check out more than a million lights hung at Zoo Miami, along with lit up animal displays, an LED Christmas tree, and more. Be sure to check their calendar for themed nights to help you get in the holiday spirit like pajama night, ugly sweater night, superhero night, and many more.
Address: 12400 SW 152nd Street, Miami
Website: zoomiami.org
Oakdale Christmas House, St. Petersburg, Florida
For 45 years, the Oakdale Christmas House in the Tampa Bay area has delighted guests with a half acre of Christmas lights, over a dozen model trains, and a 70 foot Christmas tree, and more. This private home has received recognition on national media channels for many years.
Address: 2719 Oakdale Street South, St. Petersburg
Website: christmasdisplay.org