Joy and holiday cheer sweep over Florida every year during the Christmas season. From entertaining festivals to mesmerizing light shows, Florida’s one-of-a-kind celebrations offer locals and visitors a magical holiday experience. The warm weather works perfectly for travelers looking to escape snowy weather. Book a stay at a Florida vacation rental today. Check out these five cities and towns in Florida boasting colorful Christmas light displays.
1. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Orlando
Visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando to experience the spectacular decorations of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. From early November through late December, you can see classic Disney characters in playful holiday attire. Enjoy a hug or receive an autograph from your favorite character as they spread holiday cheer throughout the Magic Kingdom. During the Christmas season, snack on complimentary cookies and hot chocolate while viewing this gorgeous park. The Once Upon a Time Christmastime Parade offers fun interactions with lovable Disney characters, and a beautiful tour of the park down Main Street, U.S.A. is highlighted by beautiful holiday decorations.
Holiday entertainment includes a dazzling fireworks display at Cinderella’s Castle, and vibrant Christmas lighting decorates the castle to create an unforgettable backdrop for your holiday festivities. Queen Elsa grants A Frozen Holiday Wish with her incredible powers to transform Cinderella’s Castle into a gorgeous sparkling centerpiece. Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration provides a jubilant stage show children are sure to find magical.
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2. The Space Coast Lightfest, Melbourne
Whether you drive through the park or walk, more than two million lights take your breath away. The holiday-themed decorations transform Wickham Park into a holiday wonderland. This stunning holiday festival features beautiful lights decorating holiday trees, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Santa’s sleigh, reindeer, and toy soldiers. Take a trip through the tunnel of lights, which spans more than 200 feet, and enjoy an explosion of colorful illumination supplied by more than 30,000 sparkling holiday lights. From shimmering lights to animated displays, The Space Coast Lightfest includes beautiful views of Santa’s elves, circus animals, and wreaths. This family-friendly attraction offers hayrides for children on weekends to create a memorable experience for the entire family. Kid-friendly activities, including horseback rides and bounce houses, keep your little one laughing and having fun during the holiday season.
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3. Santa’s Enchanted Forest, Miami
Perfect for a visit before Christmas, this Miami theme park is sure to awaken your Christmas spirit. Recognized as the largest Christmas theme park, Santa’s Enchanted Forest features three million sparkling lights to inspire a merry holiday mood. The supercharged 90-foot Christmas tree is fitted with bright LED lights synchronized to popular holiday and pop tunes. Walk around the park to soak up all the Christmas cheer while singing your favorite Christmas carol. Keep the entire family entertained with a variety of carnival games, and view the spectacular light show while riding on one of up to 100 rides. Located near a wide assortment of vacation rentals, this theme park offers a magical holiday experience to create memories that last forever.
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4. Night of Lights, St. Augustine
Go to St. Augustine to absorb the magical ambiance and warm energy of the Christmas holiday. Millions of tiny white lights grace this beautiful city to create an enchanted winter wonderland. Whether traveling by foot or horse and carriage, enjoy a nighttime trip to experience the sparkly and cheerful atmosphere. Specialty tours provide views of this historic city from the ground and in the air. For a more magical view of the stunning city lights, enjoy one of several tours by water, including the Nights of Lights Florida Water Tour.
Light displays at Flagler College and the Lightner Museum give you a warm glow, while the Plaza de la Constitución has white lights wrapped around every tree. Downtown St. Augustine offers a breathtaking Christmas parade, complemented by an annual Christmas Tour of Homes. On the first Wednesday in December, visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse to see thousands of luminaries create striking, well-lit walking paths. Santa comes to visit the little ones, and the outdoor decorations deliver a Victorian Age ambiance.
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5. The Oakdale Christmas House, St. Petersburg
With half a million lights, The Oakdale Christmas House delivers one of the more distinctive light displays in Florida. This quirky attraction features a walking yard tour with an 18-train HO scale model RR that simultaneously runs 18 trains at once. The computerized musical light show puts a smile on your face and holiday cheer in your heart. With bubble machines and hands-on games for the little ones, this attraction puts your in the mood for holiday fun. Inflatable figures and holiday displays feature vibrant lights, while the enormous snowman stands over three stories tall to draw the eye from visitors within an arm’s reach. A working carnival with flying airplanes and gorgeous water fountains highlights this attraction. Spanning more than half an acre, The Oakdale Christmas House features animated figures and moving decorative items to fill you with the holiday spirit.
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