Your ultimate holiday resource for Parkland is here! Explore our comprehensive guide for all the top festive events and activities. Whether you're rediscovering Parkland or seeing it with fresh eyes, this guide is your key to holiday magic.
Popular Events: Experience the enchanting SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, where holiday-themed shows and dazzling lights create a festive atmosphere under the stars. Another delight is the Winter Wonderlands at Gaylord Palms Resort, featuring a stunning ice sculpture experience that brings winter to life in a unique way. And the Universal Orlando Christmas is something you definitely don't want to miss, with incredible entertainment and themed festivities around every corner. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Parkland
- SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration (Orlando)
- Universal Orlando Christmas (Orlando)
- Winter Wonderlands at Gaylord Palms Resort (Orlando)
- Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade (Fort Lauderdale)
- Legoland’s Christmas Bricktacular (Winter Haven)
- Holiday Jazz Festival (Clearwater Beach)
- Jingle Bell Jog (Fort Lauderdale)
- Winter Jam (Tampa)
- Christmas Parades in Orlando (Orlando)
- ICE Winter Wonderland at Gaylord Palms (Orlando)
See these and even more events listed below!
Parkland Holiday Light Displays
Sanford Parade of Lights
What to Expect:
Dazzling display of nearly 100 illuminated floats.
Description:
The Sanford Parade of Lights is a spectacular holiday event featuring nearly 100 illuminated floats that light up downtown Sanford. The parade offers a dazzling display of lights and music, making it a memorable experience for all attendees.
Where: Sanford | More Info: Sanford Parade of Lights
Parkland Holiday Shows and Entertainment
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with synchronized light displays and festive activities.
Description:
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration transforms the park into a vibrant holiday setting with millions of sparkling lights, festive decorations, and a variety of holiday-themed shows and activities. Meet beloved characters like Santa and Rudolph, enjoy award-winning live shows, ice-skating, and delicious holiday foods.
Where: Orlando | More Info: SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
Winter Wonderlands at Gaylord Palms Resort
What to Expect:
Interactive ice sculptures and thrilling frozen slides.
Description:
At Gaylord Palms Resort, immerse yourself in a holiday spectacle featuring stunning ice sculptures, thrilling frozen slides, and breathtaking decorations. Explore the 60-foot Christmas tree and enjoy festive activities like cookie decorating and Cirque Spirit Christmas Show.
Where: Orlando | More Info: Winter Wonderlands at Gaylord Palms Resort
Universal Orlando Christmas
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday celebrations with themed parades and live shows.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Universal Orlando with festive decorations, live entertainment, and special events like the Universal's Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s and the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular. Enjoy holiday-themed food and drinks, and explore the beautifully decorated Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Where: Orlando | More Info: Universal Orlando Christmas
Legoland’s Christmas Bricktacular
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday builds and Santa appearances.
Description:
Legoland's Christmas Bricktacular features special events, holiday builds, and appearances by Santa Claus, transforming the park into a vibrant holiday celebration with lights, rides, and activities for the whole family.
Where: Winter Haven | More Info: Legoland’s Christmas Bricktacular
Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade
What to Expect:
12-mile boat parade with elaborate light displays and entertainment.
Description:
The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is a spectacular holiday event featuring beautifully decorated boats of all sizes, including private boats, giant showboats, and corporate megayachts, adorned with hundreds of thousands of lights, music, entertainment, and decorations. The parade travels 12 miles along the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale to the Intracoastal Waterway and continues to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach, attracting over one million spectators.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade
Holiday Jazz Festival
What to Expect:
Diverse jazz performances with educational outreach programs.
Description:
The Clearwater Jazz Holiday is a 45-year-old celebration featuring diverse jazz performances, including main stage concerts and smaller side stages. The event offers reserved seating options and free public areas like beer gardens and the Sunset Bluff lawn. It also includes educational and outreach programs supporting young jazz musicians.
Where: Clearwater Beach | More Info: Holiday Jazz Festival
Winter Jam
What to Expect:
High-energy Christian music performances with a diverse lineup of artists.
Description:
Winter Jam is a premier Christian music tour featuring a diverse lineup of artists including Crowder, Lecrae, CAIN, Katy Nichole, Seventh Day Slumber, and Newsong. The event is known for its high-energy performances and inspirational messages.
Where: Tampa | More Info: Winter Jam
Christmas Parades in Orlando
What to Expect:
Interactive parade with Sesame Street characters and festive floats.
Description:
The Christmas Parade at SeaWorld Orlando features festive floats, beloved Sesame Street characters, and holiday music, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.
Where: Orlando | More Info: Christmas Parades in Orlando
ICE Winter Wonderland at Gaylord Palms
What to Expect:
Immersive ice sculpture experience with live carving demonstrations.
Description:
ICE Winter Wonderland at Gaylord Palms features larger-than-life ice sculptures, immersive scenes, and interactive activities, including two-story-tall ice slides and live carving demonstrations.
Where: Orlando | More Info: ICE Winter Wonderland at Gaylord Palms
Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Oldest continuous holiday parade in Central Florida.
Description:
The 72nd Annual Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade is a long-standing holiday tradition featuring over 80 organizations, including marching bands, local police and fire departments, scouting groups, and local dignitaries, culminating with Santa Claus.
Where: Winter Park | More Info: Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade
Parkland Other Holiday Activities
Jingle Bell Jog
What to Expect:
Santa-themed costumes and holiday medals for all participants.
Description:
The Fort Lauderdale Jingle Bell Jog 5K is an annual running event celebrating festive winter holidays with Santa, Jingle Bells, and holiday-themed elements. Participants receive a Santa Suit costume and Jingle Bells to tie to their running shoes. All finishers receive a holiday-themed medal.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Jingle Bell Jog
Winter Garden Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday parade with festive floats and live performances.
Description:
The Winter Garden Christmas Parade is a long-standing community holiday tradition featuring festive floats, local bands, and dance troupes marching through downtown to spread holiday cheer.
Where: Winter Garden | More Info: Winter Garden Christmas Parade
Longwood Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Community-driven parade with diverse participants and activities.
Description:
The Longwood Christmas Parade is an annual community event featuring over 100 entries, including floats, antique vehicles, marching bands, and festive characters. It is organized by the Longwood Citizens on Patrol with the assistance of the Longwood Police Department, City of Longwood, and the Longwood Fire Department.
Where: Longwood | More Info: Longwood Christmas Parade
Ruskin Oktoberfest
What to Expect:
German-themed festivities with food, drinks, and vendors.
Description:
Ruskin Oktoberfest is a family-friendly celebration featuring a special menu, food, drinks, music, a beer truck with German beer, a bounce house, and over 30 vendors.
Where: Ruskin | More Info: Ruskin Oktoberfest
Brownwood Heritage Festival
What to Expect:
Polka music and folkloric dance performances.
Description:
The Brownwood Heritage Festival at Brownwood Paddock Square features live music, dance performances, and food vendors, celebrating the community's heritage with lively polka bands and traditional folkloric dances.
Where: The Villages | More Info: Brownwood Heritage Festival
Havana Pumpkin Festival
What to Expect:
Interactive activities for all ages, including a pie eating contest and pet costume contest.
Description:
The Havana Pumpkin Festival is a family-friendly event featuring a pumpkin patch, arts and crafts, vendors, food trucks, face painting, bounce houses, and costume contests.
Where: Havana | More Info: Havana Pumpkin Festival
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Coral Springs (3 miles)
- Margate (5 miles)
- Coconut Creek (5 miles)
- Boca Del Mar (6 miles)
- North Lauderdale (6 miles)
- Tamarac (7 miles)
- Deerfield Beach (9 miles)
- Pompano Beach (9 miles)
- Lauderdale Lakes (10 miles)
- Oakland Park (12 miles)
- Lauderhill (12 miles)
- Plantation (12 miles)
- Fort Lauderdale (14 miles)
- Sunrise (14 miles)
- Delray Beach (15 miles)
- Davie (17 miles)
- Cooper City (18 miles)
- Weston (18 miles)
- Boynton Beach (18 miles)
- Dania Beach (19 miles)
- West Hollywood (20 miles)
- Pembroke Pines (21 miles)
- Hollywood (21 miles)
- Miramar (22 miles)
- Greenacres City (23 miles)
- Lake Worth Corridor (23 miles)
- Hallandale Beach (23 miles)
- Lake Worth Beach (24 miles)
- Wellington (24 miles)
- Palm Springs (24 miles)
- Norland (25 miles)
- Aventura (25 miles)
- Miami Gardens (25 miles)
- Country Club (25 miles)
- Carol City (26 miles)
- Sunny Isles Beach (26 miles)
- North Miami Beach (26 miles)
- Royal Palm Beach (28 miles)
- Golden Glades (28 miles)
- Miami Lakes (28 miles)
- North Miami (29 miles)
- West Palm Beach (30 miles)
- Hialeah Gardens (31 miles)
- West Little River (31 miles)
- Hialeah (31 miles)
- The Acreage (33 miles)
- Riviera Beach (34 miles)
- Allapattah (34 miles)
- Doral (35 miles)
- Palm Beach Gardens (36 miles)
- Miami Beach (37 miles)
- Miami (37 miles)
- Fountainebleau (38 miles)
- Flagami (38 miles)
- Sweetwater (39 miles)
- Westchester (39 miles)
- Coral Terrace (39 miles)
- Tamiami (39 miles)
- University Park (40 miles)
- Coral Gables (41 miles)
- Coconut Grove (41 miles)
- Kendale Lakes (43 miles)
- Kendall West (44 miles)
- Kendall (44 miles)
- Jupiter (44 miles)