Dig through your closets for those ugly holiday sweaters, Orlando, we’re finally approaching the most wonderful time of the year! And even if we don’t get snow this season like some other places, Orlando never holds out on winter wonderland events to get lost in the holiday magic.
From wandering through the twinkling holiday lights to getting lost in Santa’s forest, we have all the best holiday events in Orlando to enjoy the holidays with your loved ones!
Oh, What Fun! at Lake Nona
Making spirits bright every year, you can do so much at the annual Lake Nona’s Oh What Fun! event. Take a memorable photo in Santa’s Cottage, pick out the best tree at the Peppermint Forest Tree Lot, and snuggle up to an outdoor Festive Films at Boxi Park.
You can also watch a magical performance on the Starlight Stage, participate in the Menorah Lighting, make homemade ornaments at the Kid’s Craft Village, browse gift stations, enjoy a candy-coated Boxi Park, window-shop at the Art After Dark & Farmers Market, and finally, make an appearance that the North Pole Party!
Event Details
NOV 26–JAN 2 
Boxi Park, Lake Nona
Gaylord Palms So Much Christmas
If you‘re looking to spread the holiday cheer, nothing is better than singing loud for all to hear at Gaylord Hotels So Much Christmas! From ice tubing to gingerbread decorating, live shows, and so much more, take the entire fam or your whole crew through the candy cane forest and prepare for Santa’s arrival! There is SO MUCH CHRISTMAS waiting for you at Gaylord Palms, Orlando!
Event Details NOV 19–JAN 2 Gaylord Palms
Holidays at Disney Springs
When the World’s Most Magical Celebration 50th anniversary combines with the enchanting holiday season, you can experience it all at Disney Springs. Browse through Disney-themed holiday shopping, experience the season of giving with the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive, enjoy seasonal bites and holiday-themed dining from award-winning chefs, encounter snow flurries, and watch live holiday entertainment.
With the awaited holiday annual Christmas Tree Stroll, you can spot elaborately decorated Christmas trees throughout the area and take a photo with Santa!
Event Details NOV 5–DEC 30 Disney Springs
Other holiday events in Orlando:
Shop Small Sip and Stroll
With a $15 ticket, you can sip on boutique wine, cider and craft beer samples throughout the Audubon district on Saturday, November 27. Walk your way through the boutique market, starting on Corrine Drive and enjoy eateries throughout the area for holiday-themed food.
Event Details NOV 27 | 2PM—5PM The Lovely Boutique Market
🎟 $15
Festival of Trees at the Orlando Museum of Art
With multiple events at the Orlando Museum of Art, there are so many festive ways to celebrate the holidays! For under $25, you can enjoy the Festival of Trees—including a ticket to the museum, a Reindeer Pass for a meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, balloon artists, festive face painters, stilt walkers, and so much more.
Event Details NOV 12—21 Orlando Museum of Art
🎟 $15
Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island
Put a Florida twist on a winter scene at Wekiva‘s Winter Wonderland. With snow flurries sprinkling a 20-foot Christmas tree, décor, Santa, and other holiday-themed activities, you can enjoy a seasonal ride down the river! With a $2 admission fee or a donation for Toys for Tots, come order a beverage on the Island to spend the holidays Floridian style.
Event Details DEC 3—JAN 2 Wekiva Island
🎟 $2
Other budget-friendly events in Orlando:
I-Drive District Holiday Tree Lighting
The I-Drive district is here to dazzle Orlando this holiday season. Kicking off with a glittering lighting ceremony of the 50 ft. Holiday Tree on December 1st, which will stay lit until New Year‘s Day, you can then enjoy several family-friendly activities underneath the lights.
From joining in on the Santa Workshop Experience to listening to I-Ride Trolley Chords to enjoying the Dr. Phillips HS Dance in Motion Company and Orlando Ballet, there is fun for the whole crew!
Event Details DEC 1–JAN 1 Icon Park
Asian Lantern Festical: Into the Wild
Immerse yourself into the wild of 10,000 LEDs and over 30 unique illuminated lanterns at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. End your year by experiencing a 3/4-mile path full of the wonder of a traditional Asian lantern festival. Get your tickets for select dates from November 19 to January 16, from 6 to 10 PM.
Event Details NOV 19–JAN 16 Central Florida Zoo
Harry P. Leu Gardens Dazzling Nights
The annual light show at Harry P. Leu Gardens is back! Immerse yourself in hundreds of lights, as well as holiday-themed music and interactive pieces on this 50-acre winter wonderland. Tickets need to be bought in advance for $25/person.
Event Details NOV 19–JAN 9 Harry P. Leu Gardens
Night of a Million Lights
For 52 nights this winter season, head over to Night of a Million Lights, a fully immersive set to illuminate the 89-acre Give Kids the World Village. Wander through a fairytale neighborhood and enjoy the tree trail, a lit-up village, marketplace, and lights show.
Standard tickets are $25 per adult and $15 for kids, but can vary in price depending on the night! Let “Happiness Inspire Hope” this holiday.
Event Details NOV 12–JAN 2 Give Kids the World Village
Other holiday light events in Orlando:
TPD‘s Holiday Markets
Wander into the holiday spirit while crossing off must-have gifts on your shopping list! No matter if you‘re looking to get your holiday shopping done or are looking for a festive way to kick off the holidays, head over to Thorton Park District for this outdoor market.
With food trucks serving up festive bites, outdoor seating and bars in a dog-friendly environment, fuel up to browse your way through local artisan vendors and so much more!
Event Details NOV 26–DEC 17 | 6PM—10PM TPD Circle
Audubon Outdoor Christmas Market
Visit this special Christmas pop-up outdoor market for a unique collection of arts, crafts, seasonal offerings, and uniquely made treats for the holiday season. The event is free to the general public and $20 for market vendors to reserve their space.
Event Details NOV 12–JAN 2 Audubon Park Covenant Church
Other holiday markets in Orlando:
Downtown for the Holidays
There is just SO much to do for the holidays around Downtown Orlando—and the best part? They‘re all FREE! Throughout December, head to Light Up SoDo to catch a free holiday movie, visit Discover Downtown‘s pop-up, watch the Kazanzas Star Installation, tree lighting, shows, performances, and so much more!
Event Details NOV 12–JAN 6 Downtown Orlando
Jingle Eve 2021
At Jingle Eve, you can enjoy the Children‘s Holiday Village and fireworks display above Lake Ivanhoe for free this year! Come enjoy beer gardens, live music, vendors, food trucks, and so much more at Gaston Edwards Park. This event has been taking place for the past 20 years! Aside from the 21+ event 12 Wines of Christmas, it is free and open to the public!
Event Details NOV 20 | 4PM—10PM Ivanhoe Village
Santa's Toy Drive Car & Truck Show
Give back this holiday season with a toy drive benefitting the Children of Osceola County. Enjoy the Car and Truck Show for the third year running, with special appearances by Santa throughout the night. Admission is free, with hundreds of dollars in raffle prize giveaways possible! Make it a wonderful holiday season for someone in need—and join in for your chance to win a stay at the Margaritaville Resort Hotel!
Event Details DEC 12 | 11AM—2PMPromenade at Sunset Walk
Other free holiday events in Orlando:
Santa's Christmas Tree Forest Farm
Get outdoors and pick out your Christmas tree this year at Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest in Eustis! Not only can you cut down your own Christmas tree fresh from their field, you can also enjoy their other holiday activities.
Eat and drink at the Thirsty Elf, soar high on Santa’s Flight Zip Line, and take the whole fam to Jack’s Barnyard‘s Petting Zoo!
Event Details NOV 20—DEC 19 Santa‘s Tree Forest Farm
Snowcat Ridge in Alpine Snow Park
Who said you can‘t have snow fun in Florida? If you‘re okay driving a bit for some major winter fun, Snowcat Ridge, Florida‘s first snow park, has something for the whole family—no matter if you‘ve seen snow before or not! With an Alpine Village, snow tubing hill, and magic carpet, there‘s something fun for everyone!
9AM—10PMSnowcat Ridge
📸 407 Area
Now Snowing in Celebration
Lace up those ice skates and head on over to the charming town of Celebration to enjoy a winter wonderland. All month long, get in and park for free in this Disney-themed city. Enjoy shows, street performers, carolers, Santa visits, horse-drawn carriage rides, light shows, and ice skating. PLUS—see snow falling at 6, 7, 8, and 9 PM every night!
Event Details NOV 27—DEC 31 Market Street
Holidays at Universal
Whether you‘re looking to experience actual magic at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, getting your Grinchmas on or watching the larger-than-life balloons parade by in the Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, there‘s something for everyone at Universal this season!
Event Details NOV 13—JAN 2 Universal Studios
SeaWorld‘s Christmas Celebration
Head on over to SeaWorld for their Christmas Celebration through to the New Year. Immerse yourself in the winter wonderland with 3 million twinkling lights, fireworks, and festivities. From the Sesame Street Christmas Parade to the performance, Winter Wonderland on Ice, there‘s just so much to discover at SeaWorld this holiday season!
Event Details NOV 12—JAN 2 SeaWorld
Holidays at LegoLand
Be a big kid for the holidays—or bring your actual kids along to celebrate at LegoLand! With an impressive LEGO Christmas tree, seasonal shows and performances, holiday characters to meet and greet, plus special treats, there‘s so much to do!
Event Details NOV 26—DEC 31 LegoLand
Disney Very Merriest After Hours
The merriest of seasons meets The World’s Most Magical Celebration at Magic Kingdom. From the new Disney Enchantment nighttime spectacular to holiday-themed decor all throughout, there‘s so much to see at Disney World!
Tickets for Disney Very Merriest After Hours range between $169 to $249 depending on when! Admission is limited, so get your tickets fast!
Event Details NOV 26—DEC 31 Magic Kingdom
Get on Your Sleigh to Get Away
There’s snow place like home for the holidays. BUT, if you want to get out of Orlando for the holidays, here are some travel-worthy events within a few hours of the City Beautiful. So celebrate with the best holiday and Christmas events in Florida!
#HolidayEvents2021
Make sure to Download the UNATION app and search the hashtag HolidayEvents2021! Don‘t see your favorite jolly event on our app? You can add them in for others to join in the fa-la-la-fun!
Happy holidays from all of us here to you and yours! To help you enjoy this season to the fullest, follow us @StuffToDoInOrlando on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to stay up to date on all of the latest things happening in Orlando this holiday season!
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