There are so many options to enjoy the holiday magic in Orlando. From theme park adventures like Disney’s Very Merry Christmas or Universal’s Grinchmas free or affordable options around town.
Special Events
Light Up SoDo - December 1
This event is Family-Friendly AND Pet-Friendly so grab the kids and your furry friends and head on down to the SoDo Shopping Center for an evening full of Holiday Fun! Get ready to experience an all New Kids Zone, Face Painting, Writing Letters to Santa, Stilt Walkers, Train Rides, Princesses, Bounce Houses, Balloon Artist, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, XL106.7’s Johnny Magic from Johnny’s House, Orlando Brewing, Rock Pit Brewing, Swirlery Wine Bar, Food Trucks, Live Performances and SO MUCH MORE!
Lake Eola Tree Lighting December 6
Save the date for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s annual Tree Lighting Celebration at Lake Eola Park. This free event features a ceremonial first lighting of Lake Eola Park’s 72-foot Christmas tree, live music and performances, vendor booths, and The Daily City’s Food Truck Bazaar serving delicious bites.
Light Up Baldwin Park - Friday, December 6
Come celebrate with Baldwin Park for the annual Light up Baldwin Park event in conjunction with the Baldwin Park First Friday Festival. The event is free to attend, and will be held in the Baldwin Park Village Center on December 6th, at 5:30pm. Stroll the festival enjoying the music, artist and vendor booths, Santa photos, food trucks, and local businesses. At 7:30pm, join us on New Broad Street, to Light Up Baldwin Park! Vendor booths and food trucks will be available to enjoy until 9:30pm. Presented by AdventHealth and Park Life Orlando
Singing Christmas Tree - Friday, December 6th
The show of Christmas classics featuring a huge choir, full orchestra, dance, powerful drama and a beautiful display of 250,000 lights on our two 45-foot-tall Christmas Trees. From its beginning over three decades ago, the Trees have become one of Central Florida’s most loved and spectacular traditions. The show is all new every year so you don't want to miss it! Starts at 7:30pm.
Sock it to Cancer - Friday, December 6th
This year in support of The Adam Michael Rosen Foundation, Rosen Shingle Creek’s nonprofit partners are joining up for a one-of-a-kind fundraiser. Come experience over 30 of Orlando’s most prestigious nonprofits and their holiday Christmas trees before they are moved into our hotel lobby. This 3-hour festive reception will feature an interactive food event with some of Orlando’s finest chefs and restaurants who will be offering samples of their most popular menu items. Guest will also receive a holiday signature drink (cash bar also available).
Bring a pair of new adult or child-sized holiday socks and use them to vote on your favorite nonprofit tree. You may bring up to 5 pairs of socks per person and you can vote on multiple trees. Whichever tree collects the most socks, that organization will receive a $5,000 donation from The Adam Michael Rosen Foundation. If you forget or run out of socks, additional sock voting vouchers will be sold at the event starting at $10.00.
Proceeds and voucher ticket sales directly benefit The Adam Michael Rosen Foundation. All socks will be collected by The Adam Michael Rosen Foundation and distributed to area hospitals and families in need of holiday comfort during these most challenging times in their lives.
Dog Day Afternoon Christmas Edition - Sunday December 8
For December, Ivanhoe Park Brewing has a special Dog Day Afternoon. Santa will be out for photos for your pup at his workshop. There will be snow and special Christmas dog treats and vendors. Get that Christmas shopping for your pup while enjoying a beer! Event starts at 1pm
Bowl your socks off December 13
'Tis the season for balls, pins, and festive socks! Because nothing bonds people like beer... er... bowling and banter. Feeling competitive? Form your own team, name it, make a shirt... Do it up right. Prefer not to bowl? No problem. Come make holiday cards at our cool card making table, and connect with your fellow creatives in Orlando. SOCK it to us with your most ridiculous holiday foot gear and sparkly holiday attire. The more creative, the better! DONATE one or multiple pairs of socks! We are giving socks to adults and children that may not have any.
Ugly Sweater Party - December 14
Annual Ugly Sweater Party and Winter Seasonal Release of Hazel Nutty-Cracker Imperial Stout starting at 1pm.
Very limited release on Hazel Nutty-Cracker, so come early to get some before the keg kicks. We will be having a contest for the ugliest sweater and drink specials all day. We will be making it snow and lots of other fun surprises!
SantaCon Orlando - December 14th
SantaCon Orlando is an annual event uniting all Santas for one last night on the town before heading back to the North Pole to prepare for the biggest job of the year. Be there, or be on the naughty list! Dress as Santa and help us spread holiday cheer and whimsy across Downtown Orlando.
Winter Park Holiday Boat Parade - December 14th
A spirited fleet of decorated boats of all types --pontoon, ski, jetski, kayak -- will parade around the perimeter of Lake Virginia to add to the Christmas Spirit in Winter Park. Last year an audience of over 1,000 lined the shores of Lake Virginia at Rollins College to watch the great variety of decorated water craft. Live music, food, add to the festivities. All donations at the event will benefit the Winter Park High School Food Pantry.
Nutcracker at Lake Eola - December 21
Starting at 7:30pm, free Community Performance by the Russian Ballet! Celebrate the holiday season with The Nutcracker, featuring unforgettable characters, dazzling costumes, onstage blizzards, timeless choreography and Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary arrangement performed live by the Russian Ballet Orlando.
Milk Mart Lazy Shoppers Holiday Market - December 22
For anyone looking for that last minute gift for their holiday celebrations, or for a chance to get out of the house with the family that's come to town and refuses to leave until temperatures back home rise above freezing, this is the place to be. With a plethora of unique vendors, food trucks, live music, and more, it's fun for the whole family (including the pups!)! December 22nd from 12PM-6PM for our holly-est, jolly-est event of the year; featuring a wide array of vendors with a gift for everyone on your list.
Ongoing Holiday Events
Epcot Festival of the Holidays - November 29 - December 30
An International Yuletide Extravaganza. Discover a festival like no other, featuring the joyous holiday traditions of our 11 World Showcase nations. Epcot International Festival of the Holidays surrounds you in the wondrous sights, sounds and flavors of the season, as celebrated by cultures near and far.
Come and delight in stirring live musical productions. Savor seasonal food & beverage specialties at the expanded Holiday Kitchens. And take a festive global tour—as costumed performers bring time-honored traditions to life throughout World Showcase!
Sippin Santa at Avanti Palms - December 1 - 25
Be sure to stop by to experience our festive events throughout the Sippin' Santa dates. We're hosting themed events every Monday and Wednesday throughout the holidays! Ugly Sweater Nights every Monday night with a contest on the ugliest sweater at 8:30pm each Monday and the winner will receive two free drinks (excluding the Jingle Bowl) and a complimentary memorable Sippin’ Santa shot glass! Christmas Movie Nights with classics happening every Wednesday from 4pm - 12am.
Miracle on Orange - November 25 - December 25
Holiday "pop-up" Bar is taking over The Courtesy. November 24th- December 24th. Get in to see all things Christmas!
Gaylord Palms Ice Exhibit - November 25 - January 5
Celebrate holiday traditions, both old and new! Don't miss visiting our nine-degree attraction ICE! for a rare winter's chill in Central Florida. ICE! features an all-new theme for 2019 - THE POLAR EXPRESS™!
In addition to ICE! in our Alpine Village, you'll find snow tubing, snowball tossing, Photos with Santa, holiday shopping, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Mrs. Claus' Christmas Traditions sing-along show, gingerbread decorating and much more.
Disney Springs Tree Trail - November 8 - January 5
A custom-decorated holiday trees, each dedicated to a popular Disney theme featuring characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and others. At Santa’s Chalet, a jolly Santa Claus welcomes guests until Dec 24. And you’re invited to also join in Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt and discover where the mischievous Experiment 626 is hiding.
Grand Floridian GingerBread House - November 25 - December 25
Enjoy the giant gingerbread house, glistening Christmas trees, and photo opportunities galore followed by lunch in one of the resorts many lovely restaurants.
Frosty’s Christmastime Lounge - all year round
Christmas themed bar that is open all year round in Downtown Orlando.
Fitness
Winter-ish 5k - Sunday, December 8th
The Winter-ish 5k at Blanchard Park, Sunday December 8, 2019. Because December in Florida may or may not be cold or hot... It's just winter-ish!!! Come celebrate our Florida Winter-ish season!
Christmas Cookie Run - Saturday December 15
Cookies, Santa, & "Snow! 5K Family Fun Run with clock timing • 1 mile Fun Run • Photos with Santa • Cookies with Santa's elves • Costume contest • "Snow" • Awesome medals & race shirts
Jingle Run - December 14th
Gather your family, gather your friends and co-workers and ring in the season at this holiday favorite, the RDV Jingle Run! Conveniently located in the <3 of Maitland, every penny brought in stays local to help children in our community through the Boys & Girls Clubs in Eatonville.
Ugly Sweater 5k at Reunion - Dec 21
Bar Crawls
12 Bars of Christmas Pub Crawl - Friday, December 6
Orlando Pub Crawl is doing it again and with the help of our partners Orlando Sport and Social Club, Mel’s Bad Girls Club and 101one WJRR!
It’s time to crawl and help out a great cause during the holidays. So get dressed up in all of your favorite holiday gear from Santa Hats to Ugly Sweaters to anything that helps spread that holiday cheer. Let’s share the OPC cheer we have all year long and help out the less fortunate families in Greater Orlando during the holidays.
Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl - Saturday December 7th
The 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl is here and we want the city of Orlando to join in on the fun. Get that Goodwill sweater, find those tacky holiday pants, and get ready to jingle bell ROCK!
Bar Partners & Specials:
🎅 WaiTiki- Registration from 4pm to 6pm. Then to Wall Street Cantina, Downtown Pourhouse
12 Bars of Xmas - Saturday December 14
The 12 Bars Of Xmas Is Coming! Get Your Santa, Elf, Reindeer, & Crazy Holiday Costumes Ready To Party! Check in starts at 4pm.
Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl - December 21
7pm - Cleos/ 8pm - Caseys/ 9pm - Frostys/ 10pm - Cocktails & Screams/ 11pm - Wall St Plaza/ 11:15pm - Group Photo/ Midnight - Lizzies/ 1am - The Lodge