Orlando has many dazzling holiday events and enchanting celebrations to enjoy.
“Orlando is a unique destination for travelers over the holidays because of our extensive range of festive offerings – from breathtaking fireworks to grand lighting displays at our theme parks and beyond – all with the backdrop of warm sunny skies and palm trees,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “We expect another bustling week between Christmas and New Year’s Day and welcome travelers to Orlando.”
Ranked among the top holiday destinations by Google Flights, Orlando offers exclusive parties, millions of sparkling lights, star-studded performances, a teddy bear teatime and a pop-up retro roller rink promising unforgettable experiences for all ages.
Here are some of the Orlando holiday events from Visit Orlando happening around Central Florida:
THEME PARKS:
Walt Disney World Resort
Select dates, until December 31st
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park offers a storybook holiday atmosphere, including “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade,” “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show,” and snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A.
- Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios combines Hollywood glamour and holiday magic with dapper décor, special characters and live entertainment.
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth hosts a global celebration with a candlelight processional featuring celebrity narrators, holiday storytellers, performances and international cuisine.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers a twist on the magic of nature with a variety of seasonal delights, including artisan-sculpted animal puppets for the Merry Menagerie, followed by a holiday edition of the Tree of Life Awakening.
Universal Orlando Resort
until December 31st
- Universal Orlando Resort celebrates Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure with The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, a live retelling of the classic tale starring the Grinch; Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter featuring seasonal shows and festive decor in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley; and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, featuring characters along with larger-than-life balloons and Santa at Universal Studios Florida.
SeaWorld Orlando
Select dates, until January 2nd
- SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration features millions of lights, live performances, character dining options and the Holiday Reflections: Fireworks Finale.
LEGOLAND Florida
Select dates, until December 31st
- LEGOLAND Florida Resort features a giant LEGO Christmas tree, seasonal shows, holiday characters, LEGO activities and an early kid’s New Year’s Eve with a fireworks display.
FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN AND LIVE PERFORMANCES BEYOND THE PARKS:
- Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild returns at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens select nights (until January 19th) featuring larger-than-life handcrafted lanterns lit by more than 10,000 lights celebrating traditional Asian lantern festivals.
- Crayola Experience’s Colorful Christmas (until January 5th) returns with SNOWtastic adventures including a life-sized snow globe, falling snow, a light show and live entertainment.
- Harry P. Leu Gardens blooms into a winter wonderland with a million sparkling lights, music and beautiful sculptures during “Dazzling Nights” (until January 5th). During the day, “Holiday Blooms” showcases a collection of beautiful holiday-themed displays throughout the garden.
- Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts showcases a series of events, including a new Winter Wonder Shoppe, featuring world-renowned aerial and acrobatic artists of Cirque Mechanics, until December 29th.
- Wekiva Island’s annual Winter Wonderland event (until December 25th) offerings daily snow flurries, a Christmas tree forest, Santa’s workshop and holiday character interactions.
- Original Orlando Tours‘ Winter Park Old Fashioned Christmas Cruise (select evenings throughout December) journeys along the Winter Park Chain of Lakes to view holiday light displays of private homes along the waterfront.
- Oh, What Fun! Holiday Festival (until December 22nd) transforms Lake Nona Town Center into Peppermint Square, a winter wonderland with nightly snowfalls, live entertainment, and festive photo opportunities.
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Holidays in Space (until December 30th) features Starflake’s Holiday Voyage, a nightly projected show on the exterior of Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex; a 50-foot tree with more than 61,000 pixels of light; the returning Rocket Tree Trail; astronaut nutcrackers and more.
- Historic Downtown Winter Garden hosts several events, including the Main Street Holiday Stroll (until January 5th), and A Merry Winter Garden Light Show (select nights until December 22nd) at Winter Garden City Hall.
HOTEL HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
- Gaylord Palms Resort’s annual ICE! event (until January 4th) features oversized sculptures hand-carved from two million pounds of ice themed after
the popular holiday film “Elf.” - Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort (until December 31st) celebrates with its new library-themed Epilogue adult speakeasy; a pop-up retro roller-skating rink with live entertainment, a Holly Holly Poolside Cabana, holiday activities at Kids for All Seasons day program, and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve dining experiences.
- The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes and Orlando Resort | JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa (select dates until December 28th) hosts a Gingerbread School, Teddy Bear Tea, a visit from Santa and a Winter Wonderland Market with Christmas village.
