19 Holiday Events in the Orlando Area Worth Attending

The holiday spirit is alive and well, even in a tropical destination like Central Florida. With glowing lights, festive music, and the warmth of the season (not just in temperature), November and December are filled with celebrations you should add to your calendar, whether you're a local or a visitor. From performances of The Nutcracker and holiday-themed afternoon teas to dazzling light displays and limited-time winter experiences, these are the top events worth planning your holiday season around. 

1. See The Nutcracker Ballet in Downtown Orlando

The Orlando Ballet’s The Nutcracker is returning to Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center this December. This year marks the third season of Artistic Director Jorden Morris’ reimagined production, and it’s bigger and more magical than ever. Expect breathtaking choreography, stunning costumes, and new elements, including Clara soaring across the stage, plus beautiful puppetry and animatronics, like a flying goose! It’s an unforgettable and classic way to celebrate the holidays.

Performances run December 5 to 24, 2025, with matinee and evening options, as well as special family holiday matinees on December 13 and 20, featuring festive pre-show activities such as holiday crafts, Nutcracker story time, an interactive dance class, face painting, and themed photo ops.

Tickets start at $39 (plus fees) for the show, which is just under two hours with a 20-minute intermission. Valet and garage parking options are available. Take the SunRail to the Church Street stop, location: 99 W. South St. It’s a short walk from there to Dr. Phillips Center.

2. Celebrate a New Holiday Tradition at the Dr. Phillips Center

The Frontyard Holiday Festival at Dr. Phillips Center™ supported by AdventHealth Center is a brand-new, free celebration transforming the venue’s iconic lawn into a festive wonderland in the heart of downtown Orlando. Running December 4 through January 4, the month-long event features more than 80 live performances, nightly tree lightings, snowfall, movie screenings, and family-friendly activities.

The festival stands out as the arts center’s newest community tradition, created through a partnership with AdventHealth, the City of Orlando, and local arts organizations to bring people together through creativity and joy. Visitors can delight in holiday treats, hot cocoa, cocktails, and bites for sale from local vendors, with convenient paid parking nearby and full ADA accessibility throughout the campus. Admission is free.

3. Indulge in Sweet and Savory Delights at Afternoon Tea at ette

ette, a Michelin Key luxury boutique hotel, located minutes from Walt Disney World Resort, has a phenomenal partnership with the Orlando Ballet that has brought an exceptional experience of its signature afternoon tea to life. The Nutcracker Holiday Tea features a presentation of traditional tea sandwiches, scones, and intricately designed pastries in a gorgeous ballet-inspired, commemorative box, guaranteeing a special holiday memory.

Furthermore, a hot cocoa station will be located in the lobby to greet guests for a sweet visit through and through. On December 6, there will be a special seating of the tea with a personalized photo opportunity with artists from Orlando Ballet: The Nutcracker Prince and Sugar Plum.

The Nutcracker Holiday Tea is available every Saturday and Sunday in December for $95 per adult and $45 per child. With limited availability, reservations are encouraged. Parking is complimentary. 

4. Experience a Dazzling Nights Takeover at Leu Gardens

The gardens transform during evenings in November and December into a vibrant seasonal display, bringing every evening to life. Tickets are required for this special event (even if you have a membership), but the cost of admission is worth it to delight in snowfall, listen to festive music, and enjoy the warmth of sweet treats and drinks.

Advance tickets are required, starting at $30 each, and the event runs from November 28, 2025, through Sunday, January 04, 2026. Parking near the gardens is available for a fee based on availability, or complimentary off-site parking with a shuttle bus to the gardens is just a short ride away. Even the shuttle bus features a light show set to music to start the evening off right! 

5. Make it a Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage is back at Orlando Family Stage on Princeton Street after a successful 2024 to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Peanuts and the 60th Anniversary of the animated television classic by Charles M. Schultz!

Several shows of this holiday favorite will take place starting November 24 through December 23, 2025, in the morning, afternoon, and early evening, with three special shows to accommodate all audience-goers: one featuring American Sign Language, another designated a Relaxed show, and a third Audio Descriptive Show.

Celebrate the holidays with beloved characters that come to life during the 75-minute performance and support local theater. Admission is just $20 per ticket. Read more here.

6. Enjoy Holiday Music at Morse Museum in Winter Park 

For five consecutive Friday nights, from November 28 to December 26, 2025, enjoy free live music at the Morse Museum on Park Ave. Doors open at 4:00 pm with music from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Additionally, Winter Park has a variety of additional holiday events throughout the season, including Winter on the Avenue with the city’s annual tree lighting from 5:00 to 9:00 pm on Friday, December 5, 2025, or the famous annual Christmas In The Park the day before on December 4, a two-hour program beginning at 6:15 pm in Central Park on Park Ave. (It is advised to arrive at least one hour before the event starts with lawn chairs or a picnic blanket to sit on the park lawn.) The event, returning for its 47th year, features turn-of-the-century Tiffany windows for guests to admire as the Bach Festival Choir and Brass Ensemble perform in concert on the main stage. Chanukah on the Park will take place December 14 starting at 5:30 pm on Central Park as well.

All events are free to attend and free street parking and garage parking are available. 

7. Stroll Through the Holidays in Winter Garden 

Every day from December 5, 2025, to January 4, 2026, you can visit the Main Street Holiday Stroll in historic downtown Winter Garden. The immersive holiday experience features outdoor, picturesque, season-long displays open every day, perfect for holiday photos.

Located on South Main Street between West Plant Street and West Joiner Street, the Main Street Holiday Stroll area is closed to vehicular traffic, allowing for a comfortable, pedestrian-only experience to enjoy the sights, shop, and dine.

Holiday Flix will play to your cinematic holiday nostalgia, featuring a series of movies like White Christmas, A Christmas Story, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on various dates for $5 advance ticket purchase. Lastly, don’t miss the city’s annual Light Up Winter Garden on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm (lighting at 6:15 pm), complete with a children’s snow area. Admission and parking are free.

8. Enter a Winter Wonderland in Ocala

Guests will marvel at over one million twinkling lights, immersive decor, and festive family-friendly experiences as the World Equestrian Center in Ocala transforms into a dazzling holiday destination from November 28 to December 23, 2025. Tickets start at $5 per person.

Meet Santa in Indoor Arena 2 or catch the Grinch’s antics in Indoor Arena 1. Every Friday and Saturday brings a full lineup of live holiday performances, face painters, balloon artists, and exceptional seasonal bites. Shop for holiday gifts at more than 30 boutique retailers and festive vendors, plus a toy store for little ones. Families can make it a true holiday escape and treat themselves to the spa or Emma’s Patisserie, offering holiday treats by its award-winning pastry chef.

9. Be Wowed by Creativity at Orlando’s Festival of Trees

Why have one holiday tree when you can have several? The Festival of Trees will wow you as you walk through an indoor holiday wonderland that transforms the Orlando Museum of Art into a creative oasis for holiday goers.

Trees are sponsored and decorated with an individual theme, from celebrating America's 250th Anniversary to the film Wicked. There are also impressive wreaths to admire, a station for writing letters to Santa, and a holiday-themed shop to purchase gifts. All trees and wreaths are for sale at this ticketed event that runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, November 15 to 23, 2025, with proceeds benefitting the Council of 101, which helps further the cultural development and appreciation of the visual arts in Central Florida. 

10. Find Holiday Cheer in Lake County’s Picture-Perfect Towns

Lake County transforms into a festive holiday escape each December, offering small-town charm straight out of a Hallmark movie. Santa’s annual Santa Tour 2025 brings him to parks across Clermont from December 8 to 11, escorted by the city’s fire and police departments, with six locations and three stops each day (locations TBD).

December 6 is packed with free celebrations, beginning with the Clermont Christmas Parade at 10:00 am, featuring “Christmas of Champions”–themed floats and lively entertainment. That evening, visitors can enjoy Light Up Mount Dora’s 35th Annual Lighted Boat Parade after 6:00 pm, or head to downtown Tavares for its Christmas Celebration starting at 5:00 pm, complete with a parade, snow flurries, movies, and Santa’s arrival by seaplane.

Leesburg also joins the festivities on December 6 with its all-day Christmas Festival, culminating in the 58th Annual Leesburg Christmas Parade at 6:00 pm.

11. Get Festive with Four Seasons Resort Orlando

Experience the most wonderful time of year at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort with palm trees wrapped in white lights and stunning contemporary holiday decor throughout the 26-acre property.

A special Holiday Afternoon Tea will be offered Saturdays and Sundays, between November 22 and December 21, 2025, at the resort’s Ravello restaurant from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm for $78 per adult and $38 per child. Valet parking is fully validated at the host stand for anyone dining at the property’s restaurants, including the holiday tea.

Enjoy watching holiday movie classics on the Dive-In Movie screen, such as The Polar Express and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas as a family during your stay with Kids For All Seasons, the Resort’s complimentary kids camp, open daily for ages 4 to 12, offering interactive programming with special holiday activities planned throughout winter, from story time, caroling, and cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus, to gingerbread house decorating, supervised swim times, and more.

Adults can get pampered at the Spa, offering a seasonal 50-minute Holiday Harvest Facial, with a decadent warming honey cleanser and notes of pumpkin and cinnamon. Merry Manis, Holiday Glow Pedicures, and Mistle-Toes nail treatments are available at The Salon. Assorted seasonal dining is also available at the resort.

12. Enjoy Holiday Festivities at Swan & Dolphin Resort

Head to the Swan and Dolphin Resort for holiday dining—or schedule time to visit Santa & Mrs. Claus there—and you'll be treated to seasonal sparkling decorations and a view of an enormous edible chocolate Santa. The confectionery feat was created with 880 lbs of chocolate and took over 300 hours to complete. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be in residence from November 28 through December 21, 2025, Thursdays through Sundays. Stay a night or two with the SANTA rate, starting at $239 per night (plus tax and resort service fee) for stays between December 1 and 24, 2025.

Make your holiday retreat extra special with a “Deck the Halls” package, including a 6-foot pre-lit Christmas tree, tree topper, ornaments, tree skirt, and Santa’s Stocking for an additional cost. Don't forget to participate in complimentary activities while you're there, like joining the Elves Magical Workshop, decorating holiday cookies on select nights from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, or walking through Santa’s Dancing Lights Spectacular at the resort's outdoor causeway, transforming the space into a dazzling nightly musical spectacle with dancing lights synchronized to favorite holiday tunes.

13. Enjoy Central Florida’s Original Snowfall Spectacle in Celebration

It’s snowing nightly at Celebration Town Center in Kissimmee! From November 29 to December 31, 2025, Celebration Town Center hosts Now Snowing Nightly, Central Florida’s original synthetic snow event.

Head to the picturesque town to enjoy free snowfall on the hour at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 pm, plus Charles Dickens-style carolers, community performances, a synthetic ice rink, horse-drawn carriage rides, Christmas sleigh rides, and the Celebration Express train. Photos with Santa are available through December 31.

Parking and admission for Now Snowing Nightly are free, and guests can find food, treats, shops, and restrooms throughout Celebration Town Center.

14. Step Into the Spirit of the Season in Polk County

Polk County is filled with festive traditions all season long, starting with Holidays at Bok Tower Gardens, which features daily carillon concerts, vibrant poinsettias, the decorated El Retiro estate, and the Tucker & Tillie Holiday Scavenger Hunt from November 28, 2025, to January 7, 2026. The 15th Annual Festival of Wreaths at the Polk County History Center runs from November 8 to December 12, showcasing handmade wreaths before winning bidders take them home.

Families can also enjoy Elf Flicks and Cocoa Sips at the Visit Central Florida Welcome Center with afternoon movie screenings from December 20 to 23 at 1:30 pm. Legoland is also decked out for the holidays with many photo opps, meet ‘n greets, and seasonal interactive entertainment on select dates in December.

One-day events add extra cheer in Polk County, including Santa at the Welcome Center on December 19 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, Meet Santa at Bok Tower Gardens on December 6 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, and Lakeland’s lively First Friday: Holiday Spectacular on December 5 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The season wraps up with The Flight Before Christmas at the Florida Air Museum on December 6 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, complete with treats, twinkling lights, and photos with Santa among historic aircraft.

15. Experience a European-Style Christmas Market

Grande Lakes Orlando invites guests to experience a magical winter wonderland this holiday season across its 500-acre luxury resort destination, anchored by The Ritz-Carlton Orlando and JW Marriott Orlando. The resort’s beloved Winter Wonderland Market returns on November 27th, transforming the grounds into a European-inspired village with artisan crafts, holiday treats, and hourly snowfall.

Accompanying the Winter Wonderland Market experience is the brand-new, outdoor ice rink available for guests to skate from November 27 through January 3, and offering cozy fire pits for warming up afterwards. Other festive favorites available for guests include Santa’s Teddy Bear Tea, Gingerbread School, and a dazzling Magic Show: Holiday Edition by magician Drew Thomas (tickets available for purchase online).

Guests can toast the season with the Holiday Cocktail Tour or celebrate in style at the Fireworks & Fizz soirée. Packages like the Festive Escape offer resort credits, ice-skating tickets, and luxury perks for an unforgettable winter retreat.

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando offers valet parking only at $58 plus tax per day, and the JW Marriott Orlando offers self-parking ($40 plus tax per day) and valet parking ($58 plus tax per day).

16. Have a Full Day of Holiday Fun at Gaylord Palms

From November 14, 2025, to January 7, 2026, Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center becomes a complete holiday wonderland. ICE!, featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, uses 2 million pounds of carved ice in a 9-degree walk-through attraction with slides and larger-than-life scenes.

The resort also hosts the POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance Cirque show, the Here We Glow A Caroling light show, Mrs. Claus storytelling, The Greatest Story stage show, plus snow tubing, Snowball Build & Blast, Elf Training Academy, gingerbread decorating, a Build-A-Bear Workshop, and more. Guests can shop at Alpine Village, with more than 100 decorated trees and a 60-foot centerpiece tree. Tickets for ICE! and select activities are available to day visitors and overnight guests, with dining, paid parking, and restrooms on site.

17. Discover Holinights Magic at the Promenade at Sunset Walk

Join the Promenade at Sunset Walk for their annual Holinights Celebration, featuring Santa Claus and his Mischievous Elves, towering toy soldiers, and the nightly lighting of the 40-foot animated HoliNights Christmas tree at 6:30 pm.

There are over 30 restaurants, experiences, arcades, movie theaters, and shops at the Promenade at Sunset Walk, so go with plenty of time to enjoy it all. It will be an extra special day on December 14, starting at 11:00 am, for Santa’s Toy Drive Car and Truck Show.

Give back with toy donations, encouraged for participants and spectators during this special car show. There is free admission and free parking at the events, which are pet-friendly as well.

18. Feel Festive at Evermore & Conrad Orlando

Evermore in Orlando brings the holidays to life with a full season of festive, family-friendly experiences across its 1,000-acre lakefront resort. Registered guests can enjoy daily highlights like the new Glow n’ Stroll, a self-guided walking tour of twinkling decorations, along with ongoing holiday crafts, kids’ activities, and themed festivities throughout December. 

Weekends feature spirited happenings, such as Rudolph’s Reindeer Games, while Conrad Orlando at Evermore enhances the season with bookable holiday cabanas and in-room elf visits for added magic. Families can also join limited-time events like Sunny’s Merry Little Christmas Party, December 20 and 21, 2025, or a Christmas Eve gingerbread decorating competition. For visitors who are not staying overnight, a variety of special dining experiences are available for reservations Christmas Eve through New Year’s Eve.

Why not indulge in a relaxing Holiday Spice & Everything Nice massage at Conrad Spa Orlando before dinner, complete with holiday-inspired aromatherapies? With festive dining, spa treatments, and even fully decorated residences available, Evermore makes it easy for groups of all ages to celebrate the season together in a uniquely Orlando way. 

19. Enjoy Drones, Fireworks & Seasonal Fun at Orlando World Center Marriott

Orlando World Center Marriott is launching its largest-ever lineup of festive experiences with the 12 Days of Holiday Fun, running December 20 to 31, 2025, transforming the massive resort into a family-friendly holiday destination.

Guests can explore an all-new Holiday Village, complete with horse-drawn carriage rides, train rides, character meet-and-greets, crafts, sweet treats, and seasonal cocktails. The celebration also features nighttime entertainment, including synchronized drone shows on December 28 and 30 and multiple nights of fireworks viewable from the pool deck or hotel room balconies.

Inside the lobby, a giant gingerbread house made from more than 5,000 handmade bricks adds even more seasonal charm. Holiday activities are open to overnight guests, with a mix of complimentary and low-cost options, and the resort offers convenient parking, 10 on-site dining venues, and a special holiday package available for stays between December 24 and 31, 2025. Valet ($35) and self-parking ($22) options are available.

Holiday Fun is Endless in Central Florida

The Orlando area is fun year-round, yet the holidays bring a special sparkle to Central Florida. For more information and links to any of the 19 seasonal events mentioned in this article, visit here.