It’s definitely the best time of the year in Orlando! The weather is perfect and every town comes to life with exciting holiday events to celebrate the season. Fortunately, you don’t have to shell out a theme park ticket price to have an amazing Christmas experience. In fact, the best holiday events and things to do are absolutely FREE. From snow sledding to festive parades, get in the spirit with these free holiday happenings near Orlando.
Alive After 5 Holiday Fest
Thursday, December 13, 5pm-8pm
Downtown Sanford
Free street party with live entertainment, food and shopping.
Oh What Fun! Lake Nona Holiday Festival
Thursdays – Sundays, now through December 30
Lake Nona Town Center
Free event with live performances, free outdoor movies, ice skating, festive food, snow fall, and more.
Snow in the Park
Friday, December 14, 6pm-9pm (RESCHEDULED to one day only: Friday, Dec. 21, 2pm – 9pm)
Saturday, December 15, 9am-1pm (RESCHEDULED to one day only: Friday, Dec. 21, 2pm – 9pm)
West Meadow Central Park, Winter Park
Free event featuring ice slides, snowman contest, train rides, holiday music and more.
Holiday Art and Music in the Park & Food Truck Bazaar
Friday, December 14, 6pm-9pm
Lake Concord Park, Casselberry
Free event with live music, children’s activities, and Santa.
Live Holiday Music
Friday, December 14, 7pm-9pm
Eddie Rose Amphitheater, Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs
Free holiday music in the park.
Sanford Art Walk
Saturday, December 15, 6pm-9pm
Historic Sanford Welcome Center
Free event.
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 15, 9am-12pm
Center Lake Park Cultural Center, Oviedo
$10 per adult, $6 per child for a hearty breakfast, entertainment, and a meet and greet with Santa.
Breakfast with Santa
Sunday, December 16, 9am-12pm
Wekiva Island, Longwood
Adults $11.95, kids $8.95 for a breakfast buffet with Santa.
Jingle Bell Run 5K
Sunday, December 16 at 7am
Center Lake Park, Oviedo
$20 per adult, $15 for children. All participants receive jingle bells.
Winter Park Christmas Boat Parade & Ski Show
Saturday, December 15, 3pm – 8pm
Dinky Dock overlooking Lake Virginia
Ski display and show followed by a parade of decorated boats from homeowners along local lakes.
New Smyrna Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Saturday, December 15, 7pm – 9pm
New Smyrna, Canal Street
HOLIDAY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Wekiva Island Winter Wonderland Events
Now through December 30
Wekiva Island in Longwood
Enjoy a snow slide, snow flurries, free movies, visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more. Free during the week, $1 admission on weekends.
Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail
Now through January 6
Catch the spirit of the season without a theme park admission. Follow the Christmas Tree trail to discover 27 trees decorated with a different Disney character or theme.
Snow in Celebration
Now through December 31
The town transforms with holiday experiences throughout the month including live performances, snow falling nightly every hour, horse drawn carriages, train rides, a synthetic ice rink, and a Santa meet and greet.
Light Up UCF Ice Skating.
Light Up UCF
Now through January 1
Free fun for all ages including a holiday light show and FREE film festival on select Friday and Saturday nights featuring classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Elf.” On select nights, Santa will make a special appearance. Ice skating $12 (discounts available for students and military).
Santa’s Winter Wonderland Village
Select days, Dec. 7 – Jan. 6
Waterford Lakes Town Center
Christmas lights, holiday displays, a Santa’s Workshop and unique European amusement rides.
Friday Nights at the Morse
Fridays, 4pm-8pm
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
Free admission to the museum with live music, tours, and art demonstrations.
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro
Now through Dec. 24
FREE 4×6 studio-quality photo with Santa, games and fun activities.
Mall at Millenia Santa Experience
Now through Dec. 24
Meet Santa and take a photo using your own device with a $10 donation to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital.
Meet Santa at the Eola House
Share your wishlist with Santa at the Eola House in downtown Orlando weekend evenings through December 23.
RDV Ice Den SNOWFEST.
SNOWFEST
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2pm – 6pm
RDV Ice Den
$20 per person includes ice skating, snow slide, bounce houses, curling and more family fun.
WHERE TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Lake Mary
Close to a million lights dance to music in the park every evening in downtown Lake Mary. Shows every half hour, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Downtown Orlando for the Holidays
The Eola Wonderland 72–foot Christmas tree will come alive with a synchronized light and music show while the Lake Eola fountain displays red, green and gold lights to celebrate the holiday season.
Cranes Roost Lights
Dec. 1 – Jan. 1
Cranes Roost park comes alive with over 100 spectacular holiday displays featuring over 200,000 lights and a 60-foot tree decorated with 8,000 lights, 2,600 ornaments and over one mile of garland. Lights go on nightly at dusk. Holiday Fountain Show 6pm-9pm every hour.
Mount Dora
The quaint downtown and Donnelly Park are perfectly decorated in 2 million sparkling lights for the season.
Jeater Bend Drive
Nightly now – Jan. 1, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
11 homes featured on the show, The Great Christmas Light Fight.
2nd Annual Holiday Train Lights
Select weekend evenings, Dec. 14 – Dec. 23
RC&G Railroad, Osceola. Parking is $10 per car.
FREE OUTDOOR HOLIDAY MOVIES
Snuggle up and bring your own snacks, chairs or blanket for a memorable night in Orlando. Note: please make sure to check each website before you go because events are always subject to change.
Holiday Movies at Lake Eola Park
Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15: The Santa Clause
Dec. 21: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Holiday Movie Night at Cranes Roost
Cranes Roost, Plaza Tower, in Altamonte Springs, 7 p.m.
December 15: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
December 22: The Flight Before Christmas
December 29: Frozen
Wekiva Island Winter Wonderland
Wekiva Island at 8 p.m.
December 14: The Santa Clause
December 21: A Christmas Carol
Family Movie Night Old Town
Old Town in Kissimmee
Every Sunday night beginning at dusk
December 16: The Santa Clause 3
December 23: Christmas Vacation
December 30: The Polar Express
Light Up UCF Holiday Film Festival
CFE Arena
Select Friday and Saturday nights
UCF transforms into a winter fun zone with free light shows, FREE outdoor holiday movies, rides and attractions including ice-skating, an ice slide and photos with Santa.
December 14: A Christmas Story
December 15: The Polar Express
December 21: Disney’s A Christmas Carol
December 22: Elf
December 28: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 29: Frozen
Winter Garden Holiday Movie Night
Downtown Winter Garden, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
December 15: The Polar Express
DeLand Movie in the Park
Earl Brown Park, 4:30pm – 8pm
December 15: Elf
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