There’s so much to do in the City Beautiful — and plenty of ways to experience it without breaking the bank.
If you’re going out, it’s wise to phone first. Events are subject to change at any time. Many venues are open fewer hours and require a reservation.
Brand new holiday event, Dazzling Lights, at Leu Gardens.
We’d love your input if you have anything to add to this list. Here are our top picks for free and cheap things to do in Orlando.
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FREE & CHEAP THINGS TO DO IN ORLANDO
Note: Sometimes, things change after we post an event. It’s always a good idea to check directly with venues and event organizers to confirm before you go.
43rd Annual Christmas in the Park
Thursday, December 2 at 6:15pm
Central Park, Winter Park
FREE outdoor event. The Bach Festival Choir performs in concert on the main stage accompanied by the beautiful backdrop of eight turn-of-the-century Tiffany windows. Check out the schedule of all the holiday events in Winter Park.
2021 Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, December 3, 5pm – 9pm
Washington Plaza, Lake Eola Park
FREE Tree Lighting Celebration with Mayor Buddy Dyer featuring performances at the Walt Disney Amphitheater, food trucks, a holiday market and meet and greets with Santa at the Eola House.
It is most wonderful time of the year! Check out free & cheap holiday events, Christmas light displays, and where to meet Santa.
Holiday Friday Nights at the Morse
Fridays through December 31, 2021, 4pm – 8pm
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park
FREE entry to the museum and live music to celebrate the holiday season.
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony & Winter on the Avenue
Friday, December 3, 5pm – 9pm
Central Park, Winter Park
FREE. Santa Claus, Popcorn Flicks in the Park, live music, snow slides for the kids, take home s’mores from the Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department, and so much more.
Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll & Map Activity
Now through the New Year
Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista
FREE to park and pick up a Christmas Tree Map to search Disney Springs for Disney themed Christmas trees.
ICON Park’s Santa Workshop Experience
Now through December 24
ICON Park Orlando
Make your reservation online for $20 (cost is applied to any photo package you purchase). With your reservation, you’ll get free parking, free train ride, and as many cell phone photos you want to take with Santa. Every child who participates in The Santa Workshop Experience will receive a FREE ticket to ride The Wheel at ICON Park. Additional tickets can be purchased for a 50% discount.
Here are more places to meet Santa in Orlando.
Wekiva Island’s Winter Wonderland
December 3 – 25, 2021
Wekiva Island turns into a fun holiday destination along the river with activities throughout the season. Check out the full Winter Wonderland schedule here. $2 admission fee.
Check out our BIG list of free & cheap holiday events around town.
Brew & View: Tis the Season Edition
Featuring: The Santa Claus
Friday, December 3, 6pm-9:30pm
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co., Orlando
FREE Christmas classics on the screen, food trucks, kids’ activities and more!
Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
Friday, December 3 at 6pm
St. Cloud City Hall
FREE community event with pictures with Santa, carolers, crafts and more!
North Pole Drive-Thru
Friday, December 3, 6pm-8pm
Reed Canal Road, South Daytona
FREE event. Drive through the North Pole to see Santa!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Friday, December 3, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Ritz Theater, Sanford
FREE tickets available to experience this holiday favorite in the theater.
Getdown Downtown Street Party
Friday, December 3, 6pm-9pm
Independence Lane, Maitland
FREE event with special music guest, kids’ fun zone, food vendors and more!
Evening with Santa
Friday, December 3, 6:30pm – 9pm
Ocoee Lakeshore Center
FREE event with a meet and greet with Santa, a magician show, arts and crafts, and other fun activities. Pizza and light refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required, space is limited.
Mt. Dora Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 4, 10am-12pm
Downtown Mt. Dora
FREE Christmas parade through the streets of Mt. Dora.
31st Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade
Saturday, December 4, 7pm-9pm
Grantham Point, Mt. Dora
FREE to watch the festive boats cruise by.
Leadership Winter Park Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, December 4, 7am-10am
Central Park, Winter Park
Tickets $6 for a pancake breakfast that supports youth leadership.
69th annual Winter Park “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 4 at 9am
Downtown Winter Park
FREE to watch holiday-themed floats, Santa Claus, and well-known local figures as they make their way down the avenue.
Jingle Jam Holiday Event
Saturday, December 4, 4pm-10pm
Historic Downtown Sanford
FREE event with live music on 3 stages, carnival games, holiday vendors and more!
The Nutcracker-Family & Sensory Friendly Show
Saturday, December 4 at 11am
Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, Orlando
Tickets start at $24 for a one hour, family- friendly rendition of The Nutcracker.
Light Up the Holidays
Saturday, December 4, 5pm-9pm
Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs
FREE event with fireworks, ice skating, live music and more!
Winter Garden Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 4 at 9am
Dillard Street and Plant Street, Winter Garden
FREE to enjoy a long-standing Christmas tradition!
Avalon Aglow
Saturday, December 4, 3pm-9pm
Downtown Avalon Park, Orlando
FREE event with a bounce park, food trucks, community performances and more.
Holiday Movie at Lake Eola Park
Featuring: Elf
Saturday, December 4 at 7pm
Lake Eola Park, Orlando
FREE holiday outdoor movie under the stars. Bring your chairs and blankets.
Holiday Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 4, 4pm – 8pm
Ocoee Lakeshore Center
FREE event with a countdown to the tree lighting, Santa’s Village, a kids’ zone, special guests and more.
Krampusfest
Sunday, December 5, 1pm-10pm
The Plaza Live, Orlando
FREE Krampus event. A European tradition with beer gardens, vendors, and plenty of punishments.
Yoga at the Brewery
Sunday, December 5, 10:30am-12pm
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co, Orlando
Tickets $10.
Cranes Roost Holiday Lights
Now through January 3, 2022
Cranes Roost Park
FREE. More than 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. Holiday Fountain Show with dazzling lights and dancing water 6pm-9pm every hour. Meet elves, stilt walkers, Santa and more! Check the schedule.
The best time of the year is here! Check out free & cheap holiday events, Christmas light displays, and where to meet Santa.
Ocoee Music in the Park Concert Series
Every third Friday through March 2022, 6pm – 9pm
Bill Breeze Park, Ocoee
FREE outdoor performances by different bands each month. The family-friendly event will include food trucks and a play zone for kids. Bring your own blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the sights and sounds overlooking beautiful Starke Lake.
Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens
Now through January 9, 2022
Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando
Tickets start at $22.
Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild
Now through January 16, 2022, 6pm-10pm
Central Florida Zoo, Sanford
Tickets start at $18.50. More than 30 unique, hand-crafted illuminated lanterns around the zoo.
Saturday Sounds Concert Series
Every Saturday through May 2022, 5pm – 7pm
Apopka Amphitheater
FREE outdoor concert.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK
Snow in the Park
Saturday, December 11, 4pm – 9pm
Donnelly Park, Mount Dora
FREE for kids to slide through snow.
City of Sanford Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 11 at 6pm
Downtown Sanford
FREE holiday parade through the streets.
Holiday Pops concert by Orlando Philharmonic
Saturday, December 11, 5pm – 7pm
Apopka Amphitheater
FREE Annual Holiday Pops concert. Pack a picnic and enjoy the sounds of the season.
Winter Park Holiday Boat Parade
Saturday, December 11, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
FREE parade. Sit at the Dinky Dock or on the Rollins College campus behind the Cornell Fine Arts Museum to see the impressive boat and dock holiday decorations created by residents and local business sponsors.
Check out our huge list of free & cheap holiday events in Orlando.
MORE ORLANDO EVENTS & THINGS TO DO
Sunset Live!
Fridays, 6pm – 10pm
Sunset Walk, Kissimmee
FREE live music.
Yoga at Mennello Museum of Art on Sunday.
Yoga in the Sculpture Garden
Sundays at 11:30am
Mennello Museum of American Art
$10 for a lakeside yoga flow class with Full Circle Yoga. Bring your own mat and water. Your ticket also includes a complimentary pass to enjoy the museum.
You might also want to check out free museum days in Orlando.
Weekend at the Winery
Saturday & Sunday
Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards, Clermont
FREE admission. Enjoy food, live entertainment and wine tastings.
Baby Goat Yoga
Classes available Friday – Sunday
Wildflower Farm, Orlando
$22 per person.
Sanford Ghost Tours
Friday & Saturdays at 7pm
Tickets start at $20. Go on a daring ghostly tour of historic downtown Sanford.
Winter Park Farmers’ Market
Saturdays from 8am to 1pm
Central Park, Winter Park
Yoga in the Garden
Saturdays at 9am
Mead Botanical Garden, Winter Park
$10 admission. Proceeds benefit the gardens.
Fridays on the Plaza
Fridays, 7pm-9pm
Centennial Plaza Gazebo, Downtown Winter Garden
FREE evening of live music on the plaza.
Public Ice Skating
RDV Ice Den, Maitland
$13 includes skate rental.
You might also be interested in where to go ice skating near Orlando.
Namaste for a Beer
Sundays, 10:30am-11:30am
Deviant Wolfe Brewing, Sanford
Tickets $15 includes a Deviant Wolfe beer.
Show Car Saturdays
Every Saturday at 4pm
Promenade at Sunset Walk, Kissimmee
FREE to check out classic and modern automobiles while enjoying the music of DJ Scotty B and local live bands.
Dr. Phillips Center Frontyard Festival
Dr. Phillips Center in downtown Orlando
Check out the list of free & cheap events happening during this six-month long outdoor festival featuring live entertainment, films and unique experiences.
You might also want to check out: deals for things to do in Orlando from Groupon.
Lake Eola Famers Market
Sundays, 10am-3pm
Lake Eola Park, Orlando
FREE admission. Stroll through the park and shop a variety of vendors.
Classic Car Show
Saturdays at 4pm
Old Town, Kissimmee
FREE to check out a variety of classic cars. Cars limited and spaced out for safety.
Winter Park Farmers’ Market
Saturdays from 8am to 1pm
Central Park, Winter Park
You might also want to check out more farmers’ markets in Central Florida.
Maitland Farmers’ Market
Sundays from 8:30am to 1:30pm
701 Lake Lily Drive
Wild Florida Drive-Thru Safari Park
Find discounted tickets for a limited time on Groupon.
Image courtesy: Abstract Orlando & Groupon
ORLANDO DEALS & DISCOUNTS
Here are some Groupon deals to check out this week in Orlando:
- Discounts to Snow Flow Mountain at Gaylord Palms
- Christmas in Color tickets
- Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
- Planet Obstacle in Lake Mary
- Horseback riding
- Wild Florida Tours
- Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
- The Wine Room on Park Avenue
- Bigfoot Axe Throwers
- Showcase of Citrus Swamp Tour
- Lost Caverns Adventure Golf
- Fluid art class at Abstract Orlando
- Aquatica Orlando discounted admission
FREE & CHEAP THINGS TO DO IN ORLANDO
- Mead Gardens is a FREE 47-acre park with an amphitheater, butterfly garden, boardwalk and bike trail.
- Winter Park Boat Tour: float through the canals and lush landscape of Winter Park’s waterways on a tranquil Scenic Boat Tour. The hour-long tour is $14 for adults.
- Lake Eola features a playground, art sculptures and swan boats ($15 for a 30-minute ride).
- Harry P. Leu Gardens is 50-acre botanical oasis boasting a rose garden, butterfly garden and a vegetable garden. $10 for adults, $5 for kids age 4-17, free for kids age 3 years and younger.
- Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is an 11-mile drive with a chance to view native animals in their natural habitat including 174 bird species. The drive is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Lukas Nursery & Butterfly Encounter is home to one of the largest native butterfly conservatories in the state of Florida.
Take a relaxing stroll.
There is nothing cheaper or more relaxing than a scenic walk. We have plenty of nice paths to stroll at local parks, county trails and picturesque gardens. Most of the walking paths near Orlando are completely free, unless otherwise noted.
Ride your favorite rollercoasters (from your couch).
Pretend you are in the middle of all the theme park excitement!
MORE FREE & CHEAP THINGS TO DO IN ORLANDO
- Cheap things to do with kids in Orlando
- Orlando attractions under $30
- Where to go ice skating in Orlando
- Best free and cheap outdoor adventures in Orlando
- Drive-In movie theaters near Orlando
For more Orlando discounts:
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Loretta Gatson says
Wrong week. We will be there August 25th -August 31, 2019.
Laura says
Hi Loretta! We create a list of free and cheap things to do for every weekend in Orlando. It is posted every Wednesday. We hope you check back for the events happening during your visit. – Laura
Angel says
Thank you for publishing this for us! Really appreciate it!!
Deborah L Trahan says
Great info…. thanks so much for sharing!!!
Laura says
We are so happy to hear that! You are very welcome!
Nick M. says
Absolute best website for events and activities in the Orlando area. I get the email and check the website every Thursday to help plan my weekend. Thanks for all the excellent info.
Laura says
We love this. Thank you so much, Nick, for being a loyal reader!