Free & cheap things to do in Orlando, Dec. 5 – 8

What can you do for fun this week in Orlando without spending a lot of money? Here are our top picks for free and cheap things to do in Orlando this weekend, Dec. 5 – 8.

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You might also be interested in:
Free & cheap holiday events in Orlando
Where to see Christmas lights in Orlando

Downtown Orlando Tree Lighting Celebration this Friday.

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.

30 Days of Christmas in Downtown Orlando
Now through December 31
Snow and light shows every night and every hour between 6pm and 9pm. Free horse drawn carriage rides Thursday and Friday evenings, 6pm – 10pm. Free live entertainment, Thursday – Sunday, 6pm – 9pm.

41st Annual Christmas in the Park
Thursday, December 5 at 6pm
Central Park, Winter Park
FREE. The signature turn-of-the-century Tiffany glass windows of The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art serve as a beautiful backdrop as the Bach Festival Choir fills the air with Christmas carols.

Holiday Wine Walk
Thursday, December 5, 6pm-9pm
Avalon Park, Orlando
$15 donation in advance ($20 at the door). Each stop will feature wine tastings, festive drinks and specials. Enjoy live entertainment and Christmas caroling.

Oviedo Tree Lighting, Food Trucks & Santa
Thursday, December 5, 5pm – 9pm
Center Lake Park, Oviedo
FREE event with a tree lighting, reindeer, Santa, storytime with Mrs. Claus, carolers, food trucks and more.

Light Up Baldwin Park
Friday, December 6, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
FREE event with food trucks, music, art, and Santa photos. Tree lighting at 7:30pm.

Sanford Christmas in the Square
Friday, December 6, 6pm – 8pm
Downtown Sanford, Magnolia Square on First Street
FREE event with live entertainment, tree lighting, face painters, balloon artists and more.

32nd Annual Light Up Winter Garden
Friday, December 6, 6pm – 9pm
Downtown Winter Garden, Plant Street
FREE evening of holiday lights, live entertainment, shopping and kids’ activities.

You might also want to check out more tree lighting ceremonies in Orlando.

Downtown Orlando Tree Lighting Celebration
Friday, December 6, 5pm – 9pm
Lake Eola Park, Orlando
FREE to attend Mayor Buddy Dyer’s official lighting of the 72-foot-tall Christmas tree in downtown. Live entertainment, holiday performances and the Daily City’s Food Truck Bazaar. 

“Winter on the Avenue” in Winter Park
Friday, December 6, 5pm – 10pm
FREE holiday street party with snow slides, s’mores and a tree lighting ceremony at dusk. 

Apopka Tree Lighting & Winter Wonderland
Friday, December 6, 6pm – 8pm
Kit Land Nelson Park, Apopka
FREE event with “Florida snow,” performances, train rides and appearances by Santa.

Movie Night at Leu Gardens
Featuring: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Friday, December 6, 7:30pm-10pm
Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando
Adults $6, kids $3 for a movie in the gardens and under the stars.  

Here is our guide to free holiday movies in Orlando.

Christmas lights display in downtown Lake Mary.

Lake Mary Holiday in the Park
Friday, December 6, 6pm – 9pm
FREE event featuring the lighting of a 32-foot holiday tree, dancing light shows, snow zone, a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus, and much more. Visit City Hall throughout the month of December to enjoy thousands of colorful lights synchronized to music.

The Orlando Renaissance Festival
December 6 – December 8
Bill Frederick Park, Orlando
Day pass $10, weekend pass $25. Historical exhibits, adventure, music, food, and more. 

Popcorn Flicks in the Park
Featuring: Elf
Friday, December 6 at 7pm
Central Park Main Stage, Winter Park
FREE. Bring your own snacks, blankets and chairs to enjoy a film under the stars. 

The Nutcracker Performance
Friday, December 6, 6pm-8pm
Center Lake Park, Oviedo
FREE family event. Bring your blanket to sit and enjoy a two-act ballet performance. 

BOA Museums on Us Weekend
December 7 & December 8
FREE admission to four Orlando museums with your bank card.

Jingle and Mingle Small Business Shopping
Saturday, December 7, 11am-2pm
Lake Mary Community Center
FREE event with Santa appearances, holiday crafts, games, shopping and more. 

The Grove’s Winter Wonderland
Saturday, December 7, 11am – 2pm
The Grove Drive, Windermere
FREE event with real snow, stilt walkers, face painting, train rides and more.

Winter Springs Winter Wonderland
Saturday, December 7, 4:30pm – 9pm
Winter Springs Town Center
FREE event with live entertainment, a kids’ playland, and a holiday parade at 4:30pm. Tree lighting celebration and a visit from Santa Claus in the evening.

Longwood Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 7, 3pm – 5pm
Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood
FREE community parade with decked out cars, characters, bands and local talent.

Altamonte Springs Light Up the Holidays
Saturday, December 7, 5pm – 9pm
Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs
FREE event with 200,000 holiday lights, a 60-foot Christmas tree, live music, train rides and appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Food and beverages available for purchase. 

Mount Dora’s 59th Annual Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 7 at 10am
FREE Christmas parade along the streets of downtown Mount Dora.

Casselberry Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Saturday, December 7, 5pm – 8pm
Lake Concord Park
FREE outdoor event with a tree lighting and local singers. Bring your own chairs and blankets.

Mount Dora’s Lighted Boat Parade
Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm
FREE parade begins at Lighthouse on Grantham Point, Across from Gilbert Park on Tremain Street and Liberty Avenue, Downtown Mount Dora.

Daytona Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Saturday, December 7 at 6pm
FREE to find a spot along the Halifax River and watch the festive boats float by.

Winter Park’s 67th Annual “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 7, 9am – 10:30am
FREE parade along beautiful Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park.

Sanford’s Jingle Jam
Saturday, December 7, 4pm – 10pm
FREE holiday street festival in downtown Sanford with live music and food trucks.

Maitland’s Season of Light
Saturday, December 7, 5:30pm – 8pm
Lake Lily Park, Maitland
FREE entertainment, fireworks show, food vendors and Santa appearances.

KidX Club Holiday Movie Night: The Polar Express
Saturday, December 7 at 6:30pm
Waterford Lakes Town Center, Orlando
FREE outdoor movie starting at 7:30pm.

Symphony Storytime Series at The Plaza Live
December 7 & December 8
The Plaza Live, Orlando
Tickets start at $10 for a fun musical interpretation of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Wild Winter Wonderland
Saturday, December 7 2pm-6pm
Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, Orlando
FREE general admission. Wildlife enchanted forest/wildlife walk $5 per person. Kids’ activities, wildlife encounters, Santa appearances and more. 

Jingle Jam 2019
Saturday, December 7, 4pm-10pm
Historic Downtown Sanford
FREE event with live music, food trucks, carnival games, magic shows and more. 

21st Annual Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, December 7, 7am-10:30am
Central Park Main Stage, Winter Park
$5 for a pancake breakfast in the park before and during the Christmas parade.

Holiday Sunday Funday
Sunday, December 8, 12pm-4pm
Boxi Park, Lake Nona
Pay as you go. Make your own snow globe, seasonal food, and more activities. 

Free Family Funday at the Museum
Sunday, December 8, 12pm-2:30pm
Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando
FREE admission to make a family craft and tour the galleries. 

Love Your Shorts Film Festival
Sunday, December 8, 7:30pm-9pm
Timucua, Orlando
FREE event, $10-$20 suggested donation. Watch some of the best short films created in the last decade. 

New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 7, 4pm – 6:30pm
Flagler Ave. to Canal Street, New Smyrna Beach
FREE holiday parade. 

Light Up UCF
Now through January 5
FREE fun for all ages including a holiday light show, holiday market, performances and FREE film festival on select Friday and Saturday nights featuring holiday classic movies. On select nights, Santa will make a special appearance. Ice skating $12 (discounts available for students and military). $6.50 ice slide, $4.25 for rides; or buy an Ultimate Pass for $20.

ICE! returns to Gaylord Palms
Now through January 5
Celebrating its 17th season in Orlando, ICE! is returning to Gaylord Palms for another year of frozen fun. The annual holiday attraction features two million pounds of ice hand-carved into elaborate, interactive sculptures and slides. Find out how to get discounted ICE! tickets here.

Holiday Fountain Show
Now through January 1, starting at 6pm once an hour
Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs
FREE fountain light show and dancing water. 

Oh What Fun!  Lake Nona Holiday Festival
November 29 through January 5
Lake Nona Town Center, Orlando
FREE parking and entry to event with ice skating, carolers, holiday music, holiday movies, Santa and more. 

Wekiva Island’s Winter Wonderland
Now through January 1
FREE admission. Wekiva Island in Longwood transforms into a holiday destination with activities throughout the season including a real snow slide ($7 – $10 for unlimited rides) and snow flurries daily.

You might also want to check out: free and cheap holiday activities in Orlando.

Holidays at Old Town
Now through December 25
Old Town, Kissimmee
FREE event with snow flurries, live music, twinkling lights and more. 

Snow in Celebration
Now through December 31
Downtown Celebration
The town transforms with holiday experiences throughout the month including live performances, snow falling nightly every hour, train rides, a synthetic ice rink, and a Santa meet and greet. $10 for 30 minutes of ice skating on the synthetic rink (includes skates). $5 for train and wagon rides.

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail
Open daily through the holiday season
Disney Springs
FREE admission and parking to walk through some of the best decorated Disney inspired Holiday Trees.

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro
Now through December 24 (check schedule)
FREE 4×6 studio-quality photo with Santa, free crafts, games and fun activities.

MORE THINGS DO IN ORLANDO

• Gaylord Palms ICE discounts
• Where to see Christmas lights in Orlando
• Where to go ice skating in Orlando

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