If you want to make a day (or weekend) out of it, there are some great holiday celebrations going on all within a few hours' drive!
Nov 6 - Dec 24: Santa's Wonderland 2021 ~ Enjoy the magic of Christmas at your local Bass Pro Shop. Santa's Wonderland is now open for activities and photos! No reservations are needed for the carousel, but reservations are required for photos with Santa. Book your visit with Santa in the online reservation system at basspro.com/santa.
Nov 10 - March 27 (Select Days): Snowcat Ridge ~ Snowcat Ridge is an alpine snow park featuring a 60-foot-tall and 400-foot-long real snow-covered tubing hill with a magic carpet lift, an Alpine Village, and a ten thousand square foot snow dome.
Nov 12 - Jan 2: Sea World Orlando's Christmas Celebration ~ SeaWorld transforms into a winter wonderland sparkling with holiday cheer, excitement, and over 3 million beautiful lights. Experience award-winning entertainment like the show-stopping ice-skating extravaganza Winter Wonderland on Ice. Meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or head to Wild Arctic® and visit with Santa himself. Create unforgettable holiday memories with a magical Christmas celebration you can only find at SeaWorld.
Nov 12 - Jan 2: Busch Gardens ChristmasTown ~ The holidays come to life at Busch Gardens® Christmas Town™, the park’s award-winning holiday event. Celebrate the year with holiday cheer and create merry memories for the whole family during this iconic seasonal event. Included in park admission, park guests can enjoy holiday traditions with a twist, from millions of twinkling lights throughout the park’s 335 acres to holiday shows and visits with Santa and Rudolph® the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Nov 13 - Jan 2: Holidays at Universal Orlando ~ Anyone can “Ho-ho-ho” and “Fa-la-la” for the holidays. But if you want to scream, laugh and shout your jingle bells off, you’ve got to awesome up your holiday at Universal Orlando Resort, where we do the holidays big time. It’s the biggest, loudest, awesomest holiday celebration of the season.
Nov 19 - Jan 2: Christmas at Gaylord Palms ~ There is no better way to celebrate the holiday season in the Orlando, FL area than gathering your family for holiday fun during Christmas at Gaylord Palms. With classic holiday activities like photos with Santa, spectacular shows like Cirque: Spirit of Christmas, thrilling experiences like ice tubing, and our all-new Gaylord Hotels Original Experience Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf™, there is something for everyone, and you can do it all with So. Much. Christmas. at Gaylord Palms Resort.
Nov 20 - Jan 3: Crayola Experience Orlando Colorful Christmas ~ Our Colorful Christmas Crew is back with a NEW challenge! Can you help Santa and his friends save the holiday? Plus enjoy some SNOWtastic adventures as you go! Meet our animatronic Christmas characters and listen to them tell stories as you solve their riddles. Dive into a life-sized snowglobe, watch a light show starring Scarlet and her singing reindeer friends. All while crafting unique gifts from the heart! It's a holiday hullabaloo with SNOW much to do! All included in general admission.
Nov 20 - Jan 17: Winter Beach at St Pete Pier ~ Celebrate the holiday season the St. Pete way: with the only beach front, real-ice ice skating rink with a 360″ water view on the St. Pete Pier. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert skater, the ice skating rink at Winter Beach is a must do with your friends and family. There’s always something to do at Winter Beach and at the St. Pete Pier: From Ice Skating, to Santa sightings, to an arcade, or a free holiday concert; make sure to check out all the event & activity schedule on the website! Find the perfect gift this holiday season at the Winter Beach Holiday Market, featuring a diverse lineup of local vendors, artists, and the Winter Beach gift shop.
Nov 25 - Jan 2: Wonderland of Lights ~ Make your plans for the holiday season to visit THE WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS & SANTA’S VILLAGE. Don’t miss the ORIGINAL Santa’s Village with specialty vendors, delicious foods, oh so many rides, interactive experiences, and of course…SANTA! See you our NEW LOCATION at the International Market World in Aburndale!
Select Nights Nov 26 - Dec 30: River of Lights ~ Experience the River of Lights aboard Pirate Water Taxi. You will pass beneath low bridges to enter the beautiful Hillsborough River for a one-of-a-kind tour of lighted bridges and downtown. Our Captains will entertain you with a whimsical narration and you can join in for a sing-along of Christmas carols. Kids can also write a letter to Santa and send it through our mail buoy to the North Pole, plus they’ll get a special gift. There is no better way to experience the holidays in Tampa.
Select Nights Nov 26 - Dec 30: Christmas in the Wild ~ It’s the most wonderful time of the year at ZooTampa with the return of Christmas in the Wild, featuring one of Tampa Bay’s largest light displays, delectable holiday treats, amazing wildlife and new festive adventures. This year is BIGGER, better, and brighter than ever, with six new illuminated zones of lights, festive entertainment that the whole family will enjoy. Christmas in the Wild is a limited capacity event. Advanced purchase tickets and timed reservations are strongly encouraged and the only way to guarantee admission.
Nov 26 - Jan 2 - Enchant Christmas St. Petersburg - The magical World of Enchant is filled with dazzling displays that feel like they come right out of a childhood Christmas dream. Marvel at the 100 ft. animated tree, glide across the glistening Ice Skating Trail, pose for photos with Santa himself, and sip and savor delicious festive holiday treats every step of the way.
Nov 26-28, Dec 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 24-31: Holidays at LEGOLand ~ This jolly time of year features a giant LEGO Christmas tree, unforgettable seasonal shows, holiday characters, special treats, LEGO® activities, twinkling lights and more during Holidays at LEGOLAND®! An extra special gift for you – this festive event is included in general admission!
Dec 10-11, 17-18 - Padgett Ranch Family Christmas ~ Enjoy a ride on the polar express barrel train, burn off some energy on the reindeer run obstacle course and the giant bounce pillow, take a Christmas story hayride, get your face painted, decorate a cookie for Santa, interact with Santa while hand delivering your letter, enjoy dinner at the Family Grill, roast your own marshmallows for delicious s’mores, and many more activities. 5:30PM to 8:30PM.
Dec 11 - Christmas in the Country - Experience how rural Americans celebrated Christmas! Enjoy seasonal décor, music and traditions, make holiday keepsakes, take part in traditional games and activities and more. 10AM to 4PM. Advance tickets required. Adults $12 || Children $10.
Dec 18: Brunch with Santa ~ Celebrate the holiday season with a visit to Santa at CMA!
Other events you may be interested in:
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