Celebrate Christmas in Orlando: Holiday Events, Lights, and More!

by Dani Meyering

Now that December is here, it’s time for all things yuletide! With the holiday season officially on, there are festive happenings in town. Christmas in Orlando is the most magical time of year – without question. And there is so much to do during the holidays around here. We’ve curated this guide to the best holiday events in Orlando to fuel your holiday date nights.

Check out our bucket list of must-do experiences, view some holiday lights, find our picks for FREE events, watch a classic Christmas movie, and celebrate the holidays in Orlando theme parks. Our guide has it all!

You can also browse kid-friendly FREE holiday events in Orlando.

Christmas Events List for 2026

Looking for an overview of our top picks for celebrating the holidays in Orlando? This is your section! Below you can skim our curated list of the must-do holiday events and experiences.

FEATURED EVENTS:

Christmas at Gaylord Palms: ice!™ featuring The Polar Express™

Dates: Through January 3, 2027
Location: Gaylord Palms Resort, 6000 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, Florida 34746

Christmas at Gaylord Palms transforms the 65-acre resort into a sparkling holiday destination filled with festive wonder and family fun. The yuletide celebration is anchored by the return of “ice! featuring The Polar Express™,” where more than 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice bring the beloved holiday story to life in a dozen larger-than-life scenes inside a 9-degree environment. Guests also can enjoy the award-winning POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance show, snow tubing down Snow Flow Mountain, photos with Santa, snowball throwing, a dazzling atrium light display and hundreds of Christmas trees.

Use code DATENIGHT to save up to 25%* on ice! and POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance tickets!

*Valid Online Only. Maximum 8 tickets per order. Taxes and fees may apply. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Discount not valid on previously purchased tickets. Blackout dates may apply.

A woman poses as her date takes her picture in front of an ice sculpture at Gaylord Palms' ice! — Use code DATENIGHT to save up to 25%* on ice! and POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance tickets at Gaylord Palms ice!

Plan a Holiday Staycation at Grande Lakes

Dates: Nov. 25, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027
Location: The Ritz Carlton Orlando, Grand Lakes

Glide into excitement at Grande Lakes’ new ice-skating rink, snuggle up by the fire pits, enjoy The Magic Show: Holiday Edition, stroll through Christmas Market to pick unique gifts and crafts, and so much more. It’s the perfect holiday destination, filled with festive cheer and joyful celebrations!

Book the Festive Escape package early using code THM and save up to 20%, with included resort credits and ice-skating tickets.

2026 Holiday and Christmas Events at Theme Parks and Attractions

SeaWorld Orlando Christmas Celebration (Featured Image)

Date: Select nights, November 6, 2026 – January 4, 2027
Location: SeaWorld Orlando
Cost: Included with park admission

SeaWorld Orlando transforms into a winter wonderland with millions of twinkling lights, festive shows, and holiday treats. Families can meet Rudolph and friends, take in seasonal performances like Winter Wonderland on Ice, and enjoy kid favorites such as Elmo’s Christmas Wish. Little ones will love the snow flurries, holiday trains, and Santa photo ops throughout the park. This beloved annual celebration brings holiday magic to life for all ages.

LEGOLAND Christmas Bricktacular

Dates: November 21– January 3, 2026
location: Legoland Florida Resort
Cost: Included with park admission

Looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate the holidays in Florida? LEGOLAND® Christmas Bricktacular brings the magic of the season to LEGOLAND® Florida Resort with festive entertainment, LEGO® holiday displays, character experiences, interactive activities and plenty of opportunities to build holiday memories together!

Holiday Harbor Nights

Date: Friday, November 27, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Kick off the holiday season at Holiday Harbor Nights, returning the Friday after Thanksgiving with Italian-inspired cuisine, fine wines, live music and the grand illumination of Portofino’s Christmas tree. Set in the Harbor Piazza at Universal Orlando Resort, this festive open-air event brings the spirit of Italy to life. Enjoy unlimited culinary samplings from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants, paired with a handpicked selection of wines. A live band and special balcony opera performance add to the evening’s charm. Perfect for wine lovers, food enthusiasts and anyone seeking a memorable holiday night out, this is an event not to miss.

Read our guide to Where to Find Orlando’s Best Holiday Lights for even MORE ideas!

See Christmas Lights in Orlando

Holiday Happenings at The Packing District

Friday, December 4, The Packing District will host its Holiday Tree Lighting from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Great Southern Box Co. Food Hall. Families can enjoy food and beverage specials while gathering around the tree before heading over to the Grove Park for the annual Holiday Pops concert. At 7 p.m., the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra takes the stage at the Della Phillips Pavilion for Holiday Pops.
Sunday, December 13, the Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA will host the Jingle Jog 5K & Fun Run. Run it, walk it, or cheer from the sidelines, then make a morning of it with a stop somewhere else in the district.

Find out more on how to Make a Day of the Holidays at The Packing District

Check out a Holiday Lights Display

Returning this year, Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens, which runs from select nights November 28, 2025 – January 4, 2026, takes you on a 3/4-mile journey through multiple holiday lights experiences.

A towering 50-foot star
Treetops adorned with elegant chandeliers
14’ yetis in swirls of snow
An 80 ft tunnel inspired by ancient stained glass

Tickets start at $31 for adults on weekdays and $39 on weekends, while children (ages 4-12) start at $29. This popular event sells out on peak dates, so secure your preferred date and time as quickly as possible.

Check out our Christmas lights section below for more ideas.

Where to Find Orlando’s Best Holiday Lights

Sip Festive Libations

Conduct your own holiday cocktail crawl all around Orlando! Follow our Disney Springs holiday pub crawl for even more festive fun.

Best of all, multiple spots are serving jolly drinks around town. Read more in our guide to Sip Festive Christmas Cocktails at Holiday Pop-Up Bars in Orlando.

Blitzen’s – An Omni Original

Date: Beginning November 20, 2026
Location: Eagles Edge at Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate

Experience Omni’s Signature Christmas-Themed Pop-Up Bar, Where the Cocktails Sleigh. This holiday season, Blitzen’s is decking the halls with ornaments, twinkle lights, tinsel, and more. Proud to partner with renowned mixologist, bar owner and author Julie Reiner, who brings her award-winning and exclusive cocktail recipes to Blitzen’s Bars across Omni. Known for co-founding iconic bars like Clover Club, Milady’s and Leyenda in New York City, and as a featured judge on Netflix’s Drink Masters, Julie combines classic techniques with creative innovation.

Snuggle Up in a Horse Drawn Carriage

See Downtown Winter Garden’s seasonal decor and holiday lights on a holiday horse drawn carriage tour. SOUL Haven Ranch offers this magical experience throughout December for $120.

The carriage fits up to four adults, or two adults and three kids.
Limited availability December 9-10, 15-17, 22-24, and 29-30.
Tours begin at the Winter Garden Downtown Pavillion (104 S Lakeview Ave). Reservations are required and can be booked online.

Explore more Horse Drawn Carriage Rides in Orlando.

Play in the Snow and Skate

The perfect touch of winter in Florida can be found at Wekiva Island’s Winter Wonderland. Enjoy nightly snow flurries, festive entertainment, outdoor movies, and visits from Santa on select days. The riverside Christmas Tree Forest features a stunning 20-foot tree, adding extra sparkle to this beloved local tradition that blends holiday cheer with natural Florida beauty.

Glide into excitement at Grande Lakes’ new ice-skating rink from November 25, 2026, through January 2, 2027! snuggle up by the fire pits, enjoy The Magic Show: Holiday Edition, stroll through Christmas Market to pick unique gifts and crafts, and so much more. It’s the perfect holiday destination, filled with festive cheer and joyful celebrations!

Watch Classic Holiday Movies

Now’s the time to watch all your favorite holiday flicks on the big screen! Check out our holiday movie section further down or check out the holiday movie lineup.

Cut your own Christmas tree

Orlando may not be the frosty north, but you can actually cut your own Christmas tree without the travel. In Eustis, not too far from Orlando, you can cut your own tree at Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest. This is an actual working tree farm, and you can cut your own tree. They provide the saw too!

These Florida Christmas trees are smaller than their northern cousins. Choose from sand pine, red cedar, or Arizona cypress. If you prefer a pre-cut traditional type of tree, please select Fresh Cut Northern Trees from the menu on Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest’s website.

Here’s How to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree at Santa’s Tree Farm

Holiday Events: Performances and Entertainment

Get in the holiday spirit at these special performances including The Nutcracker, holiday concerts, and more.

POMP, SNOW, AND CIQURQUEumstance

Dates: November 13, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
Location: Gaylord Palms

Experience the wonder of Christmas with gravity-defying circus acts, magic illusions, original music, and showstopping costumes in this 35-minute Broadway-style holiday spectacle.Make it a full evening and explore ice! featuring The Polar Express™.

Orlando Metropolitan Ballet Academy: Sugar Plum Fairy’s Winter Tale

Date: Thursday, December 10, 206, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater

Enjoy the magic of the season with a two-act ballet set in the enchanting world of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. The Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes Clara and the Nutcracker to her realm as the Land of Sweets comes alive with delightful performances.

FREE Holiday Events

A holiday date night doesn’t have to cost a dime. Partake in free festive celebrations throughout Orlando including tree lightings, festive parades, and so much more.

S “Holinights Celebration” at Promenade – Sunset Walk

Dates: November 19 – December 25, 2026
Location: Promenade at Sunset Walk, 3251 Margaritaville Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34747

Live Music and tree lighting hightly, snowball fights with the mischievous elves, Holinights craft and street markets, a Car Show, and More.

Winter Wonderland Market

Dates: November 25, 2026 – January 2, 2027, 5-9 p.m.
Location: Grande Lakes Orlando, Da Vinci Lawn

Discover the bliss of the holiday season with the Winter Wonderland Market. Stroll amongst European-inspired chalets featuring traditional holiday delicacies, tasty beverages, and local artisan crafts. This holiday affair includes hourly snowfall and many advent surprises for the entire family to enjoy.

Snow Falling Nightly in Celebration

Dates: November 28 – December 31, 2026, with nightly snowfall hourly at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Celebration Town Center, 610 Sycamore St, Suite 220, Kissimmee, FL 34747

Celebration Town Center offers “Now Snowing-Celebration’s Winter Wonderland”, a family-friendly holiday experience with some of the best “snow” you can find in Central Florida. Festive music, decorations, and adorable shops make this a great holiday tradition.

Check out our guide to 50+ Festive and Free Holiday Events in Orlando for the full scoop on the best free holiday events to attend.

Ring in the New Year

Close out the holiday season by waving goodbye to 2026 and hello to 2027! Refer to our NYE guide for the best parties, dinners, and celebrations. We’ll be updating our guides dates for 2026 are confirmed, but here’s a sneak peek at a few NYE events in Orlando.