Florida for the Holidays: The Sunshine State at Its Brightest During Christmas

🕯️ Florida Holiday Events (2025–26 Season)

1. Nights of Lights – St. Augustine
   Dates: November 15, 2025 – January 11, 2026
   Don’t Miss: Light-Up! Night, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. in Plaza de la Constitución.

2. Holidays at Walt Disney World
   Dates: November 14 – December 31, 2025
   Highlights: EPCOT Candlelight Processional, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and park-wide nighttime spectaculars.

3. Lagoon of Lights – Islamorada, Florida Keys
   Dates: Mid-December weekends (exact schedule TBA)
   Details: A community-organized kayak and paddleboard parade through a glowing bioluminescent lagoon — Florida’s quietest holiday tradition.

4. ICE! at Gaylord Palms – Kissimmee
   Dates: November 14, 2025 – January 7, 2026
   Theme: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
   Experience: Walk-through frozen sculptures at 9°F, ice slides, and indoor snow play.

5. Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
   Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025 – 6:15 p.m.
   Route: Davis Islands to Sparkman Wharf along the Riverwalk.

6. Pensacola Winterfest
   Dates: November 21 – December 24, 2025 (select nights)
   Events: Caroling trolley tours, live performances, half a million lights downtown.

7. Magic of Lights – Daytona International Speedway
   Dates: November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026
   Details: Drive-through LED wonderland inside the Speedway; tune your radio for synchronized music.

8. Edison & Ford Holiday Nights – Fort Myers
   Dates: November 28, 2025 – January 4, 2026
   Highlights: Historic homes illuminated, gardens lit with Edison’s own invention — electric light.

9. Mount Dora Christmas Walk
   Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
   Experience: Pedestrian-only night through downtown; live music, local shopping, and small-town charm.

10. Asian Lantern Festival – Central Florida Zoo, Sanford
    Dates: Select nights, November 21, 2025 – January 12, 2026
    Details: 1,000+ hand-crafted lanterns, live cultural performances, and a mile-long walking trail of illuminated art.

11. Key West Lighted Boat Parade
    Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
    Location: Historic Seaport and Schooner Wharf Bar area
    Atmosphere: Local boats decked in holiday lights and Conch Republic personality.

🧭 Travel Tips

• Best Time for Photos: 20–30 minutes after sunset — the blue hour when sky and light merge.

• Tickets: Timed-entry events (ICE!, Lantern Festival, Zoo Lights) should be booked before lodging.

• Crowds: Waterfront events fill fast — arrive early and claim your spot.

• Weather: Pack light layers; temps swing between 50°–80° in December.

• Slow Down: Don’t rush it. Stay after the crowds leave. That’s when Florida’s lights stop being decorations and start telling stories.