Florida for the Holidays: The Sunshine State at Its Brightest During Christmas
🕯️ Florida Holiday Events (2025–26 Season)
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.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.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.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.Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025 – 6:15 p.m.
Route: Davis Islands to Sparkman Wharf along the Riverwalk.Pensacola Winterfest
Dates: November 21 – December 24, 2025 (select nights)
Events: Caroling trolley tours, live performances, half a million lights downtown.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.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.Mount Dora Christmas Walk
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Experience: Pedestrian-only night through downtown; live music, local shopping, and small-town charm.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.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.
Biketoberfest: The Truth About Daytona Beach's Big Bike Rally
Every October, the rumble of engines and the smell of leather and chrome transform Daytona Beach into the epicenter of biker culture.
Biketoberfest isn’t just another motorcycle rally - it’s one of the largest gatherings of riders in the country, bringing hundreds of thousands of people to Florida’s Atlantic coast.
But beyond the roar of Harleys and the rows of custom bikes, there’s a deeper story worth telling.
In this episode of the Chad Gallivanter podcast, we go beyond the surface to uncover the truth about Biketoberfest - how it began, how it compares to Bike Week, what it means for local businesses, and why the culture behind it is so much more than beer tents and burnouts.
You’ll hear about Main Street’s iconic hangouts, the traditions that keep riders coming back year after year, and the side of the rally most visitors don’t see. We also dive into the challenges: the safety concerns, the push-and-pull between city officials and the biker community, and the evolving image of what this event represents today.
Whether you’re a longtime rider, a curious traveler, or just someone who’s heard the thunder from a distance, this episode gives you the full picture of Daytona’s Biketoberfest.
It’s history, culture, and spectacle all rolled into one, and by the end, you’ll know why this rally continues to define the identity of America’s most famous beach town.
Chad’s Top Picks
Main Street Daytona Beach
The heart of Biketoberfest. Live music, packed bars, vendor tents, custom bikes on display, and nonstop action day and night. This is the strip where the energy never fades.
📍 Main Street, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona International Speedway
The Speedway transforms into a biker’s playground during Biketoberfest. Expect demo rides, custom bike shows, gear vendors, and the chance to take it all in at one of the most legendary racing venues in America.
📍 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL
🌐 daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Destination Daytona (Ormond Beach)
A sprawling biker hub anchored by Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson (formerly Bruce Rossmeyer’s), with Biketoberfest® demo rides, bike shows, a huge vendor village, and daily live music at Saints & Sinners Pub; on-site lodging is available at the Clarion Inn. (Powersports Business)
📍 1637 N US Hwy 1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
🌐 Main site: daytonaharleydavidson.com • Events: Biketoberfest® at Destination Daytona • Complex updates: Destination Daytona (Facebook)
Boot Hill Saloon
An iconic biker bar right across from the Main Street cemetery—known for its motto, “Come on in and have a cold one, or rest in peace.” Loud, rowdy, and unforgettable.
📍 310 Main St, Daytona Beach, FL
🌐 boothillsaloon.com
Iron Horse Saloon (Ormond Beach)
A legendary biker hangout famous for its massive outdoor stage, steel horses hanging from the rafters, and a gritty, one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
📍 1068 N US Hwy 1, Ormond Beach, FL
🌐 ironhorsesaloon.com
Ride the Ormond Scenic Loop
A 30+ mile ride of pure Florida beauty—live oaks, ocean views, marshland, and a stretch of Old Florida that feels untouched by time. It’s the classic ride every biker should take while in town.
📍 Access points in Ormond Beach; starts near North Beach St and Granada Blvd
Daytona Beach Bandshell
Catch live music overlooking the Atlantic. During Biketoberfest, the Bandshell keeps the soundtrack going with free shows that bring the community and bikers together.
📍 70 Boardwalk, Daytona Beach, FL
🌐 daytonabeach.com/bandshell
Cruising A1A
Roll along Florida’s scenic coastal highway. Nothing beats riding oceanfront with the salty breeze in your face and the endless Atlantic to your left.
St. Augustine Spring 2022 Special Events Guide
As the nation’s Oldest City, there’s always something to celebrate in St. Augustine, Florida. Festivals and other special events are bigger and better than ever in 2022. It seems like, especially this spring, there’s something to keep you engaged and entertained going on every weekend.
Links to Events Featured in Video Guide
St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival
3K Raptor Run at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
St. Augustine Lions Spring Festival
Easter Sunday Promenade - no website available
