Stop searching: Here are South Florida’s holiday parades, tree lightings & photo opps all in one place

Season’s greetings, South Florida!

We’ve been celebrating with shows, parades, tree lightings and pop-up bars since well before Thanksgiving, but now’s the time to really kick things into holiday overdrive.

Our vibe is more tropical paradise than winter wonderland, of course, but that just means we get to experience festivities with a Sunshine State twist — palm trees wrapped in twinkling lights, faux snow, lit-up boat tours and underwater photos with Santa.

Below is our city-by-city guide to holiday events for a merry and bright season in Broward and Palm Beach counties. (We also have a roundup of Hanukkah festivals and menorah lightings throughout South Florida, courtesy of the Jewish Journal. Click here to check it out!)

BROWARD COUNTY

Coconut Creek

Drive through the 31st annual Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Tradewinds Park & Stables from 6 to 10 p.m. daily through Jan. 3. To see 3 miles of larger-than-life illuminated displays, enter through the park’s north entrance, at 3600 W. Sample Road. Tickets are $29.49 per car or $61.49 for large vehicles/buses. A portion of ticket sales benefit Gilda’s Club South Florida. The event also serves as a Toys for Tots donation drop-off site. Visit holidaylightsdrivethru.com.

Coral Springs

Celebrate the season’s start at the Light Up the Lawn tree-lighting ceremony from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at City Hall, 9500 W. Sample Road. Enjoy cookies, snow flurries, roaming entertainment and food trucks. Trackless train rides will be available to residents who register in advance. Free admission. Visit coralsprings.gov.

The city’s Holiday Parade will march down Sample Road from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 10 with schools, businesses and organizations participating. Line up at 9500 W. Sample Road to watch as the parade steps off, featuring a Parade of Cultures theme. Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride down the road to close out the parade. Free. Visit coralsprings.gov.

Davie 

The Lighting of the Greens Festival will feature entertainment, visits with Santa and other children’s activities from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at Bamford Sports Complex, 3801 S. Pine Island Road. There will also be a Jingle Bell Horse Parade. Free admission. Visit davie-fl.gov.

Deerfield Beach

Entertainment, Santa and children’s activities will highlight Ocean Way Holiday from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Main Beach Parking Lot, 149 SE 21st Ave. Watch as the street is lit for the season. Free admission. Visit deerfield-beach.com.

Make a splash with Scuba Santa from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 at Peggy Noland Aquatics Complex, 501 SE Sixth Ave. Don your swimsuit, or a holiday outfit you don’t mind getting wet, for an underwater photo with ol’ St. Nick. Cost is $2 per household. Visit deerfield-beach.com to register.

Fort Lauderdale 

Set sail on Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi’s Holiday Lights Cruise from Dec. 4 through Jan. 3. Choose from nightly departures at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. from the Riverside Hotel/Stranahan House Museum stop at 335 SE Sixth Ave. The 90-minute cruise includes musical entertainment, holiday decor and beverages available for purchase. Rides are $45 for adults, $15 for children age 4 and older, and free for guests younger than 3. No cruises on Dec. 13, 24 or 25. Visit watertaxi.com.

The city of Fort Lauderdale has two holiday lighting events planned this month:

• Light Up Sistrunk from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5, with a holiday tree, bands, entertainment, a toy giveaway, health fair, food trucks, kids’ zone with Santa, bounce houses, slides, arts and crafts, and a teen area with a DJ and activities. The celebration takes place along Sistrunk Boulevard between northwest Ninth and 11th avenues. Free admission.
• Light Up Carter Park from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 12 , with a holiday tree, plus performances from local artists, bounce houses, train rides, face painters, holiday crafts and giveaways. The park is at 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd. Free admission.

Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov/special-events.

Holiday Magic, the fundraiser for Bonnet House Museum & Gardens (900 N. Birch Road) is returning for the season. There will be a Holiday Jingle & Mingle VIP Reception on Dec. 5, Whimsical Wonderland for families on Dec. 6 and Evening Experiences with music and drinks from Dec. 10-12. Trees, wreaths and centerpieces throughout the house will be for sale. Times and ticket prices vary. Visit bonnethouse.org.

Check out Seas & Greetings at The LOOP (Las Olas Oceanside Park), 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd., with markets, concerts and themed weekends throughout December. Max’s Mutt Parade (Dec. 6), Candyland Family Fun Day (Dec. 14) and Christmas By The Sea weekend (Dec. 20-21) are some of the featured events. Free admission. Visit theloopflb.com/events.

Get ready to catch some candy with Santa on the Beach when he arrives at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, 1100 Seabreeze Blvd. Free. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.

The Historic Stranahan House Museum, 335 SE Sixth Ave., is getting into the holiday spirit with Victorian Christmas Tours. The 40-minute tours take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 16 to 20. Learn about holiday traditions and how Fort Lauderdale pioneers celebrated the season. Tickets are $30. Visit stranahanhouse.org/victorian-christmas-tours.

Join the Fort Lauderdale Jingle Bell Jog at 8 a.m. Dec. 21 at Las Olas Oceanside Park, 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd. All participants receive a Santa suit costume and a pair of jingle bells for their running shoes, and all finishers get a holiday-themed medal. Registration is $45 plus a $5 fee at jinglebelljog.net (price increases after Dec. 5).

The Kwanzaa Ujamaa Celebration at Provident Park, 1412 NW Sixth St., will have entertainment and cultural activities from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 29. Ujamaa is the fourth principle of Kwanzaa and means cooperative economics. Free admission. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov/special-events.

Hallandale Beach

Visit with Santa during Holiday in the Park from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5 at Peter Bluesten Park, 501 SE First Ave. Children’s activities, holiday crafts, performances, music, inflatables, amusements and food trucks are part of the lineup. Purchase a $5 wrist band for unlimited access to amusements and inflatables. Visit cohb.org/holiday.

Hollywood

The city is having multiple events this season. Both offer free admission. Visit hollywoodfl.org.

• The Candy Cane Parade steps off at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, at Missouri Street, and heads south to Harrison Street with dozens of lighted floats, bands and decorated vehicles. A free concert by Making Faces will take place at the Hollywood Beach Theatre after the parade. Bringing an unwrapped toy to donate to the Hollywood Fire Rescue Toy Drive.
• Celebrate Christmas Near the Beach, a family holiday celebration, from 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13 at ArtsPark at Young Circle, 1 Young Circle. The 40-foot lighted Christmas tree will be the focal point. There will also be musical and dance performances, a live nativity, St. Nick’s arrival and photos, giveaways and prizes, and a vendor marketplace.

Support the Hollywood Women’s Club at SantaCon, a pub crawl starting at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Mickey Byrne’s Irish Pub, 1921 Hollywood Blvd. Participating venues downtown will have food and drink specials. Visit santacon.info/hollywood-fl/.

Lauderhill

A Winter Wonderland will pop up at Westwind Park (4550 NW 82nd Ave.) from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 19, featuring food trucks, free seasonal treats, holiday-themed activities and train rides. Take a photo with Santa and his friends, take part in a Holiday Sweater Contest and watch a family friendly Holiday Movie in the Park. Free admission. Visit lauderhill-fl.gov.

Margate 

The city’s Winter Festival is in a new location this year from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Margate Sports Complex, 1695 Banks Road. Activities include snow slides and piles, bounce houses and photos with Santa. Free admission. Visit margatefl.com.

North Lauderdale 

The city’s Holiday Parade begins at 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Boulevard of Champions. The procession will head north on Southwest 64th Terrace, west on Kimberly Boulevard and north on Rock Island Road until reaching City Hall, 701 SW 71st Ave. Free. Visit nlauderdale.org.

Oakland Park

The city’s two-day Holiday Village is coming to Jaco Pastorius Park, 4000 N. Dixie Highway, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 5 and 1 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6. Write letters to Santa, shop the Artisans & Crafters Market, participate in the Christmas tree-decorating competition and ugly T-shirt and sweater contest, skate on artificial ice, ride the carousel and slide, and enjoy entertainment from bands, a DJ, a choir and dance schools. The lighting of the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree is set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Free admission. Visit oaklandparkfl.gov.

Parkland

Light Up the Park will have food, performances, children’s activities and an ugly sweater contest from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Pine Trails Park Amphitheatre, 10561 Trails End. Free admission. Visit cityofparkland.org.

Plantation 

Light Up City Hall, 400 NW 73rd Ave., from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 with selfies with Santa, ice skating, snow, vocal groups, food trucks, crafts, announcement of the winner of the “There’s Snow Place Like Plantation” contest and photo ops. Free. Visit plantation.org.

Pompano Beach

The city’s Merry Moments 2025 continues its season of celebrations with the following events, among others. For a full lineup, visit pompanobeachfl.gov/events.

• The Yuletide on Atlantic parade on Dec. 4 will march from Riverside Drive, heading west on Atlantic Boulevard and ending at Southeast 24th Avenue. Hours are 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Rain date is Dec. 11. Free.
• Make arts and crafts at the Old Town Untapped & Holiday Tree Lighting from 6 to 10 p.m. Bailey Contemporary Arts, 41 NE First St. Among the activities, guests can meet Santa and get their faces painted. Free admission.
• Black Nativity, an African American telling of the Nativity story, will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. Tickets are $25.

Sunrise 

Light Up the Holidays with music and a seasonal display from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at Sunrise Amphitheater, 10770 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Grab a free cup of hot chocolate, watch the drone show at 8:40 p.m., take a photo with Santa and play in the snow. Free. Visit sunrisefl.gov.

Tamarac

The city has planned multiple holiday events (one’s even for your pets!). For more details, visit community.tamarac.gov.

• Santa and Rudolph will visit Winter Wonderland at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Tamarac Park Baseball Fields, 7501 N. University Drive. Among the highlights are games, food trucks, photo opportunities and bounce houses. Free admission.
• Bring your four-legged friends to the Paws with Claus Holiday Paw-ty from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 at Gary B. Jones Park for People and Pups, 8101 Southgate Blvd. Get your photo taken with Santa Paws and join the Holiday Hounds contest. The event will include pet adoptions. Free admission.

Wilton Manors 

The city will offer the following free events. For details, Visit wiltonmanors.gov.

• The Holiday Lighting Ceremony kicks off the holiday season at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Flippen Park, 2109 Wilton Drive, with the lighting of a Hanukkah menorah, Kwanzaa kinara and Christmas tree. There will also be music, food and vendors.
• Head to the Colohatchee Park Boat Ramp, 1975 NE 15th Ave., at 5 p.m. Dec. 10 for Santa by Sea, a city tradition. St. Nick will sail around the city with his elves to spread holiday cheer. Boaters can arrive 30 minutes before his departure to join Santa’s entourage.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Boca Raton

Wags in Wonderland Party: Santa Paws allows families to celebrate the holidays with their pets from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at DRIFT at the Boca Raton Marriott, 5150 Town Center Circle. Greet Santa Paws and take photos, join the dog costume contest and meet adoptable dogs from Tri-County Animal Rescue, which benefits from the event. General admission is $10. Visit eventbrite.com.

Boynton Beach

The city is planning the following activities for the season:

• Polar Express is the theme of this year’s 54th annual Holiday Tree Lighting from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5 at Centennial Park & Amphitheater, 120 E. Ocean Ave. Event highlights include school choruses, dance troupes, a drum line, food vendors, a holiday market, crafts, face painting, photo opportunities, a Ferris wheel, trackless train, character meet-and-greets and drone show. Free admission. Visit Facebook.com.
• The Holiday Parade returns with decorated floats, marching bands and dance groups from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 6 along 100 E. Ocean Ave. Santa will make an appearance along the route. Free. Visit Facebook.com.

Blue Lights & Holiday Nights returns from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Boynton Beach Police Department, 2100 High Ridge Road, with gifts available on a first-come, first-served basis. Other activities include a meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, photo opportunities, cookie decorating, a letters to Santa writing station, face painting, bounce house, music and holiday entertainment, a bike raffle and a Chick-fil-A food truck. Free admission. Visit Facebook.com.

Delray Beach

The city’s Holiday Village returns Dec. 4 and will be open nightly through Jan. 1. Enjoy a carousel, ice skating rink, mini golf and Santa’s House. Visit delraybeachfl.gov.

The Delray Beach Holiday Parade “Festival of Lights” on Dec. 13 will go along Atlantic Avenue from the Intracoastal Bridge to Northwest Fifth Avenue. Hours: 6-9 p.m. See more than 70 floats, marching bands, dance teams and other groups. Free. Visit downtowndelraybeach.com.

Lace up your sneakers for the Delray Beach Jingle Bell Jog 5K, set for 7:30 a.m. Dec. 20 at Anchor Park, 340 S. Ocean Blvd. Participants will receive a Santa suit costume and a pair of jingle bells for their running shoes. All finishers receive a holiday-themed medal. Registration is $45 (price increases after Dec. 5). An Elf Dash ($20) will start at 8:45 a.m. Visit jinglebelljog.net.

Join a Kwanzaa Celebration recognizing African heritage and culture from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 26 at the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, 170 NW Fifth Ave., with music, gift making, storytelling and art activities. Free admission. Visit spadymuseum.com/events.

Greenacres

Holiday in the Park, a tree-lighting ceremony, will kick off the city’s centennial celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 at Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park, 2905 Jog Road. A second event will take place at the park from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13 in honor of Greenacres’ 100th anniversary. Watch the skies for a drone show at 6:45 p.m. On both days, there will be free carnival rides (for Greenacres residents only), an ice skating rink, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, games, inflatables, food and craft vendors, carolers, school performances and other activities. Free admission. Visit greenacresfl.gov.

Lantana 

Take free photos with Santa during the city’s Winterfest event from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 12 at Lantana Town Hall, 500 Greynolds Circle. Other activities include face painting, balloon twisters, tree and menorah lightings and vendor giveaways. Free admission. Visit lantana.org.

Lake Worth Beach

The 59th annual Lake Worth Beach Holiday Parade will bring its “Celebrating in Toyland” theme to the city’s downtown at 6 p.m. Dec. 13. The parade will head west from Lucerne Avenue and Federal Highway, turn south on J Street and east on Lake Avenue before turning north on Federal Highway. There will be floats, performers, marching bands and lights. Free. Visit Facebook.com.

Palm Springs 

The village’s Holiday Tree Lighting will have food vendors, entertainment, a kids’ zone, ice skating rink and photos with Santa from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Village Hall Courtyard, 226 Cypress Lane. Bring a new toy to donate to the Palm Springs Police Department’s Stuff-A-Cruiser initiative. Free admission. Visit vpsfl.org.

Royal Palm Beach

The Winter Festival, from 2 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park (11600 Poinciana Blvd.), will feature a Taylor Swift Tribute and lighting of a 28-foot Christmas tree. Also on the schedule: dance and chorus groups, carnival rides, a skating rink, food vendors, bounce house, rock wall, crafts and photos with Santas. Free admission. Visit royalpalmbeachfl.gov.

Wellington

Two holiday events are planned in Wellington. Visit wellingtonfl.gov.

• The Holiday Cultural Celebration & Tree Lighting begins at 5 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., with food trucks and Lakeside Market vendors. The tree will be lit at 6 p.m., and the celebration continues until 9 p.m. Free admission.
• The 41st annual Wellington Holiday Parade with this year’s theme, “Celebrating the Season Throughout the Years,” will step off at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14 along Forest Hill Boulevard from Wellington Trace to Ken Adams Way. Judges will choose their favorite participants among floats, marching bands, characters, dance troupes and others. Before the parade, Holiday Park will set up at 10 a.m. at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., with school chorus performances, vendors, photos with Santa and other activities. Free admission.

The 13th annual Wellington Jingle Bell Run 5K will have awards for male and female overalls, age groups, Fastest Santa, Mrs. Claus and Elves, and a Stroller Division on Dec. 21 at the Village Park Athletics Complex, 11700 Pierson Road. Start time: 7 a.m. Participants will receive jingle bells to wear during the race. Bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Hometown Holiday Toy Drive. Cost is $40 (increases after Dec. 20) at runsignup.com.

West Palm Beach

Sandi, the 35-foot, 700-ton holiday sand tree, makes its return to the Great Lawn, 100 N. Clematis St., from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 4 during the Clematis by Night holiday tree lighting. Sandi, along with Ferris (the 50-foot Ferris wheel), plus accompanying sand sculptures and a nightly light and music show are part of Holiday Paradise on display through Dec. 31. Ride Ferris for $5, take free photos with Santa, and shop at the Holiday Boutique in the Lake Pavillion until 9 p.m. Sound Society will perform. Free admission. Check out the city’s full lineup of seasonal events at wpb.org.

An Afrique Ngozi Dance & Drums Kwanzaa Performance will take place Dec. 27 on The Lawn at CityPlace, 700 S. Rosemary Ave., highlighting the principles of the cultural holiday through dance and rhythm. Participate in a craft and storytime. Hours are 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Free. Visit cityplace.com/kwanzaa.