14 Christmas Parades, Tree Lightings and Holiday Markets in Orlando for 2026
The Orlando area's biggest Christmas event weekend is Dec 4 and 5, 2026, when Orlando, Winter Park and Winter Garden light their trees and several parades roll the next morning. Earlier picks start on Nov 21, and Kissimmee and Sanford hold night parades on Dec 12.
Every pick below is a community event outside the theme parks. Dates and times come from each organizer's 2026 page, and any detail an organizer has not posted is left out.
1.Lake Eola Park
The City of Orlando tree lighting with a Merry Market, food trucks and snowfall.
The City of Orlando Tree Lighting Celebration lights the tree at Lake Eola Park's Washington Plaza. Music starts at 5:30 PM at the Lake Eola Amphitheater, the main stage show begins at 7 PM before the tree lighting, and the Merry Market has more than 30 local vendors and photos with Santa.
- Know before you go
- The city lists the cost as free. Food trucks and snowfall are part of the evening.
- Best time
- Friday, Dec 4, 2026, 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
- Local tip
- The main stage show starts at 7 PM ahead of the tree lighting, so plan to be at the lake by then.
2.Central Park
Winter on the Avenue brings a tree lighting, snow slides and Santa to Park Avenue.
Winter on the Avenue is Winter Park's annual tree lighting with strolling carolers, a Chanukah menorah lighting ceremony, s'mores and snow slides. Santa and Mrs. Claus appear, with visits and photos available until 8 PM.
- Know before you go
- The event is free and open to the public, according to the City of Winter Park.
- Best time
- Friday, Dec 4, 2026, 5 to 9 PM.
- Local tip
- Santa and Mrs. Claus visits and photos run until 8 PM, so go early if the kids want a photo.
3.Downtown Winter Park
The 74th annual parade is billed as the oldest continuous holiday parade in Central Florida.
The Winter Park Christmas Parade rolls along Park Avenue with more than 80 organizations, including marching bands, local police and fire departments, scouting groups and Santa Claus. The route starts at Cole Avenue, heads south, turns at New England Avenue and ends at Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Know before you go
- The event page does not state a cost. It also lists inconsistent anniversary numbers, so rely on the date and time.
- Best time
- Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, 9 to 10:30 AM.
- Local tip
- The route starts at Cole Avenue and ends at Pennsylvania Avenue, so choose your viewing spot along Park Avenue.
4.Downtown Winter Garden
Light Up Winter Garden flips the switch on the downtown holiday season.
Light Up Winter Garden, the 39th annual edition, lights up historic downtown with the lighting at City Hall at 6:15 PM. Downtown streets are closed for the evening, and the city's schedule continues with a Saturday morning Christmas parade on Dec 5.
- Know before you go
- The city's schedule lists the event as free. The lighting is at City Hall, 300 W. Plant Street.
- Best time
- Friday, Dec 4, 2026, 6 to 9 PM, lighting at 6:15 PM.
- Local tip
- Streets are closed downtown, so plan on walking in from nearby parking.
5.Downtown Pavilion
A Holiday Night Market and a golf cart Christmas parade share a Saturday in Winter Garden.
The Holiday Night Market and Entertainment runs at the Downtown Pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Avenue, while decorated golf carts roll by in the Christmas Golf Cart Parade. The city's schedule also lists the Winter Garden Christmas Parade that morning at 10 AM.
- Know before you go
- Free admission to the market and free to watch the parade. Some text on the city site shows Dec 6, but the daily schedule and the market page list Dec 5.
- Best time
- Saturday, Dec 5, 2026. Night market 4 to 8 PM, golf cart parade at 6 PM.
- Local tip
- Watch the golf cart parade along West Plant Street.
6.Cranes Roost Park
Altamonte Springs lights a 60 foot tree with live music, Santa and fireworks.
Light Up the Holidays features a 60 foot tree with ornaments and garland, live music and dance performances, an ice skating rink and a choreographed fireworks show. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit, and there are kids' activities.
- Know before you go
- The City of Altamonte Springs states admission is free. Food and beverages are available for purchase.
- Best time
- Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, 5 to 9 PM.
- Local tip
- Coolers and glass are not permitted.
7.Avalon Park Orlando
Avalon Aglow has a parade, Santa and fireworks over Avalon Lake.
Avalon Aglow is Avalon Park's annual holiday event, with a parade around Downtown Avalon, an appearance by Santa Claus and a fireworks show at Avalon Lake at 9 PM.
- Know before you go
- The organizer says the event is free for everyone to enjoy.
- Best time
- Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, 3 to 9 PM.
- Local tip
- The parade route map is linked on the Avalon Park event page.
8.Historic Downtown Kissimmee
A nighttime Festival of Lights Parade with Santa photos earlier in the evening.
The Kissimmee Festival of Lights Parade is paired with a festival that starts at 4 PM, and the parade begins at 7:30 PM. The festival includes photo opportunities with Santa.
- Know before you go
- The 2026 listing is on Eventeny, and the city page still showed a past date at last check, so confirm details before you go. Cost is not stated.
- Best time
- Saturday, Dec 12, 2026. Festival from 4 PM, parade at 7:30 PM, event listed until 9:30 PM.
- Local tip
- Arrive for the 4 PM festival if you want Santa photos before the parade.
9.Downtown Sanford
Sanford's Holiday Parade of Lights runs a one mile route with lit floats and bands.
The Holiday Parade of Lights runs through historic downtown Sanford on 1st Street, with illuminated floats and marching bands. The city lists the parade for the evening of Dec 12.
- Know before you go
- Cost is not stated on the city's event page.
- Best time
- Saturday, Dec 12, 2026, 6 to 8 PM.
- Local tip
- The route runs along 1st Street from Mellonville Avenue to Elm Avenue.
10.Downtown Mount Dora
Light Up Mount Dora kicks off the holidays in the lakeside town.
Light Up Mount Dora is the city's holiday kickoff in Downtown Mount Dora. The city lists it for 5:30 PM on Saturday, Nov 21, 2026.
- Know before you go
- The city page lists the date, time and location only. Details beyond that were not stated.
- Best time
- Saturday, Nov 21, 2026, starting at 5:30 PM.
- Local tip
- Other Mount Dora events this season include the Dec 4 Christmas Walk and a Dec 5 Christmas Parade.
11.Lake Dora
The 36th annual Mount Dora Lighted Boat Christmas Parade glides along the shoreline.
The Mount Dora Lighted Boat Christmas Parade has the theme Florida Christmas. Judging happens in Lake Beauclair at 5:30 PM, the parade enters Lake Dora around 6 PM, and boats reach the Mount Dora shoreline from about 6:30 PM.
- Know before you go
- The parade is free to watch, according to the organizer.
- Best time
- Saturday, Dec 5, 2026. Runs about an hour at the shoreline.
- Local tip
- Watch from Grantham Point or Elizabeth Evans Park, because the parade is only visible from the Mount Dora side.
12.Celebration Town Center
Celebration's Tree Lighting Ceremony starts nightly snow in the lakeside town.
Celebration's Tree Lighting Ceremony fills the town center with sparkling lights on Nov 28 and 29. Now Snowing Nightly follows from Nov 28 through Jan 1, 2027.
- Know before you go
- Pricing was not listed on the events page.
- Best time
- Tree Lighting Nov 28 and 29, 2026, 5 to 9:30 PM.
- Local tip
- The events page lists the town center address as 701 Front Street.
13.Ivanhoe Village
Jingle Eve brings a street party, a kids' holiday village and fireworks to Ivanhoe Village.
Jingle Eve fills Ivanhoe Village with local artisan vendors, food trucks, a children's holiday village at Gaston Edwards Park with crafts, a photo booth and Santa, and fireworks over Lake Ivanhoe at 9 PM. A separate ticketed Wine Walk called the 12 Wines of Christmas is also offered.
- Know before you go
- General admission is free. Wine Walk tickets are sold separately.
- Best time
- Saturday, Nov 21, 2026, 4:30 to 9 PM.
- Local tip
- Ticket pickup details for the Wine Walk were listed as coming soon, so check the organizer page if you plan to taste.
14.Krush Brau Park
A German Christkindlmarkt with handmade ornaments, gluhwein and brass bands in Kissimmee.
The Christkindlmarkt is billed as a European Christmas market with handmade crafts, ornaments and decorations, gingerbread, roasted nuts and gluhwein. Carol singers, brass bands, a Christmas pyramid and a nativity scene are also listed, and kids can get photos with St. Nikolaus.
- Know before you go
- Admission is free with timed entry booked through Eventbrite. The page lists two different venue addresses, so confirm the location before you go.
- Best time
- Saturday and Sunday, Nov 21 and 22, 2026. The event page lists noon to 10 PM.
- Local tip
- On Saturdays, Santa is available from noon to 4 PM and Krampus appears from 5 to 9 PM.
Browse more Florida Christmas events and plan your holiday weekends on Wayfind: https://www.gowayfind.com/christmas-in-florida. Check each organizer's page before you go in case of schedule changes.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Orlando area tree lightings in 2026?
Light Up Mount Dora is Nov 21, Celebration lights its tree Nov 28 and 29, and the City of Orlando, Winter Park and Winter Garden tree lightings are all on Friday, Dec 4. Altamonte Springs and Avalon Park follow on Saturday, Dec 5.
When is the Winter Park Christmas Parade in 2026?
The Winter Park Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, from 9 to 10:30 AM on Park Avenue.
Which Orlando holiday parades are at night?
Kissimmee's Festival of Lights Parade starts at 7:30 PM on Dec 12 and Sanford's Holiday Parade of Lights runs 6 to 8 PM on Dec 12. Mount Dora's lighted boat parade reaches the shoreline from about 6:30 PM on Dec 5.
Where can I find a holiday market in Orlando?
Krush Brau Park hosts a Christkindlmarkt on Nov 21 and 22, Winter Garden has a Holiday Night Market on Dec 5 and Lake Eola's Merry Market is part of the Dec 4 tree lighting.
Are these Orlando holiday events free?
Several are, according to their organizers: Lake Eola, Winter on the Avenue, Cranes Roost Park, Avalon Aglow, Light Up Winter Garden and the Winter Garden market list free admission. Check each page for the details.
