Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with our guide to Orlando’s holiday offerings.

Updated Nov. 19, 2024

There’s no place like Orlando for the holidays, with vibrant events, neighborhood celebrations and more festive fun just waiting to be unwrapped. To help you have the best holiday season possible, we’ve made a list (and checked it twice) with 10 things you’ll want to do while you’re here.

Discover: Holiday Season Events in Orlando

Orlando vacation planning made easy — and free. Make a complimentary appointment with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners at a time and date of your choosing for the latest insider advice, special offers and more ahead of your next visit.

Explore Dazzling Holiday Events

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Dazzling Nights by Creative City Project at Leu Gardens

Celebrate the season with ongoing holiday events and festivals that you won’t find anywhere else, including dazzling light shows, wondrous wintertime activities and beloved theme park events — more on those in a moment. Beyond the theme parks, some of our most joyous 2024 holiday events include:

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Share Your Wish List With Santa Claus

Promotional image for Lake Nona's annual Oh, What Fun! annual holiday event.
Meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at the Oh What Fun! Holiday Festival in Lake Nona

Santa Claus is coming to town, and you and your loved ones can meet him in Orlando throughout the holiday season. In addition to appearing at most of our theme parks, the jolly old elf will be the guest of honor at special events throughout the destination, including the Winter Park Christmas Parade, the Oh What Fun! Holiday Festival in Lake Nona, and Santa Photos at our acclaimed shopping malls — and Mrs. Claus will join him at times, too.

Discover: Top Places to See Santa in Orlando

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Immerse Yourself in Holiday Arts

Catch a dazzling holiday performance of at some of Orlando’s most beloved performing arts venues, including shows at Kia Center, the new Judson’s Live at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts, and many more Orlando gems. Some of this year’s most anticipated holiday productions include:

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Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Stage Productions

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (OPO) promotional images

Concerts

More Holiday Arts

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Eat, Drink & Be Merry

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Celebrate the Season With Festive Bites in Orlando

The holidays are best spent with family, good tidings and incredible food. Treat yourself to dinner at one of Orlando’s award-winning restaurants, from MICHELIN Guide dining to restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs and local James Beard Award honorees.

Discover: Eat & Drink in Orlando

You’ll find festive feasts throughout our neighborhoods, entertainment districts and theme parks, plus bountiful buffets and specialty dining at many Orlando hotels and resorts. Make your reservations early to ensure a never-ending celebration filled with delicious holiday meals while you’re here.

Discover: Christmas Dining in Orlando

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Marvel at Holiday Decorations

Holiday light display in downtown Orlando.
Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando

From your hotel to our city streets, Orlando will be decked out for the season with twinkling lights and decor. Marvel at festive light shows, holiday-themed displays, free outdoor movies and art installations during Downtown for the Holidays in downtown Orlando, plus enjoy one-night-only events and holiday tours throughout our neighborhoods and surrounding areas.

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Gift Yourself a Stay at a Deluxe Resort

Have yourself a merry little getaway at some of Orlando’s top resorts. You’ll find hotels and resorts for every budget, including pet-friendly accommodations and properties with family suites — not to mention full-service, amenity-packed choices with all the ribbons and bows.

Discover: Top Orlando Hotels & Resorts

Best of all, many of our top resorts are decked out for the holidays, offering special dining, decor, spa offers and themed activities to suit even the littlest elves.

Discover: Festive Orlando Hotels

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Splash Into Seasonal Fun

Don’t just stay at one of Orlando’s incredible resorts — dive into their amazing pools. Many of Orlando’s top-rated resorts offer mind-blowing extras such as lazy rivers, waterslides, gorgeous scenery, secluded grottos, underwater sound systems and kid-friendly fun. And yes, most have heated water in case temperatures get chilly.

Discover: Orlando’s Top Resort Pools

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Wrap Up Your Holiday Shopping

Score some last-minute gifts for your loved ones — and maybe a few treats for yourself — at our acclaimed malls, outlet centers and beloved small businesses. If you’re seeking luxury brands, The Mall at Millenia is the place to go. Nearby, The Florida Mall® features more than 250 retailers that can cater to everyone on your “nice” list. Orlando also has three world-class outlet centers, including Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, Orlando International Premium Outlets® and Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets®.

Discover: Orlando Holiday Shopping Tips

You’ll even more variety at Disney Springs®, Universal CityWalk, Pointe Orlando and ICON Park®. And with locally owned boutiques, vintage shops, holiday markets and more small businesses to browse, you’re sure to find a one-of-a-kind gift for your loved ones.

Discover: Unique Orlando Gifts With Local Flavor

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Embark on Outdoor Adventures & Catch College Bowl Games

People snorkeling with a manatee. Gray Line Orlando
Even Manatees Love Orlando During the Holiday Season (Courtesy Gray Line Orlando)

Enjoy a moment of calm with stunning ecotourism activities in our beautiful neighborhoods, trails and surrounding parks. Options include kayaking, natural springs, nature trails and parks, wildlife and birding encounters, outdoor thrills, and other ways to play while you’re celebrating the holidays in Orlando. The holidays happen to fall during peak manatee viewing season, and you can also explore holiday tours like the Christmas Lights bioluminescent kayak tour from BK Adventure.

Discover: Nature & Outdoors

The holiday season is also a great time to catch NCAA bowl games and other key matchups at Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium in downtown Orlando’s Parramore District. For 2024, they include the Florida Blue Florida Classic (Nov. 23, 2024), the Cure Bowl (Dec. 20, 2024), the Pop-Tarts® Bowl (Dec. 28, 2024), the Cheez-It® Citrus Bowl (Dec. 31, 2024) and the Hula Bowl (Jan. 11, 2025).

Discover: College Football Season in Orlando

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Discover Holiday Celebrations at Orlando Theme Parks

This holiday season, Walt Disney World® Resort, SeaWorld® Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort and LEGOLAND® Florida Resort are decking the halls — and you are invited to join the festivities.

Discover: Things to Do at Orlando Theme Parks

SeaWorld® Orlando Christmas celebration
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld® Orlando

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration (Select Dates, Nov. 2024 – Jan. 2025)

SeaWorld® Orlando will transform into a winter wonderland during SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, complete with snow flurries, a sea of trees and millions of sparkling lights. Catch festive holiday shows like O Wondrous Night, Winter Wonderland on Ice and Mrs. Claus’ Magic Kitchen, savor treats from the holiday marketplace, go ice skating at Bayside Stadium, and meet favorite characters like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus himself. Plus, keep an eye out for special New Year’s Eve and Three Kings Celebrations on select dates. It all ends with the Holiday Reflections: Fireworks Finale set to joyous holiday tunes.

Save on discount tickets: SeaWorld Orlando

Coasters After Dark: Christmas Edition (Select Dates, Nov. 8 – Dec. 13, 2024)

Thrill seekers can also enjoy Coasters After Dark: Christmas Edition, an all-new event at SeaWorld Orlando that combines high-speed coasters, dazzling lights, seasonal sips and more for unforgettable yuletide fun. The separately ticketed, after hours event offers exclusive access to seven of the park’s most popular attractions, including Mako, Manta, Kraken, Pipeline, Journey to Atlantis, Penguin Trek and Ice Breaker. Select retail and food & beverage locations will also be open, including guest favorites like Flamecraft Bar, South Pole Sips and the fan favorite hot chocolate hut

Walt Disney World holidays at Magic Kingdom Park
MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS Party at MAGIC KINGDOM® Park

MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS Party (Select Dates, Nov. 8 – Dec. 20, 2024)

Celebrate the season with festive entertainment, characters, sweets and more during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, a separately ticketed event at Magic Kingdom® Park. Enjoy classic favorites like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show. You can also meet favorite characters dressed in their holiday best, experience select rides with holiday overlays and enjoy complimentary cookies and cocoa throughout the park.

Save on discount tickets: MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS Party

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
DISNEY JOLLYWOOD NIGHTS at DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS®

DISNEY JOLLYWOOD NIGHTS (Select Dates, Nov. 9 – Dec. 21, 2024)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios® will roll out the red carpet for Disney Jollywood Nights, a glamorous after-hours affair bursting with holiday charm. Dress to impress and enjoy special character experiences, holly jolly treats, live entertainment and stage spectaculars, like The Nightmare Before Christmas stage show, Disney Holidays in Hollywood, and a dazzling Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM fireworks finale. Plus, don’t miss Glisten!, a dazzling new ice-skating spectacular set to holiday tunes.

Save on discount tickets: DISNEY JOLLYWOOD NIGHTS

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EPCOT® International Festival of the Holidays at EPCOT®

EPCOT® International Festival of the Holidays (Nov. 29 – Dec. 30, 2024)

Discover festive fare and holiday traditions from across the globe at the EPCOT® International Festival of the Holidays, included with daytime admission at EPCOT®. Catch internationally inspired decor, indulge in delicious seasonal dining, and hear holiday legends and lore from storytellers throughout World Showcase. Plus, enjoy stirring live entertainment like the Candlelight Processional, featuring a celebrity narrator, a glorious choir, a 50-piece orchestra and EPCOT’s own Voices of Liberty.

Walt Disney World holidays at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Merry Menagerie at DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM® Theme Park

More Merriment at WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort

Beyond these special events, you’ll find plenty of holiday cheer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney Springs®.

Discover: Things to Do at WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort

  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Experience the magic of nature with a Merry Menagerie of artisan-sculpted animal puppets, festive character meet and greets, and a special holiday edition of Tree of Life® Awakenings.
  • Disney’s Blizzard Beach: Splash into a winter wonderland complete with daily snowfall, holiday-themed treats, and Santa dressed in his tropical best.
  • Disney Springs: Embark on an enchanting Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, enjoy special holiday fare, finish your holiday shopping and meet Santa Claus himself throughout the holiday season.
  • Daytime Fun: Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will also have festive decor and seasonal fun for daytime visitors, like Frozen Holiday Surprise at Cinderella Castle and Sunset Seasons Greetings at the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
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Celebrate Christmas with the Grinch™ at Universal Orlando Resort

Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort (Nov. 22 – Dec. 31, 2024)

Merry and bright. Naughty and nice. It's Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort, included with daytime admission at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. See The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ decked out for the holidays with seasonal shows, decor and a dazzling nighttime spectacular, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle™. Enjoy seasonal cuisine, marvel at larger-than-life balloons in Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, and enjoy the music and fun of The Grinchmas™ Who-liday Spectacular starring the Grinch™.

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HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements © & TM Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling. Dr. Seuss properties TM & © 2024 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade & Related Characters © 2024 Macy’s Inc. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2024 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

WINTER HAVEN, FL -- Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Florida Resort (PHOTO / LOCK + LAND, Chip Litherland)
HOLIDAYS at LEGOLAND® at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

Holidays at LEGOLAND® (Select Dates, Nov. 29 – Dec. 31, 2024)

Deck the halls during HOLIDAYS at LEGOLAND® presnted by Hallmark Channel at LEGOLAND® Florida Theme Park, where you’ll find dazzling seasonal shows, tasty treats and your favorite festive LEGO® characters like LEGO® Santa and LEGO Gingerbread Man. Rock around the all-new, ginormous LEGO® Christmas tree, build holiday creations, take “elfies” with a must-meet LEGO crew, and enjoy seasonal decorations with a bricktastic twist. Plus, catch brick-bursting fireworks over Lake Eloise during Kid's New Years Eve from Dec. 26 – 31, 2024.

Save on discount tickets: LEGOLAND Florida Resort

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Map of 2024 Holiday Events in Orlando

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