by | November 26, 2025
12 Places to See Holiday Lights in Florida
Follow the glow to these spectacular light shows that transform Florida nights into winter wonderlands, palm trees and all.
This holiday season, we’ve scoured the state for sparkling drive-through wonderlands, 50-foot trees made entirely of sand and boat parades so dazzling they put your neighborhood’s roof decorations to shame. From the Panhandle to Miami, we’ve rounded up the state’s brightest traditions for full-on winter magic. Grab the hot cocoa, crank the carols and start planning your route.
North
St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights
St. Augustine
Now–Jan. 11
Millions of twinkling white lights transform every balcony, waterfront and brick-lined street in America’s oldest city into a holiday storybook scene during St. Augustine’s award-winning Nights of Lights. Walk the illuminated streets on foot or hop aboard the complimentary park-and-ride shuttles now through Jan. 11. “I always recommend arriving a little before dusk so you can watch the lights come on,” shares Susan Phillips, CEO and president of the St. Johns County Visitors and Convention Bureau. “It’s a beautiful transition from golden hour into full sparkle.” New this year, the Nights of Lights app offers insider maps, pro tips and event details right at your fingertips.
Colors of the Wild
Jacksonville
Now–Feb. 28
As the sun sets on the Jacksonville Zoo, most of the animals go to sleep but a night full of vibrant lights and colorful wonder just begins at Colors of the Wild, which is open on select nights through Feb. 28. One of the country’s largest Asian lantern events, this year’s all-new collection takes you from the depths of the ocean to the African savanna then into the realm of mystical creatures before landing in a shimmering winter wonderland. Bring the kids to visit Santa now through Dec. 24 and browse the holiday market Dec. 17-21. Each ticket includes early zoo admission so you can catch the animals before the lanterns steal the show.
Allison Family Christmas Spectacular
Havana
Nov. 27–Dec. 31
The Allison Family Christmas Spectacular started as a front-yard light show and now shines as one of Gadsden County’s brightest traditions. It’s so popular that it even landed on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” show in 2022. After outgrowing their neighborhood, the Allison family moved to Turner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Havana in 2024. Each year, they create a drive-through wonderland, dedicating months of setup and investing nearly $40,000 in lights. The best part? It’s completely free from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
allisonchristmasspectacular.com
Central
Dazzling Nights
Orlando
Nov. 28–Jan. 4
Now in its sixth year, this sparkling spectacle at Leu Gardens keeps getting bigger and brighter. Running Nov. 28–Jan. 4, this year brings more lights, more entertainment and a longer walking path than ever before. Stand beneath a 50-foot star in the Rose Garden while live music fills the air, wander past giant crystal chandeliers that hang from the trees and step into the new interactive 8-bit Christmas zone where you can throw snowballs at life-size inflatable “pixelated” elves. Shop and sip in this year’s new Holiday Village, ride the Sparkling Express and catch the complimentary shuttle with its own light show. Don’t forget to snap a photo with towering yetis and the breathtaking 80-foot “Cathedral” of stained glass–style lighting.
Busch Gardens Christmas Town
Tampa
Now–Jan. 5
Busch Gardens Christmas Town returns as the park’s biggest seasonal event, illuminating the evenings now through Jan. 5. Expect miles of lights and a full lineup of holiday entertainment, from world-class ice skaters and a festive drone show on select nights to Christmas-themed performances with favorite Sesame Street characters. Bring the kids aboard the Holly Jolly Express for sing-along carols and safari-style views across the 65-acre veldt, then head to Christmas Town Village for treats. Pro tip: Santa’s North Pole Experience and Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland close Dec. 24, so visit early if you want to see the big guy before he takes off.
Fifth Annual Wonderland of Lights Drive-Thru Light Show
Auburndale
Dec. 4–28
Auburndale’s International Market World will glow all season long with its Winter Festival and the Fifth Annual Wonderland of Lights Drive-Thru Light Show. On select nights Dec. 4–28, pack the car and cruise through a mesmerizing display of twinkling lights—don’t forget to buy a pair of enchanted 3D elf glasses to make the lights pop with a kaleidoscope of shapes. Every ticket supports Polk County Toys for Tots, so you’ll be spreading extra cheer with every visit.
South
Fairchild NightGarden
Miami
Now–Jan. 11
NightGarden at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden lights up 83 acres with interactive art, immersive displays and a serious dose of fantasy. Think glowing orchids, “talking trees,” pathways that trigger sound and color as you walk and fairy encounters hidden throughout the garden. There are new corners to discover this year, too, including laser shows in a secret grove, a neon “Welcoming Tree” that greets guests with light sequences when touched, and movie nights projected on a large inflatable on select evenings, where you can settle in under the stars with blankets and cocoa as the garden’s lights set the scene for classic holiday films.
Luminosa: A Festival of Lights
Miami
Now–March 7
Miami goes full fantasy mode with Luminosa at Jungle Island, now through March 7. Wander jungle pathways lined with towering silk lanterns and illuminated sculptures that reimagine animals and ecosystems on a grand, dreamlike scale. Along the way, encounter a 43-foot dragon, brilliant capybaras, a neon baobab grove and the showstopping Frozen Kingdom finale, complete with silver-lit wolves, a frozen lagoon filled with whale and jellyfish lanterns and an ice-whale tunnel leading to a towering polar bear atop a radiant iceberg.
Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden
Naples
Nov. 28–Jan. 4
Step into holiday magic as Naples Botanical Garden decks the palms with myriad multicolored lights, illuminating 170-acres of tropical plants. Walk under palms and florals illuminated by twinkling lights as you sip hot cocoa or cider, enjoy live music from local acts and snap a picture at one of the many photo ops stationed throughout the property. There’s even a living bromeliad tree that’s designed to look like a traditional fir, showcasing just how magical winter in the tropics can be.
Hard Rock the Holidays
Hollywood
Nov. 29–Jan. 3
For the first time, the iconic Guitar Hotel at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
will host Hard Rock the Holidays, a light show featuring more than 2 million LED lights, over 20 themed areas and a signature Guitar Hotel Light & Music Show synchronized to holiday classics from Nov. 29–Jan. 3. Marvel at the 50-foot Tree of Wonder wrapped in lights, which Bo Guidry, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, calls the festival’s “illuminated centerpiece.” And don’t miss Santa’s Celestial Ride, a glowing moon display featuring Santa and his reindeer flying across the night sky, surrounded by more than 100 RGB orbs in holiday colors. “This event is about connections and creating lasting moments for families, especially children, and offering a place where they can gather, make memories and return year after year,” he says.
Holiday in Paradise
West Palm Beach
Dec. 4–Dec. 31
When it comes to a holiday soiree, West Palm Beach takes the (fruit) cake with “Sandi,” a 35-foot holiday tree hand-sculpted from 700 tons of sand. She’s the centerpiece of Holiday in Paradise: Sandi’s Music and Light Shows on the Waterfront, one of The Palm Beaches’ most extraordinary symbols of the season taking place Dec. 4–31. “This year, Sandi is more than magical,” shares Milton Segarra, president & CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches. “She’s sustainable, with 100 percent of the sand used for her build recycled from previous years, a first for the event.” Catch her dynamic synchronized light-and-music show throughout the season, starting with the Clematis by Night Holiday Tree Lighting on Dec. 4.
Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade
Palm Beach
Dec. 6
Catch the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade on Dec. 6, starting at the North Palm Beach Marina and wrapping up with a grand finale at the Jupiter Lighthouse. A glittering procession of decorated vessels will float along the Intracoastal, set against a backdrop of traveling fireworks. One of the parade’s most beloved traditions returns: an annual toy drive benefiting Toys for Tots and Little Smiles, with participating boats collecting new unwrapped gifts along the route to support local children.
Winterfest Boat Parade
Fort Lauderdale
Dec. 13
Experience the ultimate holiday event in Greater Fort Lauderdale: The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, nicknamed the “Best Show on H2O.” Watch a floating procession of yachts and showboats covered in thousands of lights and decorated in this year’s “Yacht Rock of Ages” theme. Pop artist Romero Britto and singer Montell Jordan (of “This Is How We Do It” fame) will kick off the parade as co-grand marshals on Dec. 13. Grab a spot at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park or bring a lawn chair and post up along the 12-mile route, which begins at the New River in front of the Historic Stranahan House and winds north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach.
Click here for more things to do across Florida this December.
About the Author
Melissa traded Pittsburgh steel for Florida sunshine nearly a decade ago to launch her editorial career. A former editor for South Florida glossies, Puppo has written for a range of outlets including Time Out Miami, Byrdie, Giadzy and Courant. An expert on what to do in her hometown of Miami, Puppo covers arts and culture, culinary hotspots, travel, wellness and beauty.
