As the year draws to a close and we find ourselves wrapped in the warm embrace of the holiday season, it’s a time to reflect on the moments that have shaped our journey and to embrace the spirit of joy and togetherness. It’s a season where kindness reigns supreme, twinkling lights illuminate the darkest nights, and laughter becomes the soundtrack of our gatherings. So, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or simply the beauty of the winter solstice, let this be a time of shared smiles, gratitude, and the simple pleasures that make life extraordinary. Here’s to Happy Holidays, a collective celebration that connects us all to human experience and love.
Happy Holidays from Team Anna!
See below for a list of celebratory holiday events within Central Florida!
2023 Tree Lighting Celebration
Friday, December 1, from 5 PM – 9 PM
195 North Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyes invites residents of Central Florida to ring in the holiday season with the lighting of the City of Orlando’s Christmas tree! The event will include holiday performances, food trucks, a holiday market at International Plaza, and of course a highly anticipated Christmas tree lighting!
Winter on the Avenue
Friday, December 1, from 5 PM – 9 PM
Central Park, 150 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL
Central Florida residents are invited to kick off the holiday season at Central Park to inaugurate this year’s tree and menorah lightings. This event will also include Christmas carolers, snow slides, s’mores, and a visit from none other than Santa Claus himself! Downtown Winter Park will be transformed into a pedestrian plaza for the event, you won’t want to miss out!
71st Annual Winter Park “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 2, at 9 AM
Park Avenue, 110 N. Park Ave, Winter Park, FL
On Saturday, December 2, Park Avenue will come to life in a jolly celebration of Winter Park’s annual “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade, hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce! This is a family-friendly occasion that will showcase a variety of festively-adorned parade floats, appearances from well-known local heroes, and a visit from none other than Santa Claus himself as they all make their way down the avenue! Come and see Team Anna too as we march in the parade!
Holiday Pops in the Park
Sunday, December 3, from 4:30 PM – 8 PM
Park Avenue & N. Garfield Ave, Winter Park, FL
This event is a concert program of holiday favorites that will be performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and picnics to enjoy throughout the show. Come by and experience a merry celebration of the holiday classics we’ve all come to love over the years!
8th Annual Light Up SoDo 2023
Sunday, December 3, from 2 PM- 6 PM
120 W Grant St Orlando, FL
This year’s Light Up event is a family friendly and pet-friendly gathering where you can experience a ton of fun activities like food trucks, appearances from local SoDo businesses, the Bubble Bus, bounce houses, face painting, stilt walkers, a beer and wine garden, live performances, and more!
Getting Ready for Hanukkah w/PJ Library & Ohev Shalom
Wednesday, December 6, from 4:30 PM- 6 PM
613 Concourse Pkwy S, Maitland, FL
Get ready to come together for the celebration and love for Hanukkah with PJ Library and Ohev Shalom on December 6th! This year, the congregation and community come together to mark the start of Hanukkah on the next day, December 7th.
1st Night of Hanukkah (Candle Lighting)
Thursday, December 7, 5:00PM-8:00PM
Green Acres Farm of Oviedo / Geneva, 1700 Marsh Street, Oviedo, FL 32765
Come out to the Green Acres Farm of Oviedo for a magical first night of Hanukkah! At this year’s candle lighting, feel free to bring your own menorah and candles if you’d like, as well as any food you would like to share! This event is free for everyone, and you do not need to be Jewish to attend. All are welcome!
4th Annual Lake Nona Chanukah Celebration
Thursday, December 7, starting at 5:30PM
Lake Nona Town Center, 6900 Tavistock Lakes Blvd Orlando, FL 32827
Join in the celebration of Hanukkah at Lake Nona for the 4th Annual Lake Nona Chanukah Celebration! This event is set to be chock-full of entertainment and delicious food. You can expect to experience a grand menorah lighting, a DJ spinning Hanukkah classics, LED robots, acrobat performers, dancing rabbis, face painters, a performance by students from the Hebrew School of the Arts, scrumptious Sufganiyot, and so much more!
A Classic Christmas
Saturday, December 9, from 2:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Knowles Memorial Chapel, 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, FL
Renowned for its national broadcasts on PBS, A Classic Christmas is a beloved Central Florida tradition. The Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra will be joined by the Bach Festival Children’s Choirs for this joyous celebration, so join in on the holiday music together!
2023 Holiday Toy Drive
Wednesday, December 13, from 6 PM – 9 PM
1336 North Mills Avenue Orlando, FL
Join for the 2023 Holiday Toy Drive, benefiting the AdventHealth Children’s Hospital, at Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen and Cocktails in Orlando, FL, USA. Let’s channel the festive spirit into a cause that touches hearts: bringing joy and comfort to the young patients spending their holidays in the hospital. Note that this is a 21+ event.
Swingin’ Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennet
Friday, December 15, from 2 PM – 4:15 PM
711 N Orange Ave, Winter Park, FL
Ring in the holidays with this unforgettable evening of quintessential Tony Bennett! Featuring eighteen holiday classic holiday tunes plus the standards that made Bennett famous like “I Wanna Be Around,” “The Good Life,” “Rags to Riches” and of course Tony’s signature song, “I Left Heart in San Francisco.” Grab your friends and family and celebrate the season Tony Bennett style!
Christmas Eve Celebration
Sunday, December 24, from 1 PM- 4 PM
445 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL
Enjoy free admission to the Morse Museum galleries with live music from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. this Christmas Eve!
Kwanzaa Celebration
Tuesday, December 26, from 11 AM- 9 PM
721 West New England Avenue, Winter Park, FL
The Equity Council Corp. is hosting its annual Kwanzaa Celebration, sponsored by Winter Park’s Parks & Recreation Department. Enjoy food, drumming, special dance and musical performances, and support black-owned businesses by shopping at the SOKO Marketplace. This year’s celebration will commence with the lighting of the Black Candle and focus on the Kwanzaa principle of Umoja (Unity)!
Holiday Five Marathon
Tuesday, December 26, from 7 PM – Saturday, December 30, 7 PM
2529 Cady Way, Winter Park, FL 32792
The marathon is twelve out-and-back laps of approximately 2.2 miles; the half marathon course is six laps. The 5K and 10K courses are two and four laps of approximately 1.55 miles.