If you plan to visit Orlando at Christmas, you don’t want to miss some of the best Orlando Christmas lights neighborhoods and displays this holiday season.
You can check out drive-thru Christmas lights in Orlando or take a walk through some of the displays to take time to enjoy the details. Some of them even come with “snow”!
Seeing the best Christmas lights in Orlando doesn’t mean you have to pay for a trip to Disney either. There are plenty of free spots to see Christmas lights in Orlando from homes to city events to, yes, theme park displays. You’ll feel like it is the holiday season despite the warmth with these Christmas lights.
I grew up in Orlando going with my grandparents each year to look at Christmas lights. Once I started driving, I drove them around to see the lights. My mom and I took my grandma each year to enjoy the lights until she passed away at 97 and still go each year in her memory.
Even if you are local to Orlando, these spots are great for you to take the kids or to enjoy yourself. I still go out to at least a few of these every year with my family, and we’ve created some wonderful memories this way.
Whether you are a local or just visiting the area, I hope these Orlando Christmas lights bring you and your family some holiday cheer!
The map in this post includes a LOT more homes and neighborhoods than this list does. I’ll be updating this post and the map throughout the season and each year, so bookmark it or save it to refer back to in the future! If you have any favorites I missed or you feel your house is a contender, leave a comment below or email me at [email protected].
If you are most interested in seeing homes and neighborhoods that go over the top for Christmas, don’t miss my full list of the best Orlando Christmas lights neighborhoods. For a complete guide to Christmas in Orlando, don’t miss our guide to the best things to do in Orlando at Christmas!
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Table of Contents
MAP OF THE BEST ORLANDO CHRISTMAS LIGHTS (NEIGHBORHOODS + MORE)
If it is easier to see on a map where all of these Christmas lights are located to plan your trip, here is a map of everything included here and LOTS of extra homes and neighborhoods to check out.
There are also a couple of maps for specific areas with even more options for Conway Christmas lights in the Conway lights section.
ORLANDO CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SCAVENGER HUNT
A friend mentioned she does a scavenger hunt each year with friends to make looking at neighborhood Christmas lights more fun. I’ve put together a scavenger hunt you can print to take with you and see if you can find it all. If you are missing something, every one of these can be found at a house on this list!
BEST NEIGHBORHOODS FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN ORLANDO AND CENTRAL FLORIDA
If you want to avoid the big city events and displays, Orlando has some homes and neighborhoods that go all out for Christmas. They start decorating months before Christmas. Then it takes a long time to take everything down at the end of the season.
Some neighborhoods work together to put on a coordinated display while others have friendly competitions between neighbors. Still others are on their own to light up their neighborhoods each season. Here are some of the best Christmas lights Orlando has to offer. Trust me, you don’t want to miss them!
This is a list of just a few of my favorites, but you can get the full list of the best Christmas lights neighborhoods in Orlando here.
Here is a quick reference guide (click to go straight to that section):
JOHANESSEN LIGHTS AKA ORLANDO GREAT CHRISTMAS LIGHT FIGHT HOUSE
Dates & Times: Closed for 2024 (see below)
Cost: $10 for the backyard
Address: 7849 Georgeann St., Winter Park, Florida (CLOSED FOR 2024)
Johanessen Lights is closed this year due to not being able to secure parking. However, you can still see some of their lights and decorations around Central Florida this year. Here is where to find them in 2024.
Also known as the Johanessen Lights, this crazy Christmas house first became famous outside of locals when it was on the TV show, “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” The family spends months each year decorating and then putting everything back away including half a million Christmas lights.
While the backyard has been closed for the last two years, it opened again in 2023. While the front yard is free, they put a donation box out each year with a suggested donation for the backyard. This helps with the electricity costs and costs of materials to decorate.
This year the road is closed to all vehicle traffic. You must park at the office center at the end of Georgeann or at the Publix Plaza across Goldenrod. There is a special crosswalk set up by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to cross Goldenrod and get to the display.
In 2023, they are open from December 7 – 9, 14 – 16, 21 – 23, and 26 – 31. They are always closed on Christmas and Christmas Eve.
Nearby: Winter Park Lights on Waunaqua + New Broad Street
Just around the corner is the Winter Park Lights on Waunaqua at 7510 Waunaqua Drive. You’ll find fewer people at this one than the Johanessen Lights and you can walk over while you are there – it’s just one neighborhood north of Georgeann Street. It was previously known as Conway Christmas Light on Blonigen but recently moved to Winter Park.
If you want another great display with the true spirit of Christmas in Winter Park, stop by 4564 New Broad St. Baldwin Park has lot of great displays, so drive around the area.
This one gives $3 to support local schools and nonprofits for every $1 donated. As someone who graduated from Winter Park High School and taught in Orlando for almost a decade, I love that they are supporting local schools.
EOLA HOUSE LIGHTS (2811 CLEMWOOD STREET LIGHTS HAVE MOVED)
Dates & Times: Evenings in December
Address: The Eola House, 512 East Washington Street
The light display that used to be at 2811 Clemwood Street has moved this year. The owners sold their home and moved to the coast, but they donated the display so it can still be enjoyed by all (and without making the neighbors angry!).
In 2024, you’ll find the Clemwood Christmas lights at the Eola House at Lake Eola. This works out well since you can also walk around Lake Eola to see the other displays at the same time.
In 2020, this display had 220,000+ lights covering the house and the front yard. Each light represented a life lost in the US that year to the pandemic. The next year, they added even more to represent the over 700,000 lives lost.
It’s a truly impressive Christmas light display for the sheer number of lights they have covering every inch of the home and will still be a must visit but much easier to enjoy.
BIVONA CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW
Dates & Times: All December long from 6:30 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. (hoping to open December 1 but may be slightly delayed – check here for updates)
Address: 1601 N Wind Ct, Winter Springs, Florida
There are Christmas lights, and then there are Christmas light installations that have coordinated music. For a truly impressive show put on each year, head to the Bivona Christmas light show in Winter Springs.
Kids especially will love this one as the lights dance to the music and there is a screen playing a video to go along with it as well. We arrived to “Let It Go” and Frozen playing on the screen as the music for the light show, but it quickly turned to more traditional Christmas music.
Tune in to 91.3FM to hear the music that goes with the lights and plan to stay for at least a few songs. You can get out and walk around for a closer look, but most people just park along the road and sit in their car to listen to the music and watch the light show.
As with all of the personal homes, please be respectful of the home, the neighbors, and others enjoying the show. If you drive down the cul-de-sac this one is on, there is another house with a cute display on the cul-de-sac.
Other Great Winter Springs Neighborhoods for Christmas Lights
While you are at Bivona, just a mile or two away is another great display. Head to 1209 Wolverine Trail for a yard full of inflatables and Christmas lights that kids will love. Plus, the Grinch will be there on Christmas Eve starting at 8 p.m. for pictures and to give out candy canes.
There are more good lights nearby on Gazell too, and stop by 991 Sleeping Rock Court for a beautiful display. Drive down the nearby Northern Way for more good displays in the area.
Fye’s Crazy Christmas House is in nearby Casselberry at 407 Eagle Circle. With a Christmas light tunnel over the driveway and every inch of their yard filled with holiday cheer, this is a great one to stop by for the whole family.
LAKE NONA LIGHTS
Dates & Times: Thanksgiving until New Year’s starting at 6:00 p.m.
Address: 9800 Old Patina Way
The Lake Nona Lights are the perfect display to add on to Oh, What Fun! in Lake Nona. They turn on Thanksgiving night and stay on through New Year’s.
Enjoy thousands of dancing lights accompanied by festive music while you take in this Lake Nona Christmas light show. The neighbor across the street has four chairs sitting along the sidewalk so you can stay and enjoy the show.
Parking is extremely limited in front of this one, and you don’t want to block the stop sign across the street, so you’ll most likely need to park and walk if you want to stay for long. Your best bet is probably to park on Old Patina Way across Caroline Park Drive as many of the homeowners also park on the road here.
I found myself standing in the cold for much longer than expected watching this one because it was so well-done. This is one I plan to visit again this season to take other family members to see.
Other Lake Nona Christmas Lights to See
There are lots of lights in the same neighborhood as Lake Nona Lights and even along Old Patina Way, so spend some time driving around the area and see what else you can find.
Then head over to 11403 Great Commission Way in the Moss Park area for a crazy bright display of lights. This one is a winner of the Orlando Sentinel’s Twinkly Awards for 2023.
Finally, don’t miss driving through the Laureate Park Lights where they also host a yearly Halloween show. You may want to park nearby to walk by this Lake Nona light show and be able to spend time watching it for a few minutes. Tune in to 89.5 FM to hear the music that goes with the show.
CROSS CHRISTMAS
Dates & Times: December 7 through New Year’s starting at 6 p.m. (it will turn on December 1 but be completed by December 7)
Address: 4241 N Econlockhatchee Trail
Santa is known to make an appearance close to Christmas at the top-ranking Cross Christmas that even has regular snow flurries (just push the red button). Every inch of the yard is covered in decorations and inflatables, and it is on a little cul-de-sac off of the road that makes it easier to find parking or to just pull in and watch.
This has become my favorite of the East Orlando Christmas lights, and it is right across the street from where I grew up. You can listen to the holiday music and get out and walk up the driveway to get a closer look at all of the decorations.
If you like Disney, they have lots of Disney inflatables and even a countdown clock to Christmas on the side of the garage. There is a donation box at the end of the driveway if you want to support this local Christmas light house.
The lights turn on December 1, 2024, but the display will be fully completed by the weekend of December 7. If you come by that first week, it’s worth a trip back to see it completed.
Don’t miss driving by this East Orlando Christmas light display near UCF on your holiday rounds. While you’re in the area, stop by the Lights of Newbridge Lane for another display with a snow machine and dancing lights.
The lights of Newbridge Lane turn on December 1 and stay on through December 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day. Check out their Facebook page here for updates.
CHULUOTA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Dates & Times: December 1 – January 1
Address: 274 Clearview Road, Chuluota, Florida
This one is a massive Christmas display full of lights, blow-up displays, and music. It’s a massive yard filled to the brim with Christmas decorations which makes it worth the drive out to these East Orlando Christmas lights.
This is my favorite display of all of the Central Florida Christmas lights. The yard is so large that they have plenty of space to fit tons of decorations, and you can walk along the driveway to go through them all. It’s one of the biggest and best displays I’ve ever seen.
On Christmas Eve, you can share cookies and hot cocoa with Santa’s Elves as they celebrate another year of making toys for all the boys and girls.
Their neighbor a couple of houses down has a great Christmas tree display made of lights. If you go around the corner to 1200 Enderby Court, this house also has a great display to see.
Plus, on the drive there, you’ll see lots of other great displays along Lake Mills Road. Clearview also has more displays than just this one, and Aquilla does as well. There are more good lights on Snow Hill Road near Overlook Drive.
Kilowatt Christmas is another great option in Chuluota, but due to construction issues, they are not doing lights in 2024. They hope to be back in 2025.
BANBOR LIGHTS SPECTACULAR
Dates & Times: November 28 – January 4, 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays)
Address: 7237 Mysticbrook Way, Davenport, Florida
Turn in to 91.5FM to get the music that goes along with this spectacular display. Located right close to Disney, this is a good one to check out if you are visiting the parks. The Banbor Lights also sells $5 Glow with the Show wristbands with all proceeds going to Toys for Tots.
You can also donate toys or money to Toys for Tots at this display that gives back. Leave toys by the front door in the box or leave money in the donation box at the end of the driveway on the right-hand side.
With water canons and spotlights to accentuate the already impressive show, this one is one to see. While you are out here, you can take a trip a little further south to Winter Haven to see Santa’s House by the Bigda’s. It is located at 4314 Shadow Wood Trail and starts on November 30.
ELF’N EDWARDS WINTER WONDERLAND
Dates & Times: Throughout December, but check their Facebook page for hot chocolate nights
Address: 7324 Blue Jacket Pl W, Winter Park, Florida
This one is right close to where I grew up going to school, and it gets a place on my list not just because of the Christmas lights but also because of the hot chocolate nights and the Christmas village in their window.
Check their Facebook page to see which nights they will be out with hot chocolate for those who come by, but make sure to park and follow the path through the lights to look through the picture window. The neighbors across the street also have good decorations to see.
They have a Christmas village on display, but it changes every week up through Christmas. That means you can come back to see this one multiple times to see what has changed throughout the holiday season.
The LEGO Christmas Village is the biggest one I’ve ever seen. My favorite one might have been the house from UP in the middle of the village. This is one I need to take my nephews to see when they come to visit.
BELLE ISLE & CONWAY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Since my grandparents have lived in Belle Isle since the mid-1900s, Conway was the first area I explored for Christmas lights as a kid. As this Central Florida neighborhood has grown, the Christmas Lights have become even more impressive.
Here are the addresses from some of our favorite finds so that you can enjoy them too:
- 4101 Summerwood Avenue – The tunnel of lights over the driveway sets this house apart from others nearby, but the two houses next to this one also are in on the holiday cheer with great displays of their own. Tune in to 91.3 FM for the music that goes with this Griswold level Christmas light display.
- 2306 Trace Avenue – This one may not have many lights, but the 40-foot Santa makes it a great spot to stop and see the biggest Santa Claus you may ever find.
- Hoffner Avenue from Conway to Hansel – There are a few houses along this drive that have lots of holiday lights starting at the end of November and all throughout December. Just be careful as it is a main road through Belle Isle, so make sure you are not impeding the flow of traffic.
- Corner of Meadowood and Teriwood in Lake Conway Woods – This whole corner is covered in lights, and Lake Conway Woods is a beautiful neighborhood for Christmas lights in Orlando
- 4901 Dorian Avenue – This house is covered in Christmas lights with a great display on the rooftop too. I love driving along Dorian, St. Marie, Money, St. Moritz, and St. Michael in the same neighborhood each year with my family.
- 1919 Stanley Street – Get a preview of the 31-foot tall Christmas tree made of 2,200 individually computer-controlled lights in this YouTube clip.
- Lake Conway Estates – If you will be in the area on Christmas Eve or Christmas night, it is always beautiful to drive through Conway Estates where most of the neighbors put out luminaries.
For a fully interactive map to plan your drive through the area, the map below has the best lights of 2024. Click on the address to see if pictures have been added of that house to decide which ones you want to visit:
CELEBRATION CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Dates & Times: Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve
Address: All along Celebration Avenue and throughout Celebration
The Jeater Bend Christmas Lights no longer take place as of 2023, but Celebration still has some great displays to see. Many of the houses that used to be a part of the Jeater Bend Christmas show are still decorated, they just do not have the synchronized light show anymore.
But don’t worry – the homes along Celebration Avenue picked up the torch this year and put on a great display for you to park and walk by to enjoy.
The best display now is on Celebration Avenue from 1100 Celebration Avenue down to 1108 Celebration Avenue with lights on both sides of the street. Santa and Mrs. Claus were even in the yard at 1104 Celebration Avenue on a Friday evening in December when I stopped by, so keep an eye out for other appearances.
It starts with a Santa Mickey at 1100 and includes a radio station with a light show at 1104 (my favorites), but I love that this little section of the street has gotten more into the holiday spirit each year since I started visiting this area a few years ago for Christmas lights. Drive all along Celebration Avenue past these houses for even more great displays.
Maiden Terrace is another great street for lights. If you have a Frozen fan with you, drive by 1026 Maiden Terrace where they display scenes from Frozen on the side of the house.
Spring Park Loop is another good loop to drive in Celebration. You’ll find the 12 Days of Christmas Trees at 821 Spring Park Loop. Drive slowly all the way along the loop to take in all of the decorations in this part of Celebration.
Make sure to drive by 618 Golfpark Drive in Celebration, a winner of the 2023 Twinkly Awards. A beautiful home even without the decorations, this one gets covered in lights along with garland wrapping the columns. The yard is filled with Christmas characters and Santas to add the finishing touches to the display.
BEST ORLANDO CHRISTMAS LIGHTS HOSTED BY CITIES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA
While Orlando is certainly the most well-known of the Central Florida cities, there are lots of other cities and towns that make up the Greater Orlando area. Many of these cities and towns host their own Christmas events featured in our blog about the top things to do in Orlando at Christmas. A few of them have amazing Christmas lights that make them worth including here too.
CITY OF ORLANDO LIGHT SHOW
Dates & Times: December 6, 2024, until early January, with synchronized music and light shows hourly starting at 5:45 and running until 9:45 p.m. each evening
Location: Lake Eola Park, 512 East Washington Street, Orlando, FL 32801
Orlando kicks off the Christmas season with the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on December 6 when the Lake Eola Christmas lights in Downtown Orlando come on. Every night, there is an hourly light show with synchronized music starting at 5:45 p.m. and ending at 9:45 p.m.
Take the time to walk around Lake Eola and see the other Christmas decorations and not just the massive Christmas tree. The nearly one mile path (.9 mi/1.4 km) around the lake takes you through a light tunnel and through the best Downtown Orlando Christmas lights with beautiful views of the city and Lake Eola.
There are also several Christmas events at the Walt Disney Amphitheater you can find in our Orlando Christmas events post.
OH, WHAT FUN IN LAKE NONA
Dates & Times: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from December 6 – December 22, 2023 (check calendar for times)
Cost: FREE but bring money for ice skating, food, and drinks
Location: Lake Nona Town Center
Each Christmas, the Lake Nona Town Center transforms into a Christmas village complete with photo ops, Christmas light installation, and fun for the whole family. You can also enjoy free movies on select nights each year.
Lake Nona understands the power of an Instagram-worthy photo. They not only have Christmas lights and Christmas decorations, but they also have photo spots set up to capture your Christmas Instagram posts and TikToks.
Leave some time to drive through the nearby neighborhoods to see what homeowners have done to decorate each year either before or after you stop by the event.
LIGHT UP WINDERMERE ON MAIN STREET
Date & Time: November 22 through December
Cost: FREE
Location: Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main Street
Held annually on the last Friday before Thanksgiving, Light Up Windermere takes place during the monthly Windermere food truck event. Live entertainment and over 100,000 white lights add to the holiday feel while dining on local food truck cuisine.
If you miss the kick off event, that’s okay. You can still visit Windermere to check out the holiday decor throughout the rest of November and December.
LIGHT UP MOUNT DORA & MOUNT DORA CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Dates & Times: November 23 through end of December
Location: Downtown Mount Dora at Sunset Park & Elizabeth Evans Park
Mount Dora makes the list for best things to do in Orlando at Christmas even though it is located about 45 minutes outside the city. Covered in over two million twinkling lights and known for its Polar Express train (canceled since 2022), Mount Dora knows how to do Christmas right.
Christmas gets into full swing on November 23 with the lighting of the Main Street Christmas tree and an appearance by Santa Claus in Sunset Park. Light Up Mount Dora takes place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a firework display after dark and Santa arriving by boat.
The two million Christmas lights in Mount Dora will still be on for all to enjoy throughout the rest of November and all of December.
You can get the full lineup of events here for Mount Dora and Tavares.
LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS AT CRANES ROOST PARK IN ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Date & Time: December 7 – first weekend in January starting at dusk
Location: Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs
Celebrate the season with the City of Altamonte Springs at the annual Light Up the Holidays event at Cranes Roost Park. Take a walk around the lake so you don’t miss out on the 200,000 Christmas lights and the 60-foot Christmas tree that remain on display throughout the season.
The Holiday Fountain Show happens hourly from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night with the water and lights synchronized with holiday music. Food and drink vendors serve a holiday menu at the initial lighting event on December 7. More details on the events are here.
While you’re here, drive over to Lemonwood Court. This Altamonte Springs neighborhood all got in on the holiday spirit with every house decorated for Christmas.
HOLIDAY IN THE PARK LAKE MARY
Date & Time: December 1, 2024 through the end of December
Location: Central Park at City Hall in Lake Mary
Lake Mary hosts the Holiday in the Park even with over a million holiday lights covering Central Park. Santa Claus comes to visit on December 1 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and there is free admission to the synthetic ice rink. You’ll also find lots of food trucks at the main event on December 1, so come hungry and enjoy this local event.
LIGHT UP WINTER GARDEN
Date & Time: December 6, 2024 from 6 – 9 p.m. (lighting at 6:15 p.m.)
Location: 300 W. Plant Street, Winter Garden
Winter Garden sets up a beautiful display each year along W. Plant Street. There are lots of great photo spots including in front of City Hall where we took our family Christmas photo the last two years.
You can visit anytime to see the decorations and lights, but on certain nights they do a Christmas light show set to music projected onto the City Hall. Find parking along or just off of Plant Street and take time to walk through and enjoy the lights all along the road before stopping by City Hall.
You can find lots of great options for food in the area too. One of our favorites is The Whole Enchilada with rooftop seating and delicious Mexican food. You can also grab an ice cream one of my favorite Orlando dessert spots, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream.
BEST THEME PARK AND HOTEL CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN ORLANDO
While you can easily enjoy Christmas lights in Orlando without ever taking a trip to the touristy side of town, some displays are worth the trip. From theme parks to popular resorts, you can find some of the best Christmas lights in Orlando near the theme parks.
Universal Studios Orlando, Walt Disney World, and SeaWorld also have Christmas events throughout November and December. However, this list focuses on events featuring Christmas lights and not on other events. Get the full breakdown of theme park Christmas events here.
CHRISTMAS AT THE GAYLORD PALMS
Dates: November 15, 2024 – January 4, 2025
Cost: Varies per activity (discounts for Florida residents and others; bundled tickets also available)
Location: Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, 6000 West Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee
Each year, Gaylord Palms hosts more and more Christmas events. From events for couples to activities for kids, Gaylord Palms could easily be a hub for you to enjoy the best Orlando Christmas activities.
ICE! is back in 2023 with “Elf” as the theme – the best Christmas movie of all time! Make sure to walk through the St. Augustine atrium to take in the 60-foot Christmas tree.
The Shine Christmas light show features over 2 million choreographed lights that make the tree and atrium even more beautiful at 9:15 p.m. each evening. Check out the Christmas Tree Trail too for eight more Christmas trees, each with a different theme.
Get updated details on all of the events at Christmas at Gaylord Palms here.
CHRISTMAS TREE STROLL AT DISNEY SPRINGS
Dates & Times: November 8 – December 30, 2023
Location: Disney Springs
Formerly the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs, Disney changed it to a “stroll” in 2020 to allow for more social distancing. The stroll returns in 2024 with a new set of trees decked out in a variety of themes. If you plan to visit the Walt Disney World Resort when you are in Orlando, this is a fun, free Christmas activity even the kids will enjoy.
The Christmas Tree Stroll is one of the few free holiday theme park activities in Orlando. The trail features 20 Christmas trees, each with its own theme. While some feature a character, others feature an entire movie. Take a walk through and see what themes were chosen for 2024.
While you’re here, get a spot in line for Gideon’s Bakehouse. You can thank me after you’ve tried their cookies and cakes!
OTHER AMAZING ORLANDO CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Besides homeowners, city events, and theme parks and resorts, there are also several other noteworthy Christmas light displays in Central Florida. Some of these events do have an entry fee, but they are worth it.
DAZZLING NIGHTS AT HARRY P. LEU GARDENS
Dates & Times: November 29, 2024 – January 5, 2024 (Closed on Christmas)
Cost: Starting at $22 for adults, $19 for children (ages 2 and under are free)
Location: Harry P. Leu Gardens
Located in Winter Park, Harry P. Leu Gardens transforms into a winter wonderland each year. With a million lights and a path that takes you on a three-quarter mile walk, this is a truly interactive holiday experience and one of the best holiday events Orlando has to offer.
The entire event has been remade this year to feature new surprises. My favorites included the stained glass windows in the forest and several tunnel type displays – one of stars, one of Christmas lights, and a 70-food tunnel made of garland. The kids I attended with especially loved the bounce house with a slide at the end of the walk.
Parking is available at Harry P. Leu Gardens for a fee. Otherwise, you can park at AdventHealth Imaging Center Innovation Tower Parking Garage and take a free shuttle to Leu Gardens. We used the off-site parking and have no complaints.
The entire event was seamless. We did not have to wait for a shuttle when we arrived or left. Even though our time slot was sold out, it did not feel overly crowded with the one-way path winding through the park.
Food and drinks are available for purchase at the beginning and several spots throughout the trail. We did try the food, and I would suggest finding somewhere nearby to get food instead. The White Wolf Cafe or Gnarley Barley are two local spots I enjoy.
Get your tickets for Dazzling Nights here.
GIVE KIDS THE WORLD VILLAGE: NIGHT OF A MILLION LIGHTS
Give Kids the World Village hosted Night of a Million Lights during the pandemic years, but now that families are back at the village, they are no longer hosting this event. You can still take a VIP tour of the facility to see the Christmas decorations at the village itself.
You can see current events at Give Kids the World including VIP holiday tours here.
DINOS IN LIGHTS AT ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER
Dates & Times: November 8, 2024 through January 9, 2025
Location: Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center gets a makeover with a music and lights show running every 30 minutes from 11:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. It is included in the price of admission, and you’ll want to see it from a variety of angles since the music changes each show.
Come see Stan the T-Rex and his friends in DinoDigs all lit up for the holidays!
ASIAN LANTERN FESTIVAL AT THE CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDENS
Dates & Times: Select nights from November 15, 2024 – January 19, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: Tickets start at $24.99 (kids 2 and under are free) with a 4 pack of tickets costing $80
Location: Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
This event is a little different from your typical Orlando Christmas event. The Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild features over 30 different hand-made lantern displays. Follow a 3/4 mile path to take in the illuminated sculptures of animals, plants, and other elements of Chinese culture.
Santa Claus will be in town and visiting the zoo on December 13 and 20 this year.
This event is outside of Zoo hours, so you are not purchasing a ticket to the Zoo for this event. You will need a ticket for entry. Bring some extra money if you want to enjoy the food and drinks available or to purchase any of the artisan crafts for sale.
Find out more and buy tickets here. Even if you don’t attend the event, you can see the displays if you visit during the day as well.
While you’re here, stop by 242 Buena Vista St. in Debary to see a home covered in lights. Make sure to get out and follow the trail through this display to see what you can find!
MERRY AND BRIGHT HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW
Dates & Times: Select nights from November 22 – December 31
Cost: $23 and up per carload
Location: Faith Assembly of God
This is the newest of the Orlando drive thru Christmas light shows. This one is located on Curry Ford Road at Faith Assembly and put on by Holiday Light Shows. A portion of the proceeds benefit the church and its ministries.
Fill up a car, truck, SUV, or van and drive the 1-mile or so route through the Christmas lights display with friends or family. You cannot get out of the car, but you can get great views and pictures from inside your vehicle.
THE SANTA WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE AT ICON PARK
Dates & Times: November 8 – December 24
Cost: $32.95 and up
Location: ICON Park
Stop in to visit Santa at ICON Park in Orlando where he will even give your child a personalized gift if you plan ahead.
You’ll also get to take a ride on The Wheel (formerly The Orlando Eye) decorated and lit up for Christmas. Kids ride free with a Santa photo package and get a discount for additional riders.
LIGHTS OVER ALOMA
Dates & Times: CANCELED FOR 2024
Cost: FREE
Location: 1815 Semoran Blvd, Winter Park
Lights over Aloma is a new event in 2023. It is a drive thru Christmas light show with audio that can be heard here on any device as you drive through the lights.
My husband and I went on the first night of the event and were impressed. You hear the story of Christmas while driving through the scenes that go with the audio story. It only takes about 10 minutes to drive through, and it’s right off of 436 making it an easy stop while out and about.
This is a family-friendly free way to see Christmas lights in Orlando without having to get out of your car, and you’ll even seen snow falling at the start of the drive.
WHEN TO SEE THE ORLANDO CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAYS
While the Christmas lights in Orlando start turning on in November, your safest bet is to visit Orlando in December. A few of the displays continue until the first weekend in January if you are visiting Orlando for New Year’s.
Christmas Eve and Christmas night are usually the busiest nights, especially for the neighborhoods with beautiful displays. Add some extra time to your itinerary if you go on those evenings.
We usually go either earlier in December or the week after Christmas and have not had issues. You can easily spread out a few spots each night to keep the kids busy over Christmas break or pick out a few new ones to try each year for a special evening out.
Looking for more Florida travel tips? Don’t miss out on our review of Westgate River Ranch and our favorite place to stay for a Cocoa Beach vacation.
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Megan
Saturday 23rd of December 2023
You should see this mansion near the Mormon church by Windermere, it could put Disney to shame. Massive house and you can see the front and back of the house. Truly insane we go visit it every year. I believe it's in the Windsor Hills neighborhood. You'll KNOW when you are close.
Christine Wheeler
Saturday 23rd of December 2023
Thank you! I'll try to make it over there between now and New Year's to add this year or at least to have for next year! If you get the address or road name, let me know!