There are so many holiday events in Central Florida every year that for this post I decided to narrow them down by price and only include events that are FREE. Here are some of Orlando's most popular holiday season events that you can enjoy without spending any money. Come see fireworks, parades, and tree lighting ceremonies; visit Santa, a museum, or a concert; play in the snow, socialize, and much more. Disclaimer: Most events do serve food and drinks, which are probably not free. Any other free events you know of that aren't listed? Leave a comment!
Free Ongoing Events
Although it was already mentioned in the Thanksgiving post, Light Up UCF is going all month. In addition to ice skating, rides like the Ferris wheel, Christmas train, and ice slide cost money, but there are also free activities, including a musically-synchronized light show every night and the Holiday Film Festival (see below for details). Parking is free and check the site's calendar for 2-4-1 Tuesdays on ice skating and other combo deals.
Although it's become a nightly event since the Lake Eola fountain renovations earlier this Fall, stop by the park any night at 8:00pm or 9:30pm to see a four-and-a-half minute light show choreographed with some lively jazz music.
Santa's Winter Wonderland Village will be going on at the Waterford Lakes town center from December 2nd, 2011 to January 2nd, 2012. Come see seasonal displays, visit Santa's workshop, and enjoy the thousands of lights. In addition to food and drink stands, there are also twenty different rides (usually $3; $15 daily wristband), including a Ferris wheel and scooter track.
Scenic Mount Dora has an ongoing calendar of holiday events, including movies at the park, lighted boat tours, performances, and lots of opportunities to visit with Santa Claus.
A nightly event in Trumanshow-esque Celebration, Florida, is Now Snowing. The month-long event (November 26th through December 31st - including Christmas Eve and Day) includes, hourly snowfalls, skating, carolers and other live music, visits by Santa, carriage rides, and other surprise events.
Free Special Events
Tuesday, November 29th
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Fred Claus on five-story outdoor movie screen
Wednesday, November 30th
Holiday at Heritage Square, Orange County History Center, Downtown Orlando
- 6:00pm to 8:00pm
- Tree lighting at 6:15pm
- Choirs, crafts, Santa
Thursday, December 1st
Christmas in the Park, Winter Park
- 6:15pm to 8:00pm
- Lighting of the Morse Museum's Tiffany Windows
- Concert by Bach Festival Choir, Youth Choir, and Brass Ensemble
Holiday on the Drive with Light up College Park, Orlando
- 5:00pm to 9:00pm
- Tree lighting, Santa, karaoke, live music
Cornell Fine Arts Museum Open House, Rollins Campus in Winter Park
- 11:00am to 6:00pm
Friday, December 2nd
Holiday Lights Orlando 2001 with Mayor Buddy Dyer, Lake Eola Park Band Shell
- 4:00pm Tree lighting
- Choir, "The Gift" play, live music
- Outdoor showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm
- Harp concert, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Cornell Fine Arts Museum Open House, Rollins Campus in Winter Park
- 11:00am to 8:00pm
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of The Nightmare Before Christmas on five-story outdoor movie screen
- Mayor of Oviedo coming; skating discount for residents of Oviedo
Popcorn Flicks, Central Park in Winter Park
- 7:00pm
- Outdoor showing of A Christmas Story and How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Family Fun Night, Lake Concord Park in Casselberry
- 6:00pm to 9:00pm
- Tree lighting and movie in the park
Holiday in the Park, Lake Mary
- 6:30pm Tree lighting with Santa
- Face painting, games, prizes, food, entertainment
- Bring canned goods or toys and get free cookies
Light Up Sanford, Magnolia Square in Sanford
- 6:00pm - 8:00pm Tree lighting
- Christmas music
Mount Dora Christmas Walk, Downtown Mount Dora
- 6:00pm to 9:00pm
- Holiday street party with music, Santa, and shopping
Saturday, December 3rd
Winter Park Christmas Parade, Park Avenue, Winter Park
- 9:00am Parade
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm showing of Veggie Tales on five-story outdoor movie screen
Avalon Aglow, Avalon Park in Orlando
- 3:00pm Parade
- 9:00pm Fireworks
- Live music, food, rides, story telling
Light Up the Holidays, Crane's Roost Park in Altamonte Springs
- 5:00pm to 9:00pm
- Music, entertainment, fireworks, fountain show
Lighted Boat Parade, Lakefront Mount Dora
- Sundown (around 6:00pm)
Friday, December 9th
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm
- Classical guitar concert, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
- Family tour, 5:15pm - 6:00pm
- Sculpture demonstration, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of A Christmas Story on five-story outdoor movie screen
- Mayor of Winter Springs coming; skating discount for residents of Winter Springs
Saturday, December 10th
Holiday Concert by the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, Lake Eola Park Band Shell
- 2:00pm
- Bring a present or cash donation
Winter Park Festival of Lights Boat Parade, Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
- 4:30pm, parade at sundown (6:00pm)
- Boat parade, live music, food and drink stands
Baldwin Park Festival of Lights, New Broad Street, Orlando
- 6:00pm to 9:00pm
- Parade, live music, carriage rids
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Home Alone 2 on five-story outdoor movie screen
Illuminated Christmas Parade, Sanford
- 6:00pm Parade with live music
Sunday, December 11th
Mills50 Jingle 'n' Mingle, Mills Ave & Lake Highland
- 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- Live music, stiltwalker, balloon artist, magician
- Art, craft, food, and drink stands; Santa photos
Friday, December 16th
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm
- Piano concert, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Polar Express on five-story outdoor movie screen
- HOA President of Avalon Park; discounts for Avalon Park residents
Saturday, December 17th
The Nutcracker Under the Stars, Lake Eola Park Band Shell
- 7:30pm
- Performed by the Russian Ballet of Orlando
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Mickey's Magical Christmas on five-story outdoor movie screen
- Radio Disney night with giveaways
Tuesday, December 20th
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Miracle on 34th Street on five-story outdoor movie screen
Friday, December 23rd
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm
- Flute concert, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of A Christmas Carol on five-story outdoor movie screen
Saturday, December 24th
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 9:30am - 4:00pm
- Music by Raintree Chamber Players, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Friday, December 30th
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Santa Claus 2 on five-story outdoor movie screen
Free Ongoing Events
Although it was already mentioned in the Thanksgiving post, Light Up UCF is going all month. In addition to ice skating, rides like the Ferris wheel, Christmas train, and ice slide cost money, but there are also free activities, including a musically-synchronized light show every night and the Holiday Film Festival (see below for details). Parking is free and check the site's calendar for 2-4-1 Tuesdays on ice skating and other combo deals.
Although it's become a nightly event since the Lake Eola fountain renovations earlier this Fall, stop by the park any night at 8:00pm or 9:30pm to see a four-and-a-half minute light show choreographed with some lively jazz music.
Santa's Winter Wonderland Village will be going on at the Waterford Lakes town center from December 2nd, 2011 to January 2nd, 2012. Come see seasonal displays, visit Santa's workshop, and enjoy the thousands of lights. In addition to food and drink stands, there are also twenty different rides (usually $3; $15 daily wristband), including a Ferris wheel and scooter track.
Scenic Mount Dora has an ongoing calendar of holiday events, including movies at the park, lighted boat tours, performances, and lots of opportunities to visit with Santa Claus.
A nightly event in Trumanshow-esque Celebration, Florida, is Now Snowing. The month-long event (November 26th through December 31st - including Christmas Eve and Day) includes, hourly snowfalls, skating, carolers and other live music, visits by Santa, carriage rides, and other surprise events.
Free Special Events
Tuesday, November 29th
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Fred Claus on five-story outdoor movie screen
Wednesday, November 30th
Holiday at Heritage Square, Orange County History Center, Downtown Orlando
- 6:00pm to 8:00pm
- Tree lighting at 6:15pm
- Choirs, crafts, Santa
Thursday, December 1st
Christmas in the Park, Winter Park
- 6:15pm to 8:00pm
- Lighting of the Morse Museum's Tiffany Windows
- Concert by Bach Festival Choir, Youth Choir, and Brass Ensemble
Holiday on the Drive with Light up College Park, Orlando
- 5:00pm to 9:00pm
- Tree lighting, Santa, karaoke, live music
Cornell Fine Arts Museum Open House, Rollins Campus in Winter Park
- 11:00am to 6:00pm
Friday, December 2nd
Holiday Lights Orlando 2001 with Mayor Buddy Dyer, Lake Eola Park Band Shell
- 4:00pm Tree lighting
- Choir, "The Gift" play, live music
- Outdoor showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm
- Harp concert, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Cornell Fine Arts Museum Open House, Rollins Campus in Winter Park
- 11:00am to 8:00pm
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of The Nightmare Before Christmas on five-story outdoor movie screen
- Mayor of Oviedo coming; skating discount for residents of Oviedo
Popcorn Flicks, Central Park in Winter Park
- 7:00pm
- Outdoor showing of A Christmas Story and How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Family Fun Night, Lake Concord Park in Casselberry
- 6:00pm to 9:00pm
- Tree lighting and movie in the park
Holiday in the Park, Lake Mary
- 6:30pm Tree lighting with Santa
- Face painting, games, prizes, food, entertainment
- Bring canned goods or toys and get free cookies
Light Up Sanford, Magnolia Square in Sanford
- 6:00pm - 8:00pm Tree lighting
- Christmas music
Mount Dora Christmas Walk, Downtown Mount Dora
- 6:00pm to 9:00pm
- Holiday street party with music, Santa, and shopping
Saturday, December 3rd
Winter Park Christmas Parade, Park Avenue, Winter Park
- 9:00am Parade
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm showing of Veggie Tales on five-story outdoor movie screen
Avalon Aglow, Avalon Park in Orlando
- 3:00pm Parade
- 9:00pm Fireworks
- Live music, food, rides, story telling
Light Up the Holidays, Crane's Roost Park in Altamonte Springs
- 5:00pm to 9:00pm
- Music, entertainment, fireworks, fountain show
Lighted Boat Parade, Lakefront Mount Dora
- Sundown (around 6:00pm)
Friday, December 9th
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm
- Classical guitar concert, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
- Family tour, 5:15pm - 6:00pm
- Sculpture demonstration, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of A Christmas Story on five-story outdoor movie screen
- Mayor of Winter Springs coming; skating discount for residents of Winter Springs
Saturday, December 10th
Holiday Concert by the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, Lake Eola Park Band Shell
- 2:00pm
- Bring a present or cash donation
Winter Park Festival of Lights Boat Parade, Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
- 4:30pm, parade at sundown (6:00pm)
- Boat parade, live music, food and drink stands
Baldwin Park Festival of Lights, New Broad Street, Orlando
- 6:00pm to 9:00pm
- Parade, live music, carriage rids
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Home Alone 2 on five-story outdoor movie screen
Illuminated Christmas Parade, Sanford
- 6:00pm Parade with live music
Sunday, December 11th
Mills50 Jingle 'n' Mingle, Mills Ave & Lake Highland
- 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- Live music, stiltwalker, balloon artist, magician
- Art, craft, food, and drink stands; Santa photos
Friday, December 16th
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm
- Piano concert, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Polar Express on five-story outdoor movie screen
- HOA President of Avalon Park; discounts for Avalon Park residents
Saturday, December 17th
The Nutcracker Under the Stars, Lake Eola Park Band Shell
- 7:30pm
- Performed by the Russian Ballet of Orlando
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Mickey's Magical Christmas on five-story outdoor movie screen
- Radio Disney night with giveaways
Tuesday, December 20th
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Miracle on 34th Street on five-story outdoor movie screen
Friday, December 23rd
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm
- Flute concert, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of A Christmas Carol on five-story outdoor movie screen
Saturday, December 24th
Morse Museum of American Art Open House
- 9:30am - 4:00pm
- Music by Raintree Chamber Players, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Friday, December 30th
Holiday Film Festival at Light Up UCF, Orlando
- 7:00pm and 9:30pm
- Showing of Santa Claus 2 on five-story outdoor movie screen
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