For more festive fun this holiday season, be sure to bookmark our Orlando Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide!

St. Augustine puts on a beautiful lighted boat parade! Photo by Jonathon Wilson, courtesy of Floridas Historic Coast

Unique Holiday Events Across Central Florida

1. Lighted Boat Parades – Various Waterways

Central Florida’s waterways come alive each December as boaters deck their vessels in lights, inflatables, and holiday displays. Many communities, from Orlando and Winter Park to Mount Dora and Daytona Beach, host their own annual versions, making it easy to catch a parade no matter where you live.

2. Christmas at Dinosaur World – Plant City

Dinosaur World transforms for the season with miles of sparkling lights and giant lantern displays that illuminate life-size dinosaurs. Families can meet Santa, take a ride on the Candy Cane Express, and explore the festive pathways for a unique holiday outing. Kids can even partake in an Elf Workshop where they can build their own dinosaur and dragon skeletons!

3. Gatorland’s Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Down – Orlando

Gatorland puts a Florida spin on the holidays with live music, festive gator shows, holiday characters, and plenty of swampy cheer. Snap a quirky holiday photo with Gator Claus in his swamp-ready sleigh. Keep an eye out for the mischievous Krampus Croc and join the Florida Skunk Ape for a round of his favorite cryptid carols. This family-friendly event is included with park admission and is a fun way to experience the “Alligator Capital of the World” with a seasonal twist. Be sure to check out the Florida resident discounts for the month of December!

RELATED: Bite into Orlando Fun by Visiting Gatorland with Kids

4. Golf Cart Parades – Various Communities

Some Central Florida neighborhoods celebrate the season with golf cart parades, featuring carts decked out in lights, garland, and creative holiday themes. Check out these events in Winter Garden and Kissimmee. Guests staying at Disney’s Fort Wilderness can participate a festive golf cart parade (or just watch) on Christmas Eve!

5. Grinch Bioluminescent Christmas Tour – Merritt Island

This holiday paddle tour is a unique, only-in-Florida way to celebrate the season. Families float through glowing bioluminescent waters as comb jellies light up the lagoon, and the Grinch drops in for festive fun and photos. This guided 1.5-hour raft tour runs Friday and Saturday nights in December, and is open to ages 3 and up.

6. KrampusFest – Orlando

KrampusFest brings a wonderfully weird twist to the holidays with live music, food, drinks, local makers, and a high-energy Krampus parade. The early hours are family-friendly, while the evening shifts to adults only. This free community event is one of Orlando’s most unique holiday traditions.

7. Krampus Haunt – Kissimmee

Families with tweens and teens who love a good scare will enjoy this dark, atmospheric Krampus experience. The walkthrough maze features creepy sound effects, glowing visuals, and costumed characters who bring the old-world folklore to life. The event also includes a Krampus Museum, offering a calmer way to learn about the legend.

8. Phantasmagoria – Various Locations

This theatrical troupe brings Victorian ghost stories to life with elaborate costumes, dance, acrobatics, and storytelling. Their holiday show mixes eerie tales with seasonal themes, providing a spooky twist on December entertainment.

Surfing Santas prefer the sand over snow during the coolest Christmas event in Cocoa Beach. Photo courtesy of the event

9. Surfing Santas – Cocoa Beach

One of Florida’s most iconic holiday spectacles, Surfing Santas, brings hundreds of surfers dressed as Santa, elves, and every imaginable North Pole character to the waves of Cocoa Beach on Christmas Eve. It’s perfect for families who want a holiday tradition that feels uniquely Floridian. Arrive early for the best views and photo ops!

10. Tis the Season for Murder – Orlando

This 1920s-themed club turns into a festive holiday hideaway from late November through December. Families and adults can enjoy a three-course meal, holiday jazz performances, seasonal cocktails, and fun extras like an ugly sweater contest and charity casino-style games. The night ends with Christmas carols around the piano, all wrapped inside a lighthearted murder-mystery show. Note: The show is rated PG-13, and children under age 8 are not permitted.

11. Violectric Holiday Show – Lake Eola

This electric string ensemble puts on a high-energy outdoor concert that blends rock, classical, and holiday favorites. This FREE performance at Lake Eola is a great way to enjoy live music in a festive setting without the theme-park crowds.