Top 10 List of Must-Visit Towns in Florida for the Winter Holidays

Florida is known for its beautiful beaches, sunny weather and palm trees. But did you know that this state also has a lot of hidden gems during the winter season? With all the festivities going on during the holidays, there are many towns in Florida to visit with your family!

In this blog post we will list 10 must-visit towns in Florida during the winter holidays. These cities have big holiday events, such as Christmas parades, holiday lights festivals and other family friendly events. The best part about these cities is that they go above and beyond by lighting up their main streets with decorations to spread some festive cheer throughout town!

This year, Florida is making a splash with their winter festivities! From holiday lights festivals to Christmas parades and more. If you are looking for the perfect family-friendly vacation spot this December, then look no further. Here are some of our favorite towns in Florida that will have you feeling festive all year long!

 

10) Palm Coast

We start off this list with a town where palm trees are king! Located near Jacksonville, Palm Coast boasts a quiet coastline and plenty of sunshine for those who want to spend their days at the beach or poolside.

During the winter holidays, Palm Coast goes above and beyond by adding even more Christmas cheer with their "Deck The Halls" event which includes carolers walking down main street singing classic tunes, along with a visit from Santa himself. Make sure to also visit Flagler College where there is always some sort of event happening like live music performances or lectures from special guests. And when the sun sets, head over to Main Street where you will find holiday lights and festive decorations everywhere!

 

9) Winter Park

This charming little city near Orlando is the perfect place to vacation with your family this December. With their Christmas parade that takes you down Park Avenue, it will bring out all the holiday cheer! The annual tree lighting ceremony happens right in front of City Hall where there are also many other events happening throughout the month like carriage rides and storytime with Santa. If you're visiting with little ones, then make sure to check out Park Avenue's newest attraction: a Victorian-inspired children's play area!

 

8) Homestead / Miami

This town, located in southern Miami-Dade County is a great place to spend your days during the winter holidays! There are plenty of events going on throughout December including their annual holiday parade. Another favorite event in Homestead is Fantasy of Lights which takes place at Stephen P Clark Government Center every year full of Christmas cheer with over 30 different light displays!

 

7) Fort Lauderdale / Miami

Fort Lauderdale knows how to do the holidays right! If you are looking for a lively city with plenty of holiday cheer, then check out their Winterfest annual boat parade that takes place along Las Olas Boulevard. There will be hundreds of boats decked out in seasonal decor as they cruise down the waterway during this festive event. Also, if you're looking for a more low-key holiday celebration, then check out their Holiday Festival of Lights where you can enjoy the many Christmas light displays in town.

 

6) St. Augustine

St. Augustine, located along the northeastern coast of Florida is a historical town that dates back to 1565! This city is known for their Spanish Colonial architecture and history buffs will love exploring this charming little place during the holidays. There are plenty of events going on throughout December including The Great Christmas Tree Ship Lighting Ceremony & Celebration where you can meet Santa.

 

5) Key West

If you are looking for a city with beautiful blue waters and plenty of sunshine, then look no further! Key West is the perfect spot to spend your days during this December. There are so many events going on in town like their Fantasy Fest Parade where all residents get together to celebrate the holidays by decorating everything they can find including the trees, houses and even the streets.

 

4) Cocoa Beach

This small beach town is located along the Atlantic Coast and knows how to do the holidays right! There are so many events going on throughout December like their parade, Concert in the Park and The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade that will have you feeling all warm inside from this holiday cheer.

 

3) Celebration

This is a town known for their unique New Urbanism style of architecture. Located in the Orlando Metropolitan Area, there are plenty of events going on throughout December like Downtown for the Holidays where you can enjoy all the holiday cheer with your loved ones!

 

2) Panama City Beach

This is another beach town that's known for its beautiful blue waters and white sand! There are so many events going on throughout December like their Winter Home for the Holidays event at Aaron Bessant Park and their Optimist Christmas Parade through Front Beach Road where you can see a festival of cars decked in lights for unforgettable memories with your loved ones.

 

1) Orlando

Orlando is known for their theme parks, but did you know that they have a whole downtown area with plenty of holiday cheer? There are so many events going on throughout December that it's hard to keep count. All the large theme parks such as Disney's Epcot Center and Universal Studios have incredible Holiday festivals throughout the month, with parades, fireworks and much more. Also, you don't want to miss the Night of a Million Lights event with a fully immersive holiday lights spectacular experience, named as the "#1 Thing to Do in December in Orlando" by USA Today. Make sure to check out all these amazing holiday events this December!

 

Summary

You will not want to miss these towns during your winter holidays with family this year. In addition to these cities, there are many other events going on in Florida this December. From Christmas parades to holiday light shows there is something for everyone throughout all of Florida during this festive month!