A few of our favorite Florida holiday displays, dazzling lights, boat parades and Santa visits
Florida's downtowns, small towns, neighborhoods and historic cities light up during the holidays every year.
Some are city-sponsored events, while others are neighbors decking their own homes for others to drive by or walk through.
Many last a few weeks, usually between the weeks of Thanksgiving and New Year's. But St. Augustine's Nights of Lights lasts more than two months, running from Nov. 20 through Jan. 31.
Each is unique and worth a trip to see the ones near where you live or where you're visiting this holiday season.
Nights of Lights in historic St. Augustine
Nights of Lights in St. Augustine has been named one of the top 10 best displays in the world by National Geographic, and it’s in our backyard.
From Nov. 20 until Jan. 31, the historic city will dazzle visitors with white lights in the Plaza de la Constitucion, along the bayfront and around other parts of downtown.
This is the 28th year of the display, which includes millions of white lights.
It all kicks off on Nov. 20 Saturday with Light-Up! Night, when the city’s lights are flipped on during an evening a 6:30 p.m. ceremony in the Plaza.
Many restaurants and shops stay open late during the holiday season, giving you plenty to enjoy during your visit.
But walking isn’t the only way to enjoy the lights. Try a boat ride, trolley tour or helicopter flight for different angles.
The city is offering a free park-and-ride shuttle on certain days during the season. For information about parking, tours and other ways to best experience the lights, go to floridashistoriccoast.com/nights-lights.
— Mary Kelli Palka/Florida Times-Union, Sheldon Gardner/The St. Augustine Record
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Neighbors light up Victoria Park Naples
Every year it seems there’s a bigger and better holiday light display winning a top award on a TV show.
But there’s nothing better than driving through a neighborhood where it seems every house has captured that Christmas spirit – more than one house per street or a few in a community.
There is such a place: Victoria Park in Naples. These neighbors deck their homes, garages, trees and more every Halloween, too, but that’s just the appetizer.
It began three decades ago and residents seem to up the ante every season. And residents don’t mind lines of cars slowly cruising down their streets, with passengers gazing in wonder of the creativity with lights and displays.
Some streets even have lighted arches over the street, to create a sub-tropical wonderland.
“Many nights, we’ll sit out on our front porch and just watch people drive by and wave,” Victoria Park resident Brooke Austin told the Naples Daily News in 2020. “It brings us joy seeing other people experience joy looking at the lights.”
How to get there: Victoria Park is actually in what’s considered North Naples, but it’s easy to find. Just Google the words “Victoria Lane Naples Florida” and you’re in the heart of the community.
— Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News
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Let it Glow in Ocala
Light Up Ocala, themed “Let it Glow” for 2021, its 37th year, is the city’s largest holiday tradition. Colorful photo opportunities abound with Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch and the holiday tree. Visitors can make use of shuttles to travel between three main entertainment stations with live music and performances or enjoy the Junior Sunshine Parade, featuring local dance studios, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts troops, Cub Scout Packs and a special appearance by the man in red.
Be sure to also check out over 100 vendors in historic downtown Ocala for arts and crafts and mouthwatering food, or bring your children, grandkids, nieces and nephews to the interactive kids zone built to entertain the whole family.
The spirited events culminate with the push of a button as thousands of twinkling lights turn on at once, dazzling the downtown area.
Because the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, visitors are encouraged to wear face masks, social distance and frequently sanitize their hands.
More information can be found online at www.ocalafl.org/lightup. The event will be held on Nov. 20 from 4 to 9 p.m.
— Danielle Ivanov/Gainesville Sun
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It's a Winterfest in Pensacola
An Elf Parade kicks off a fun-filled holiday season in the heart of historic downtown Pensacola.
Pensacola Winterfest officially starts on Black Friday with the parade and ends on Christmas Eve. There are also some great events beginning the week before.
The concept of Winterfest revolves around themed trolley performance tours that illuminate downtown Pensacola from Historic Seville to the Palafox Business District. Visitors will enjoy holiday trolley tours, live performances, visits from Santa and other holiday characters and, yes, there's even "snow."
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time for Cajun Christmas, tours (Polar Express, Grinch or Scrooge), and photos with Santa or the Grinch. Reservations are recommended.
But no need to buy tickets to enjoy the Winterfest. The estimated 500,000 white lights are the real star of this show, helping to turn Palafox Place into a dazzling Winter Wonderland. Free preshows prior to the trolley “live shows” are also open to the public every 15-20 minutes each night of Winterfest from 4 to 8 p.m. Winterfest runs Nov. 21, 26-28 and Dec. 3, 4, 10, 17-19 and 21-24.
— Mary Kelli Palka/Florida Times-Union
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Boat parades and more in Sarasota-Manatee
Nestled along the Gulf of Mexico and boasting miles of Intracoastal Waterway, the Sarasota-Manatee community’s most famous holiday traditions include lights, palm trees and brightly decorated boats.
A tradition dating back to 1989, the Venice Christmas Boat Parade of Lights in south Sarasota County takes place the first Saturday in December. Spectators line the Intracoastal Waterway and gather at places such as Pop’s Sunset Grill and Pelican Alley with the parade starting above Albee Road Bridge and heading south with a turnaround before Circus Bridge. The same day should also find the third annual Bradenton Beach Holiday Boat Parade passing by places such as historic Bridge Street Pier on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, just south of Tampa Bay.
Then on the second Saturday of December there are two more big events held on area waterways. The annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights takes place on Sarasota Bay with prime viewing spots including Bayfront Park or securing a dining reservation at waterfront Marina Jack. Meanwhile, the Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade will find spectators lining the Bradenton Riverwalk and the Green Bridge Fishing Pier in Palmetto as well as congregating at VIP viewing parties at Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant, Caddy’s and Pier 22.
Of course, Sarasota-Manatee does have holiday events taking place on land. Highlights include Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens (Dec. 11-23, 26-30 and Jan. 1-2) and the annual Pinecraft Christmas Day Parade hosted by Sarasota’s Amish and Mennonite community.
— Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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Dazzling Nights premieres in Jacksonville
With more than 1 million lights, Dazzling Nights at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is set to become the city’s must-see holiday attraction in 2021.
The lights and interactive displays include a 30-foot lighted Christmas tree and 65-foot lighted tunnel along the winding, three-quarter-mile paved Lake Loop Trail at the arboretum, one of Jacksonville’s hidden treasures. And yes, the event's organizers say the forecast does call for (manufactured) snow!
The 51-night event, which makes its debut in Jacksonville this year, follows its launch in Orlando in 2020.
Dazzling Nights is open 5:30 to 9 nightly, from Nov. 19 to Jan. 9. Tickets are $22 on weekdays, $25 on weekends, and must be purchased for a timed slot. With limited parking at the arboretum, a free shuttle will transport guests from the nearby Regency Square Mall parking lot. For more information and tickets, visit dazzlingjax.com.
— Gary T. Mills/Florida Times-Union
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