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December 1, 2024
The warmth of the holidays is felt even deeper when shared with the people you love most. In Orlando, where the sunshine meets the sparkle of holiday lights, Christmas parades transform into magical journeys – perfect for your family to experience together. Imagine the joy in your children’s eyes as their favorite characters come to life, marching along to the music, and the laughter you share with your friends as floats and lights fill the streets with festive wonder.
Check out Orlando’s Christmas and holiday parades and bring the gang along for an adventure full of holiday lights and delights.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime ParadeDisney’s Magic Kingdom
When Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off, you and your family are drawn into a world of pure Christmas magic. On select nights from November 8th through December 20th, Mickey, Minnie, and all of the Disney favorites glide by in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, an experience that feels like a dream come true. After a day filled with thrilling rides, you find yourself in awe once again, gazing at the sky during Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. The colors burst above, and for a moment, time stands still – just you, your family, and the wonder of Christmas.
Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’sUniversal Orlando Resort
This year see the return of Universal Orlando Resort’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s and the moment the first float appears, your heart races. You’re surrounded by the wide-eyed stares of your kids as larger-than-life characters from Illumination and DreamWorks Animation dance down the parade route. Santa waves, and you catch the smile on your little one’s face – the kind that you’ll want to capture for the holiday album. Above, the sky glows with lights from the Christmas-themed floats, each one more vibrant than the last. By the end, it’s hard to tell who enjoyed it more – the kids or you.
Sesame Street Christmas ParadeSeaWorld® Orlando
You can’t help but smile. This is a moment for the younger ones to remember and from November 8th, 2024, to January 2nd, 2025, their favorite characters are right here for the SeaWorld® Orlando Sesame Street Parade, spreading Christmas cheer under the glow of colorful lights. The joy from Elmo’s Christmas Wish still lingers, and the excitement from the day’s roller coasters and water rides has made the evening even sweeter. It’s a perfect way to end a day of adventure, and your kids can’t stop talking about the SeaWorld® Orlando Christmas Celebration.
Winter Garden Christmas Parade
Wake up in a seasonal haven only Winter Garden can offer with the Winter Garden Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 7th. This annual community holiday tradition begins at 10:00 a.m. featuring jolly old Saint Nick and other colorful holiday vehicles and floats. Kick back in your lounge chair or blanket with a photo of Santa Claus for your holiday album. The fun continues in the evening with the Holiday Night Market and Winter Garden Christmas Golf Cart Parade for a full day of holiday cheer.
Lake Conway Boat Parade
The water glistens in the moonlight as you sit back with your family, watching boats sail by, each one lit up in festive lights during the Lake Conway Boat Parade on the weekend of December 20th-22nd. The soft hum of holiday music plays as the boats glide across Lake Conway. It’s peaceful, almost magical, as the warmth of family surrounds you. The kids are in awe of the spectacle, pointing out their favorite boats, and you can’t help but feel grateful for these quiet, sparkling moments shared with the people you love.
Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade
As the oldest holiday parade in Central Florida, the Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade is full of tradition and charm. The streets come alive during the 72nd annual hosting of the parade with marching bands, local groups, and bright, festive displays. Your kids wave excitedly as Santa passes by on his sleigh, and you’re swept up in the excitement of it all. It’s a classic holiday experience – one that wraps you in the nostalgia of Christmases past while creating new memories with your family.
Longwood Christmas Parade
The streets of Longwood come alive with the sounds of marching bands and festive cheer as the local police and fire departments lead the way for the Longwood Christmas Parade. Your kids’ faces light up as the Lyman High School Marching Band plays, and brightly decorated floats pass by like scenes from a Christmas movie. Cyclists and clowns bring bursts of laughter, but it’s Santa in his sleigh who steals the show. Your little ones can yell their wish list to Saint Nick for assurance that they will wake up Christmas morning to their dream gifts.
Sanford Parade Of Lights
The city of Sanford joins in on the holiday escapades on December 14th with the annual Parade of Lights in Downtown Sanford. Beautiful holiday floats kick off the festivities at 6:00 p.m. as they march down the street to bring the Christmas spirit to the tropical paradise of Florida. Magnificent Christmas lights fill the night sky while holiday music fills the air as you snack on colorful treats perfect for the occasion. Snap a pic or shoot a video with Santa on his gigantic sleigh for the kids to show all of their friends back at home how the big man in red gave them a shout out.
Celebrate the festive season with Central Florida’s amazing parades that offer opportunities to whisper your holiday wishes in the warm air as Santa waves and breams from his float. Watch as your favorite Disney, DreamWorks, and Illumination characters groove to winter tunes throughout world-famous theme parks after days of exhilarating rides. Whether you want to wake up to whimsical parades or watch the escapades light up the night sky, these events fill each day of your winter retreat with adventure. A parade selfie with Saint Nick is the perfect cap off to an Orlando journey you’ll be talking about years from now.
Plan your Christmas getaway (opens in a new tab) with Encore Resort at Reunion today to experience parades and festivities that create new Christmas memories.
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