Orlando Events in December 2026: What's Happening, Week by Week

December is Orlando's biggest holiday month: three bowl games, free shows around Lake Eola, every theme park dressed for Christmas and New Year's Eve fireworks all over town. Most of it is outdoors, and the weather is finally on your side.

Here's what's happening in Orlando in December 2026, in date order, with the things that run all month at the end. Confirm details with each event before you go; holiday schedules change.

Early December

• Friday, December 4: Lake Eola tree lighting at the Lake Eola amphitheater, the start of Downtown for the Holidays. Free.
• December 4: Winter on the Avenue on Park Avenue in Winter Park, 5 to 9 PM.
• December 4 to 20: Oh, What Fun! Holiday Festival at Lake Nona Town Center, on select days. Check the festival site for the daily schedule.
• December 4 to 22: Merry Market on the east side of Lake Eola, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays plus December 17, 21 and 22, 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
• Saturday, December 5: holiday parades. Winter Park's Ye Olde Hometown Parade on South Park Avenue (9 AM), the Winter Garden Christmas Parade on Dillard Street (10 AM) and the Winter Springs Winter Wonderland Parade at Winter Springs Town Center (4 PM).
• December 5, 12 and 19: free holiday movies on the East Lawn at Lake Eola, 7 PM: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf and A Christmas Story.

Mid-December

• Saturday, December 12: Violectric Holiday Show at the Walt Disney Amphitheater, Lake Eola, 7 PM. Free.
• December 12: Holidays at Heritage Square, with free admission all day at the Orange County Regional History Center and extended hours until 8 PM.
• December 12: Poinciana Villages Christmas Parade in Kissimmee, 11 AM.
• Sunday, December 13: Sensory Night at Lake Eola, 5:30 to 9:30 PM, a quieter evening for guests with sensory needs.
• Sundays at Seneff Arts Plaza: free holiday movies outside the Dr. Phillips Center (Elf on December 6, Rudolph on December 13, The Year Without a Santa Claus on December 20). No tickets needed.

Late December

• Tuesday, December 22: Cure Bowl, 5 PM. The first of Orlando's three bowl games.
• December 22: last night of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.
• Friday, December 25: Christmas Day. Theme parks stay open (and get very busy); many restaurants and attractions don't. See what's open on Christmas Day.
• Tuesday, December 29: Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium, 5:30 PM on ESPN.
• December 30: last day of EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays.
• Thursday, December 31: New Year's Eve. Fireworks at the theme parks, Lake Eola and around town. Our New Year's Eve guide has the full list.
• Saturday, January 2: Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium, noon on ABC (SEC vs. Big Ten).

All month

• Eola Wonderland Christmas Tree Show at Lake Eola, hourly from 5:45 to 9:45 PM, December 4 to January 6, plus the Holiday Stroll of lit trees into downtown.
• Holiday Projection Show on the Orange County Regional History Center, every 15 minutes from 5:30 to 10 PM, December 4 to January 2. Free.
• Meet Santa, the Grinch's Lair, a holiday train and snowfall at Lake Eola on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 20. Santa and the Grinch use a virtual queue: scan the QR code on site, and the line can close before 9 PM.
• ICE! at Gaylord Palms with The Polar Express, through January 3. Read our ICE! guide.
• Christmas lights all over town, from drive-thrus to Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens. See Christmas lights in Orlando 2026.
• Holiday events at Universal and SeaWorld through early January. See our Universal and SeaWorld Christmas guide.
• Ice skating and Christmas markets. Outdoor rinks and markets run through New Year's; see ice skating in Orlando and Orlando Christmas markets.

December weather

Expect highs in the low to mid 70s and lows in the 50s, with little rain. Evenings at Lake Eola or a parade route can feel cold, so bring a layer. More in our November and December weather guide.

December crowd tips

• The first two weeks are the sweet spot. The decorations are up, and the crowds of Christmas week haven't arrived.
• December 20 to January 3 is peak season at every park and attraction. Book tickets, dinners and parking early.
• Bowl days mean traffic downtown, especially around Camping World Stadium on December 29 and January 2.

A break from the crowds

Cool, dry December mornings are the best time of year on the water. Boggy Creek airboat tours in Kissimmee run daily, and you can bottle-feed baby highland calves at Mini Moo Land at 10 AM, 1 PM and 4 PM. Both are 10% off through us.