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Florida Events, December 2007
Florida Events Calendar for December 2007
With Halloween now over, all the major theme parks have switched over to their Thanksgiving and Holiday Season celebrations. More details of all theme park Holiday Season celebrations with calendars showing the actual days the events are on can be found here.
There are no County fairs in December, but you do not have long to wait as they pick up again in the New Year. Instead, just about ever major town will be holding a Christmas parade.
NASA have one final shuttle launch this year which is currently scheduled for December 6 from the Kennedy Space Center. There are also two further rocket launches from the Kennedy Space Center scheduled for December.
STOP PRESS - shuttle launch delayed until January 2008.
The theme parks will be a lot quieter in the early part of December but will then start to get to get busy around Christmas and the New Year.
As well as all the Florida events for December 2007 listed on this page, why not also check out our Florida Things to Do pages for more great ideas of what to do on your Florida vacation.
US National Holidays & other notable dates |
|
| 25th | Christmas Day is celebrated throughout America. Some attractions and restaurants will be closed so if planning on eating out, it makes sense to try and make a reservation well in advance. |
Theme Park Events | |
| selected dates between November 12th to December 21st | Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party runs on selected nights at Disney's Magic Kingdom where you can watch live Disney Character stage shows, spectacular firework displays and see snow on Main Street, U.S.A (separately ticketed event). |
| November 12th to January 6th, 2008 | Disney's Animal Kingdom puts on a special festive Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade throughout the holiday season plus you can visit Santa Goofy's Wild Wonderland. |
| November 12th to January 6th, 2008 | The spectacular The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights lights up New York Street every night at Disney-MGM Studios with millions of twinkling lights set to holiday music. Included in standard admission. |
| November 23rd to December 30th | Epcot celebrate the Holiday season with Holidays Around The World
every day until the end of the year.
As well as a breathtaking Candlelight Processional and a specially themed finale to the
nightly IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks and laser show there is also
the retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator each evening
accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir.
The narrators are November 29 to December 1 Neil Patrick Harris, December 2 to 4 Dennis Franz, 5 to 7 Monique Coleman, 8 to 10 Steven Curtis Chapman, 11 to 13 Chita Rivera, 14 to 16 Andie MacDowell, 17 to 19 Kirk Cameron, 20 to 22 Edward James Olmos, 23 to 25 Gary Sinise, 26 to 28 Rita Moreno and 29 to 30 Marlee Matlin. |
| November 16th to December 30th | Cypress Gardens kicks off their Old Fashioned Christmas celebrations
with the annual tree lighting ceremony of the 80 foot Christmas tree in front of the
Magnolia Mansion on Friday, November 16th, at 6:30 pm.
The park is illuminated by millions of twinkling lights and you can also enjoy displays, strolling carollers and musicians, the "Jingle Street Parade", seasonal shows including the "Frosty Follies" ice skating spectacular, activities, food and shopping for the season. The event is included in park admission (www.cypressgardens.com). |
| November 23rd to December 24th | The shops at Downtown Disney celebrate the Festival of Seasons with special holiday window displays, live entertainment with carollers, musical acts and holiday variety performers plus the chance to have a photo taken with Santa. |
| November 23rd to January 5th, 2008 | The Holy Land Experience celebrates Christmas with their own Come To The Manger - A Bethlehem Christmas musical plus a host of other celebrations including Light the Lights! - The Story of Hanukah, The Mysteries of the Magi, KidVenture - The True Story of St. Nicholas, Talebearers, Ye Olde Christmas Carols and Christmas Southern Gospel (www.holylandexperience.com). |
| December 31st, New Year's Eve | Most of the major theme parks put on a special New Year's Eve events
(further details can be found here):
|
| selected dates between November 23rd to December 30th | The 15th Annual Festival of Lights takes place at Silver Springs on selected dates and features more than a million twinkle lights throughout the park plus neon displays, local choirs, strolling carollers, musical stage shows, a lighted boat parade, shopping, a Holiday Buffet with all the trimmings and of course Santa (www.silversprings.com). |
Parades and Carnivals | |
| November 29th to December 2nd | More than 150 pirates invade Key West and Fort Taylor for Pirates in Paradise 2007 with tall ships, sea battles, arts and crafts stalls, live entertainment and a living history encampment (www.piratesinparadise.com). |
| 7th to 31st | The 27th Annual Christmas Light Canal Tours is held each evening on the canals of Punta Gorda (www.kingfisherfleet.com). |
| various dates | A lot of towns celebrate the Holiday Season with a Christmas Parade
|
Sporting Events | |
| various dates | Islamorada hosts a series of sailfish competitions including the 44th Annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament on November 29th to December 2nd, the Islamorada Fishing Club Captain's Cup Sailfish Tournament on December 5th to 6th, the Captain Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic on December 7th to 9th and the Islamorada Junior Sailfish Tournament on December 14th to 16th (www.fla-keys.com). |
| November 30th to December 2nd | The 10th Annual Wave National Championships is held in Key Largo where you can watch the catamaran races (www.fla-keys.com). |
| December 21st to January 1st, 2008 | The Skydive City Annual Christmas Boogie is at Zephyrhills where you can witness over 1200 jumps every day. Over 700 skydivers from around the world take part in one of the largest parties in Florida. On New Year's Eve there is Pirate Day along with a fireworks display (www.skydivecity.com). |
Concerts & Music Festivals | |
| 1st to 31st | At the Historic Bok Sanctuary they are celebrating with
Seasonal Carillon Music every every half hour and during the daily performances
at 1 pm and 3 pm.
On December 14 and 16, there are special evening Jolly, Jazzy Christmas at Pinewood Concerts featuring Victoria de Lissovoy, Rebecca Renfroe and Pat Bellamy-West. Included in the ticket price is an exclusive evening Holiday Home Tour of Christmas at the Pinewood Estate before the performance followed by a sparkling cider and champagne reception after the performance. On Christmas Day, the daily carrilon concerts feature Christmas carols from around the world (www.boksanctuary.org). |
| 8th and 15th | You can see Lorrie Morgan on December 8 and Crystal Gayle on December 15 as part of Silver Springs 15th Annual Festival of Lights (www.silversprings.com). |
| various dates | The Kennedy Space Center plays host to the Fall Concert Series live at the Rocket Garden Stage and featuring Kansas on November 10, Josh Gracin on November 17, Lou Gramm from Foreigner on November 24 and finally Rock & Pop Masters on December 1 with David Pack formerly of Ambrosia, Larry Hoppen of Orleans and Jimi Jamison formerly of Survivor. Included in normal admission (www.kennedyspacecenter.com). |
| various dates | Cypress Gardens are hosting a number of afternoon concerts during December featuring Jo Dee Messina on December 1, Lorrie Morgan on December 9, It's All About Doo Wop with Martha Reeves, The Contours, The Elegants, The Teenagers, the Dubs and the Chantels on December 15 and finally a News Years Eve special country evening with Terry Clark, Danielle Peck and Chuck Wicks. All concerts are included in the standard park admission except for front of stage reserved seating which is $15 each (www.cypressgardens.com). |
Arts, Crafts and Film Festivals | |
| 1st to 2nd | In Cocoa Village, nearly 400 arts and crafters will be attending the Holiday Art & Craft Fair. There is also a food court and children's entertainment (www.cocoavillage.com). |
Car, Motorcycle and Boat Shows | |
| November 29th to December 2nd | The 30th Annual St. Petersburg Boat Show in the South Yacht Basin is the largest boat show on the Gulf Coast with more than 500 boats on display including power boats, yachts and fishing boats (www.showmanagement.com). |
Airshows and Rocket Launches | |
| 6th | The Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-122) is due to lift off at 4:30 pm
on the 24th mission to the International Space Station to deliver the European Space
Agency's Columbus science laboratory module.
STOP PRESS - the shuttle launch has been delayed until January 2008 due to faulty electrical connectors to the engine fuel shutoff sensors in the external fuel tank. |
| 10th | A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket is due to launch a classified spacecraft for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-24). |
| 20th | The U.S. Air Force plan to launch a United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket with the fifth modernised NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R (GPS 2R-18 M5) military navigation satellite. Read more on all launches.... |
Other Events including Holiday Season | |
| October 23rd to January 1st, 2008 | One of the first Christmas events of the year starts
at the Historic Bok Sanctuary with Christmas at Pinewood .
The Pinewood Estate 1930s Mediterranean Revival mansion is decorated for the holiday season and there are also family days, concerts, Santa visits and Shop at Bok night events (www.boksanctuary.org). |
| October 27th to January 5th, 2008 | Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede starts their
Christmas at Dixie Stampede towards the end of October, now in its 20th year.
For the holiday season, the Dixie Stampede combines the usual music, food and entertainment with scenes from the nativity including the three kings riding on camels plus snowfall, ice skating and an appearance by St Nicolas (www.dixiestampede.com). |
| November 17th to January 31st, 2008 | The 14th annual Nights of Lights in St. Augustine is decorated with two million tiny white lights adorning the palm trees and buildings of the city's historic district (www.getaway4florida.com). |
| November 19th to January 3rd, 2008 | Florida's answer to global warming has to be ICE! at Gaylord Palms !!.
Experience the 9 degree Fahrenheit winter wonderland walkthrough attraction made from nearly
two million pounds of ice. This year's theme is "A Holiday Road Trip".
Last year introduced several new scenes including a walk through holiday train and depot (www.gaylordhotels.com). |
| November 23rd to January 1st, 2008 | Historic Bok Sanctuary kick off the holiday season with Christmas at Pinewood: A Jolly Jazzy Holiday Home Tour in Pinewood Estate's 1930s Mediterranean Revival mansion plus parties, concerts, family days, Santa visits and Shop at Bok night events (www.boksanctuary.org). |
| November 24th to December 31st (closed Christmas Day) | At the Flamingo Gardens & Wildlife Sanctuary in Davie the historic Wray Home is Decorated for the Holidays. On December 22nd and 23rd there will be a visit from Santa (www.flamingogardens.org). |
| 1st to 2nd | If you are looking for snow in Florida (70 tons of it), then head over to Naples for the 22nd Annual Snow Fest where you can have fun on the sled mountain, ice skating rink, carnival, art and crafts, food, pony rides, petting zoo and pictures with Santa (www.snowfestnaples.com). |
| 7th | Sarasota are holding their Holiday Night of Lights where you can see Santa and his elves arriving in a horse drawn carriage and the 51 ft Rocky Mountain Pine Christmas tree. Entertainment is provided by the West Coast Childrens Gospel Choir, strolling carollers, barbershop quartets, steel drums, classical guitar and childrens choirs (www.starmandscircleassoc.com). |
| 9th and 14th | At the Historic Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation near Gainesville there is Homestead Holidays on December 9 and Candlelight Visits on December 14 where you can see the Homestead decorated in an array of traditional Victorian finery (www.hailehomestead.org). |
| 14th to 15th | Christmas Around the World is a special event at the WordSpring Discovery Center in Orlando where you can see how people around the world celebrate Christmas (www.wordspringdiscoverycenter.com). |
| 15th | Another place to find snow is in Lake City for Snow Days. Children 12 and under can play on the snow hill made from 40 tons of snow (www.springsrus.com). |
| 20th to 24th | At the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, they are celebrating their annual Christmas Celebration of Lights (www.manateecam.com). |
Also, why not download our free monthly Florida Desktop calendar/wallpaper to remind yourself of a Florida vacation past or yet to come and subscribe to our free monthly Florida newsletter which brings you all the latest news from the Sunshine State on the first of every month.
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