US National Holidays & other notable dates
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| 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
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| from November 10th |
Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom in transformed into Castle Dreamlights with over 100,000 fairy lights. |
| selected dates between November 10th to December 19th |
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 14th to January 4th, 2009 |
At SeaWorld, the Wild Artic ride is converted into The Polar Express Experience based on the Warner Bros. Pictures film starring the character voiced by actor Tom Hanks. Riders will board the 'train' to take them to North Pole which is specially decorated with Christmas tree, sleigh and Santa Claus himself (www.seaworld.com). |
| November 28th to January 4th, 2009 |
Disney's Animal Kingdom puts on a special festive Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade throughout the holiday season plus you can visit Santa Goofy's Wild Wonderland. |
| November 28th to January 4th, 2009 |
The spectacular The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights lights up New York Street every night at Disney's Hollywood Studios with millions of twinkling lights set to holiday music. Included in standard admission. |
| November 28th to January 3rd, 2009 |
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). |
| November 28th 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 narrator on November 28 to 30 is John o'Hurley, December 1 to 3 Neil Patrick Harris, December 4 to 6 Brian Stokes Mitchell, December 7 to 9 Virginia Madsen, December 10 to 12 Marlee Matlin, December 13 to 15 Monique Coleman, December 16 to 18 Chita Rivera, December 19 to 21 Abigail Breslin, December 22 to 24 Steven Curtis Chapman December 25 to 27 Edward James Olmos and finally December 28 to 30 Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance.
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| selected dates between November 28th to December 27th |
The 16th 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 carolers, musical stage shows, a lighted boat parade, shopping, a Holiday Buffet with all the trimmings and of course Santa (www.silversprings.com). |
| November 28th 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 (disneyworld.disney.go.com). |
| December 31st, New Year's Eve |
Most of the major theme parks put on a special New Year's Eve events:
- Disney's Pleasure Island
- Disney's Cirque du Soleil
- Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's Boardwalk
- Rock in the New Year at Universal CityWalk
- New Year's Eve at SeaWorld
- New Year's Eve at Busch Gardens Tampa
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Parades and Carnivals
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| November 29th to December 7th |
More than 150 pirates invade Key West and Fort Taylor for the Pirates in Paradise Festival with tall ships, sea battles, arts and crafts stalls, live entertainment and a living history encampment. You can also celebrate the end of America's Hurricane Season Party at the Mohawk's Truman Annex Pier on November 30 (www.piratesinparadise.com). |
| 5th to 31st |
The 28th 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
- Annual Key West Holiday Parade featuring marching groups and floats, December 6 (www.keywestattractions.org)
- 50's Christmas Parade at Crystal River, December 6 (www.visitcitrus.com)
- 56th Annual Winter Park Christmas Parade on Park Avenue in Winter Park, December 6 (www.winterpark.org)
- Sights & Sounds Christmas Festival & Parade in Mainstreet Fort Pierce, December 7 (mainstreetfortpierce.org)
- Annual Lake City Christmas Parade in Lake City, December 1 (www.springsrus.com)
- Homosassa River Christmas Boat Parade is held on the Homosassa River, December 13 (www.visitcitrus.com)
- 6th Annual Fernandina Beach Lighted Holiday Parade on Amelia Island, December 13 (www.ameliatoday.com)
- White Springs Annual Christmas Parade including the Christmas Festival of Lights at White Springs, December 13 (www.whitesprings.org)
- Lighted Boat Parade tours Charlotte Harbor in Punta Gorda, December 6 (www.fishville.com)
- Party with the Penguins Inverness Parade in downtown Main Street in Inverness, December 17 (www.visitcitrus.com)
- 49th Annual Christmas Parade through the Downtown Streets of Mount Dora followed in the evening by the Lighted Boat Parade on the Lake Dora Waterfront, December 6 (www.mountdora.com)
- 22nd Annual Christmas on the Destin Harbor Boat Parade plus Christmas choirs, Santa Claus with his reindeer and Christmas trees, December 13 (www.destinchamber.com)
- Holiday Boat Parade on the waters of Blackwater Sound in Key Largo, December 13 (www.keylargochamber.org)
- Key West Lighted Boat Parade through Key West Harbor and the waters of the Historic Seaport, December 13 (www.keywestattractions.org)
- 37th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade takes place in Fort Launderdale and this year's theme is "Rockin' The Night Aweigh", December 13. It is more than just a parade and there is also live entertainment from The Fabulons and Native American Indians plus local arts and crafts (www.winterfestparade.com)
- 46th Annual Pompano Beach Boat Parade "Celebrating the Centennial of Pompano Beach" with a parade along the Intracoastal Waterway, starting around 6:00 pm at Lake Santa Barbara and heading north past Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach, December 14 (www.pompanobeachchamber.com)
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Sporting Events
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| December 19th to January 4th, 2009 |
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). |
| 20th to 21st |
The Citrus Stampede Rodeo rodeo is at Inverness (www.rodeoattitude.com). |
Concerts & Music Festivals
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| 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 12 and 13, there are special evening Christmas Concerts at Pinewood featuring Ginger Statom. 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).
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| 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). |
Arts, Crafts and Film Festivals
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| 6th to 7th |
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
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| 4th to 7th |
The 31st Annual St. Petersburg Boat Show & Strictly Sail in the South Yacht Basin is the largest boa 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
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| 16th |
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-26). Read more on all launches.... |
Other Events including Holiday Season
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| November 17th to January 4th, 2009 |
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 "Santa's Arctic Blast" with several new scenes including an oversized "Santa's knee" photo opportunity and the ICE! castle and slides which have been re-designed to celebrate Santa's Christmas Eve flight complete with reindeers (www.gaylordhotels.com). |
| November 28th to January 4th, 2009 |
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).
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| November 22nd to January 31st, 2009 |
The 15th 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 28th to December 30th (closed Christmas Day) |
At the Flamingo Gardens & Wildlife Sanctuary in Davie the historic Wray Home is Decorated for the Holidays. On December 20th and 21st there will be a visit from Santa (www.flamingogardens.org). |
| 2nd |
Around 100,000 people are expected for Christmas on Las Olas with the arrival of Santa Claus, live music and around 100 illuminated trees (www.lasolasboulevard.com). |
| 5th |
The Florida Keys Holiday Festival at Founders Park, Islamorada features a 35-foot holiday tree, carollers singing traditional holiday songs, a real snow mountain and the arrival of Santa on an Islamorada Fire Rescue truck (www.islamoradachamber.com). |
| 5th |
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). |
| 6th |
If you are looking for snow in Florida (70 tons of it), then head over to Naples for the 23rd 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). |
| 9th and 14th |
At the Historic Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation near Gainesville there is Homestead Holidays on December 7 and Candlelight Visits on December 12 where you can see the Homestead decorated in an array of traditional Victorian finery (www.hailehomestead.org). |
| 20th |
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). |
