While there’s certainly no snow falling, the holiday season is still upon us. Check out our picks for where to celebrate the holidays in Boca and beyond.
Boca Raton
Holiday Kickoff
Friday, Nov. 21, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., The Shops at Boca Center
Friends and family will gather to welcome the holiday season to Boca Raton, including meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, cookie decorating with Blueprint Cookies, letter-writing to Santa, live performances by local school choirs, and a tree lighting ceremony.
Holiday Tree Lighting
Saturday, Nov. 22, 6 to 10 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheater
Enjoy a full night of celebration to kick off the holiday season. This free show will feature a tree lighting ceremony, live music performances, food vendors, photos with Santa, and more. Plus, Mizner Park will transform into a winter wonderland, with 50,000 LED lights attached to 75 palm trees throughout the park, making it a perfect picture spot!
CP Group’s 10th-annual Tree Lighting & Holiday Extravaganza
Tuesday, Nov. 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., BRiC
Kick off the holiday season with Boca Raton’s community tree lighting events at Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC). Beyond the iconic lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree, the event will feature entertainment and new festive attractions for all ages. Guests can meet Santa Claus himself, and enjoy a photobooth, food, face-painting and more. Also, VIP tickets are available for $60 per adult and $16 per child, offering additional food and fun. Parking and general-admission tickets are free.
Boca Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker”
Nov. 28-30, Olympic Heights Performing Arts Theater
In this holiday tradition, Boca Ballet Theatre ushers in the season with its production of “The Nutcracker,” with principal guest dancers Zimmi Coker and Carlos Gonzalez from American Ballet Theatre.
Boca Raton Holiday Street Parade: “The Centennial Express: 100 Years of Holiday Cheer”
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., downtown Boca Raton
The 53rd-annual holiday parade begins along Federal Highway and Southeast Fifth Street and travels north toward Mizner Park Amphitheater. This year, the parade follows the celebration of Boca’s 100th year, as the theme is “The Centennial Express: 100 Years of Holiday Cheer.” The parade features 60 festive floats full of local bands and community members. Lights, music and dancing will entertain viewers for this fun and festive show.
Lynn Gingerbread Concert
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 to 5 p.m., Lynn University
At Lynn University’s Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center, the 22nd-annual Gingerbread Concert, presented by Lynn University Friends of the Conservatory of Music, will feature nostalgic holiday classics performed by first-rate student musicians. Get there early to partake in refreshments and festive activities for the kids.
Tuba Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheater
Enjoy music under the stars with a free jolly tuba performance, with the instruments decked out in festive gear! Don’t forget to bring blankets to listen to the music picnic-style with your friends.
Holiday Night Market
Thursday, Dec. 11, 6 to 9 p.m, Sanborn Square
Stroll through Sanborn Square for a festive evening of food, art, live music and handmade gifts. This magical marketplace under the stars is the perfect place to pick up a unique gift or just soak in the spirit of the season.
Up on the Rooftop Christmas Festival
Friday, Dec. 13, 5 to 8:30 p.m., Boca Raton Community Church
Bring the whole family for an evening of free Christmas fun, from lawn games and food trucks to a concert, petting zoo and kids’ activities.
Boca Raton Hanukkah Festival
Sunday, Dec. 14
Chabad of Boca Raton and the Jewish Federation invite the community for a day of family fun, including a bounce house, face painting, the Great Gelt Drop, traditional snacks, petting zoo and more.
Menorah Lighting
Thursday, Dec. 18, Town Center Mall
In an annual Chanukah tradition, Chabad of Boca Raton has organized a spectacular evening of holiday treats and entertainment. Attendees can look forward to entertainment, latkes, sufganiyot, crafts and other family-friendly activities, followed by a menorah lighting with local leaders and rabbis.
Beyond Boca
Kids Corner Holiday Shop
Nov. 7 to Dec. 24, The Gardens Mall
The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens is fulfilling every child’s wildest holiday dream with the Kids Corner Holiday Shop, located on the upper-level Grand Court. This is a kids-only store where children can holiday-shop for their loved ones. Santa’s helpers will be available to assist the kids in spending three coins from Santa’s golden bank. All proceeds from the $5 cost to shop will benefit the Arc of Palm Beach County.
Holidays at CityPlace
Nov. 8 to Dec. 31, CityPlace
Let it snow! The fun starts on Nov. 8 with a countdown to the lighting of the Wishing Tree, kicking off two months’ worth of live performances, artist markets, and a Chanukah celebration with the Palm Beach Synagogue (Dec. 7, 19 and 28), as well as Christmas (Dec. 25), Kwanzaa (Dec. 30) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) festivities. CityPlace in West Palm Beach is also transformed into a winter wonderland with nightly snowfalls as well as visits with Santa on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
“‘Twas The Night Before” Holiday Show
Nov. 20 to 30, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Experience Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday show right in West Palm Beach. Based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” the show will feature acrobatics, characters and a soundtrack full of. holiday classics.
Zoo Lights
Nov. 21 to Jan. 4, Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society
The zoo is moving into its seventh year of turning 23 acres of tropical walkways into a twinkling winter wonderland. The Zoo Lights event provides all visitors with holiday cheer by using 1 million eco-friendly lights to illuminate and showcase themed displays of animal sculptures. After walking through the displays, visit Santa’s Village for cookie decorating, photos with Santa Claus and other festive activities. Timed tickets are required to attend this event, as attendance is limited.
Christmas Tree Lighting & Yuletide Fair
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 6 to 9 p.m., Old School Square in Delray Beach
Delray Beach kicks off the holiday season with Santa lighting the 100-foot tree that towers over Old School Square. After marveling at the tree, go holiday shopping down Atlantic Avenue, try the delicious food trucks, or visit the entertainment stages during the Yuletide Fair. This festive night also marks the start of the Holiday Village and visits to Santa’s House for photo opportunities.
Clematis By Night Holiday Tree Lighting
Thursday, Dec. 4, 6 to 10 p.m., 100 Clematis St., West Palm Beach
Clematis By Night in downtown West Palm Beach celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, making the annual tree lighting ceremony extra special. Watch the tree light up, the arrival of Sandi—a 35-foot-tall, 700-ton sand tree with nightly music and light shows—Ferris the ferris wheel, live music, food and other fun.
Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade
Saturday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m., Intracoastal Waterway
The 31st-annual Holiday Boat Parade navigates up the Intracoastal from North Palm Beach to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. The parade also features a toy drive to benefit Toys for Tots and Little Smiles. The parade is free to enter and will be giving away thousands in cash and prizes. Throughout, there will be a fireworks display up the Intracoastal. There are many viewing sites for those who want to see the parade on shore, like the North Palm Beach Country Club.
Sandi and Santa’s Annual Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, Dec. 7, Lake Pavilion in West Palm Beach
Mr. and Mrs. Claus invite the community for a pancake breakfast with meet-and-greets, as well as photo opportunities with Sandi the sand tree!
Boynton Beach Holiday Boat Parade
Friday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m.
The Boynton Beach Holiday Boat Parade has partnered with the towns of Hypoluxo and Lantana and City of Delray Beach to host a festive parade. The parade forms at the Ocean Avenue Bridge in Lantana (near Old Key Lime House) and travels south to the C-15 Canal in Delray Beach (south of Linton Boulevard). Participating boats go all out with dazzling lights, holiday decor and costumed captains to bring the holiday spirit. The Boynton Harbor Marina is the official spot to watch the parade, full of festive music, children’s activities, a special visit from Santa, and food and beverages.
Delray Beach Holiday Parade
Saturday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m, along Atlantic Avenue from the Intracoastal Bridge to Northwest Fifth Avenue
Festivities will be in full swing on Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue during the annual Holiday Parade. More than 70 floats, dance teams and community groups will jingle bell rock their way down the Avenue. While enjoying the parade, visitors can choose from a variety of food and drink vendors nearby.
Menorah Lighting/Hanukkah Festival
Sunday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m., Old School Square
Join in the spirit of community and watch the lighting of the menorah in Old School Square. With latkes, donuts and fresh pizza from the Gifted Crust, no guest should go unsatisfied. Attendees can expect bounce houses, face painting, LED games, a live DJ and other activities in celebration of this joyful holiday.
Delray Beach Jingle Bell Jog 5k
Saturday, Dec. 20, 7:30 a.m., Anchor Park and along A1A
Every year, a mass of Santas takes over Delray Beach with the sounds of jingle bells and cheer. At the Jingle Bell Jog 5k, participants receive a Santa suit complete with jingle bells to tie to their running shoes. The race will begin at Anchor Park at 7:30 a.m. on Gleason Street and move along A1A. After the scenic jog, participants will be treated to holiday-themed refreshments, and finishers will receive a medal.
Kwanzaa Celebration
Friday, Dec. 26, 2 to 5 p.m., Solomon D. Spady House
The Spady Museum in Delray Beach invites families to celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa. This Pan-African holiday is one that celebrates many values, but especially the gift of unity. Typically, the holiday lasts a week, but the museum has condensed the festivities into an afternoon of fun. Guests are invited to make their own gifts while enjoying live music, children’s storytelling and more art activities.
Winter Wonderland at The Ben
Nov. 1 to Jan. 4, The Ben Hotel in West Palm Beach
The Ben’s Winter Wonderland returns for its second year with an expanded outdoor ice skating rink, the debut of the Holiday Tree Forest featuring a grove of glittering trees, and a slew of weekly activities. Get in the holiday spirit with retail pop-ups that will be serving hot chocolate, s’mores, and more holiday-themed treats.
