Festivals & Events
November 2-13
Foo Foo Festival
Pensacola
The fun doesn’t stop in Pensacola during the winter. The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival is celebrating its ten-year anniversary, honoring the coastal destination’s arts and culture offerings. This twelve-day series of events invites local nonprofits like the 309 Punk Project, Fiesta Pensacola, Pensacola Civic Band and Pensacola Symphony to exhibit their creativity with activations and cultural happenings, including street parades, Broadway-style productions, glass installations, interactive historical walk-through exhibits, artistic lectures and musical performances across all genres. The festival also hosts a film festival, book events and hands-on art education seminars. Foodies will have fun too. The Foo Foo Festival shows off the area’s culinary talent with food, wine and beer events for all to enjoy.
foofoofest.com/
November 9-December 22
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Orlando
The most magical tradition of Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park is returning on 25 select nights. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party welcomes guests to celebrate the season with festive favorites like the Christmas extravaganza stage show, “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration,” the sparkling spectacular “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks,” and the must-see “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.” Guests can savor sweet moments with cookies and cocoa and enjoy some of their favorite attractions, including the new TRON Lightcycle/Run presented by Enterprise, which uses a virtual queue during the event. Be sure to snap a perfect picture with some Disney pals dressed in their Christmas best and walk through the winter wonderland as you witness a “snowfall” on the highly decorated Main Street.
disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party/
November 9-January 8
Santa’s Enchanted Forest
Miami
Experience the Christmas magic with the whole family at Santa’s Enchanted Forest. This fun-for-all-ages holiday fest features more than 40 acres of attractions, including more than 100 rides, Christmas karaoke, face painting, paintball, magic shows, carnival games, acrobat shows and a climbing wall. Santa’s Enchanted Forest is lit up with thousands of dazzling lights and features South Florida’s tallest Christmas tree. The little ones love to meet Santa and explore the children’s maze too. Bring your appetite! Santa’s Enchanted Forest offers more than 50 food stands filled with your favorite holiday treats to indulge in.
santasenchantedforest.com/
November 11-12
Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
Lake Buena Vista
Foodies flock to the annual Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic for good reason. The exclusive festival features tastings from selections at the restaurants of Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin, as well as beers, wines and beverages from around the world. For more flavors, pick up a Grand Tasting or VIP ticket. The Grand Tasting’s Master Sommelier-led experience includes a Champagne reception, three flights of elite wines and Chef’s Table menu pairings from the resort’s Executive Chef Dan Herman. The VIP dessert pairing is hosted at the new Swan Reserve resort and features award-winning pairings from the Executive Pastry Chef and Certified Sommeliers. Keep the night going from The Vue, the 15th-floor ballroom with spectacular views during the VIP after-party experience.
swandolphinfoodandwineclassic.com/
November 18-January 1
Magic of Lights
Daytona
While you may know Daytona Speedway for daytime races and events, the racetrack turns into a must-visit holiday experience during the late fall and winter. The Daytona Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and seasonal characters using the latest LED technology and animations. Experience the 1.5-mile course from the comfort and safety of your own car (dogs can also be in tow!) as you wind through the sparkling path of Daytona’s favorite holiday tradition. Upgrade your experience with a Dash Pass, which removes the hassle of waiting in line, or with a digital photo opportunity in the out-of-car Holiday Village area.
magicoflights.com/events/daytona/
November 17 - January 14
Asian Lantern Festival at Central Florida Zoo
Sanford
Hosted at Sanford’s Central Florida Zoo, this bright festival features more than 30 larger-than-life handcrafted lanterns lit by more than 10,000 LED lights, delivering an experience celebrating the art, beauty and wonder of traditional Asian lantern festivals. The illuminated sculptures depicting animals, plants and traditional Chinese elements are situated on a ¾ mile loop around the zoo, providing a truly unique take on a holiday lights show. In addition to the handmade LED-lit lanterns, festival attendees can enjoy local food and beverage options, live music and authentic artisan crafts.
centralfloridazoo.org/lanterns/
November 23-December 31
Tampa Bay Festival of Lights
Dover
The Hillsborough County Fairgrounds transform into a veritable winter wonderland with the Tampa Bay Festival of Lights. The hometown holiday festival envelops guests of all ages in more than one million lights as they drive nearly two miles through seasonal and Florida-themed displays, including an up-sized animated light tunnel and elaborate critters and gingerbread houses. The fairgrounds also house Santa’s Village, which offers inflatable snow tubes, a reindeer carousel, craft stations, a holiday train and festive treats, like hot cocoa, warm cider and apple cider donuts. On select evenings, the Holiday Market offers the perfect spot to stop and shop for all your holiday fits.
hillsboroughcountyfair.com/tampa-bay-festival-of-lights/
November 27-January 1
Dazzling Nights Jacksonville
Jacksonville
Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit at Dazzling Nights Jacksonville. Hosted at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, this family-friendly holiday display features an oversized, twinkling Christmas tree, interactive displays, a show with moving lights and music and a tunnel of giant stars. Stroll under a canopy of flickering Moroccan lanterns, explore the 8,000-square-foot lighted maze and hazy forest of lasers or play in an inflatable Yeti play area. The evening is complete with snow and holiday tunes too. Light bites, hot chocolate, beer and wine are available for purchase.
dazzlingjax.com/
December 2-3
Christmas on Fifth Avenue South
Naples
This two-day festival is the biggest Christmas showcase in Naples. Kick off the festivities with the official Christmas tree lighting and admire the 20-foot tree decked out with more than 10,000 LED lights. The lighting is accompanied by live music. Fifth Avenue South closes down for the two-day event, allowing for a wide variety of holiday experiences and traditional activities, inlcuding the Living Nativity, a skating rink, live Christmas music and a special appearance by Santa Claus. The festival also features expanded al fresco dining on the street for a fresh take on the season.
fifthavenuesouth.com/christmas/
December 7-10
Dickens on Centre
Amelia Island
Free to the public, this enchanting Victorian-themed celebration of food, fun and entertainment takes place under a canopy of twinkling lights in historic downtown Fernandina Beach. Enjoy costumed characters, visits from Saint Nick, themed entertainment and a variety of vendors selling seasonal wares. During the Dickens Illuminated Processional, bring something that twinkles or glows and join in on a leisurely stroll through Fernandina’s historic district for an evening of entertainment, lantern-making workshops and food trucks. Back by popular demand, Dickens Enchanted Village brings the magical feeling of snow globes to life in eight festive domes, each decorated in a unique theme. For adults 21+, enjoy the VIP Dickens After Dark party, which features unique specialty entertainment, historic ghost tours, festive food and drinks.
ameliaisland.com/landing-pages/Dickens-on-Centre
December 8-10
Art Basel Miami Beach
Miami Beach
North America’s most comprehensive international contemporary art fair returns for its 21st edition with its largest show to date. Thousands of art dealers, artists, collectors and art aficionados can enjoy modern and contemporary art from 283 galleries from 38 countries. The popular Conversations discussion series returns with 35 speakers across nine panels, exploring the evolving global art scene. The center of the action is the Miami Beach Convention Center, which is divided into sections, each with a curatorial focus ranging from major works to emerging international artists to work created before 2000 to large-scale exhibitions.
artbasel.com/miami-beach
