Christmas in Miami with kids.
Christmas in Miami is a warm-weather holiday with plenty of lights. Zoo Miami, Flamingo Gardens, and Pinecrest Gardens all put on light walks, and Ripley's Christmas Park in Hialeah stays open late. Miami City Ballet's Nutcracker is the big holiday show.
Free picks include the Junior Orange Bowl parade in Coral Gables. Many events post their 2026 dates in November, so this list will grow.
Before you go
- Book light walks for weekend nights ahead. Several run on select nights only.
- The Junior Orange Bowl holiday parade in Coral Gables is free.
- Fort Lauderdale's Winterfest Boat Parade, with fireworks, is on Saturday, December 12.
- Ripley's Christmas Park stays open until midnight, so it works for a late night.
- Check back in November. More events post their 2026 dates then.
Family Christmas events in Miami
13 events
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- Zoo lights Good for toddlers
Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami
- Dates
- Nov 27 - Dec 30 · Select nights, 6:30-10pm: Nov 27-28, Dec 4-5, 11-12, 18-23 and 26-30. Tree lighting on opening night at 7pm.
- Where
- Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St., Southwest Miami-Dade
- Price
- Separate ticket from daytime zoo entry. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Tickets sold online only. Buy ahead.
Zoo Miami stays open after dark on select nights with holiday lights along the paths. Santa is there for photos through Dec 23.
Parent tip: You can rent strollers and wheelchairs at a lower rate on these nights. Many animals will be asleep, so treat it as a lights walk.
- Christmas lightsSanta visits Good for toddlers
Hoffman's Chocolates Winter Wonderland at Flamingo Gardens
- Dates
- Nov 21 - Dec 30 · Nightly 5:30-9:30pm, last entry 8:30pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Where
- Flamingo Gardens, Davie (Broward County)
- Price
- $24 ages 12 and up, $17 ages 3-11, under 3 free
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy tickets online. Parking is free, first come, first served.
A walk-through light show in a botanical garden north of Miami. Santa is there every night through Dec 23.
Parent tip: Strollers and wagons are welcome. Stay on the lit paths, and note the trams don't run at night.
- Christmas lightsSanta visits Good for toddlers
Nights of Lights at Pinecrest Gardens
- Dates
- Dec 4-27 · Select nights, 6:30-10pm: Dec 4-6, 11-13, 17-23, 26 and 27.
- Where
- Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Road
- Price
- Ticketed. Sales open soon, so see the official site.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy ahead online. Tickets can't be refunded.
A garden in Pinecrest lights up on select December nights. Santa and the Grinch come on some nights.
Parent tip: Parking is free and it runs rain or shine. Leave pets and outside food at home.
- Holiday festivalsSanta visits Good for toddlers
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Christmas Park
- Dates
- Nov 12 - Jan 3 · Nightly 5pm-midnight, last entry 45 minutes before close. Closes at 10pm on some nights. Open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
- Where
- Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E. 65th St. (enter on Palm Ave.), Hialeah
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy tickets online
A holiday carnival in a Hialeah park. Rides, live shows and Ripley's exhibits come with your ticket.
Parent tip: Go right at 5pm with little ones. Some nights close at 10pm, so check the hours page for your date.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Miami City Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
- Dates
- Dec 11-27 · Dec 11-27. Check the schedule for show times.
- Where
- Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Downtown Miami
- Price
- Ticketed. Prices vary by seat.
- Ages and booking
- Ages 4 and up · Buy ahead online
Miami's big holiday ballet, danced at the Arsht Center downtown. The show runs 2 hours with one 20-minute break.
Parent tip: The ballet suggests ages 4 and up. A matinee works best for younger kids.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida: The Nutcracker
- Dates
- Dec 11-13 · Fri Dec 11 and Sat Dec 12 at 7pm, Sun Dec 13 at 5pm
- Where
- Aventura Arts & Cultural Center
- Price
- Ticketed. Lap tickets for babies 12 months and under are sold at the box office on the day.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy ahead online. Latecomers wait until the break to be seated.
A local ballet company dances The Nutcracker with kids from the area in the cast. It's a smaller, closer-to-home option in north Miami-Dade.
Parent tip: There's a sensory-inclusive show on Sun Dec 13. The company also dances it at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Dec 18-20.
- Shows and Nutcracker
A Christmas Carol, The Musical at Actors' Playhouse
- Dates
- Dec 1-20 · Saturdays at 2pm and 7pm, Sundays at 2pm. Weekday shows are for school groups.
- Where
- Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- Made for family audiences · Buy ahead online
A musical version of A Christmas Carol made for families. It plays at the Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile.
Parent tip: There's a sensory-inclusive show on Sun Dec 13 at 2pm. Walk Miracle Mile after for the holiday lights.
- Parades and tree lightingsFree Good for toddlers
Junior Orange Bowl Miracle on the Mile Holiday Parade
- Dates
- Dec 6 · Sun Dec 6. Check the official site for the start time.
- Where
- Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
- Price
- Free to watch from the street. VIP grandstand tickets cost extra.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · No tickets needed to watch. Come early for a curb spot.
Coral Gables' yearly holiday parade, now in its 78th year. Marching bands and floats roll down Miracle Mile, and Santa arrives at the end.
Parent tip: Santa comes last, so stay until the end. Bring something to sit on while you wait.
- Holiday festivals Good for toddlers
Historic Holidays Décor: Tides & Tidings at Deering Estate
- Dates
- Nov 27 - Jan 6 · Daily 10am-4pm (gates close at 4pm). Closed Christmas Day.
- Where
- Deering Estate, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Palmetto Bay
- Price
- $18 adults (15+), $10 ages 4-14, under 4 free. Included with general admission.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy general admission online for your date
The rooms of a historic bayfront house are decorated for the holidays with a sea and boat theme. The rest of the estate's grounds are open too.
Parent tip: The Stone House is closed for repairs this season. The decorated rooms are in the Richmond Cottage.
- Santa visitsHoliday festivals Good for toddlers
Holiday by the Bay and Story-Time with Santa at Deering Estate
- Dates
- Dec 5 · Sat Dec 5, 10am-4pm. Santa story-time and photos 10am-1pm.
- Where
- Deering Estate, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Palmetto Bay
- Price
- Included with admission: $18 adults, $10 ages 4-14, under 4 free. Santa photo packages cost extra.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy ahead online, or at the gate that morning
A family day at the estate with stories from Santa's elves, crafts and local holiday vendors. Kids can do a gnome hunt outside and a scavenger hunt in the decorated house.
Parent tip: Come at 10am for Santa. His story-time and photos end at 1pm.
- Holiday festivals
Holiday House Tour & Campfire at Deering Estate
- Dates
- Dec 8-22 · Dec 8, 16 and 22, 5:30-9pm. House tours at 6, 7 or 8pm.
- Where
- Deering Estate, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Palmetto Bay
- Price
- $20 per ticket
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead and pick a tour time. Space is limited.
An evening walk through the decorated house, then a campfire by Biscayne Bay. Marshmallows are free.
Parent tip: Your tour time only sets when you enter the house. You can arrive any time from 5:30 to 8pm.
- Parades and tree lightings Good for toddlers
Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade
- Dates
- Dec 12 · Sat Dec 12. Preshow 5:30pm, parade and fireworks at 6pm.
- Where
- Intracoastal Waterway; ticketed viewing at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park, Fort Lauderdale (Broward County)
- Price
- Viewing area: $40 adults, $30 ages 12 and under, 3 and under free
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Viewing-area tickets online. Gates open at 4pm.
Lit-up boats parade along Fort Lauderdale's waterways, with fireworks. This year's theme celebrates America's 250th birthday.
Parent tip: The boats reach the viewing area around 6:30pm. Chairs are provided there, and bottles, coolers and pets aren't allowed.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Slava's Snowshow
- Dates
- Dec 30 - Jan 3 · Dec 30 at 7:30pm; Jan 1 at 1pm and 5:30pm; Jan 2 at 2pm and 7:30pm; Jan 3 at 1pm
- Where
- Au-Rene Theater, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale (Broward County)
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead online
A clown show that has been on tour since 1993. It plays in Fort Lauderdale over New Year's week.
Parent tip: The New Year's Day matinee is the easiest time to go with kids.
Dates and prices were checked on each event's official site. They can change, so check the official site before you go.
On a budget? See every free Christmas event in Miami, including parades and tree lightings.
Planning a Santa visit? See where to find Santa in Miami, plus free Santa photos, breakfasts with Santa and tips for skipping the line.
Going to the ballet? Compare every Nutcracker in Miami, with run times, age tips and sensory-friendly shows.
Questions parents ask
What is there to do in Miami for Christmas with kids?
Walk Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami, see the lights at Flamingo Gardens or Pinecrest Gardens, and visit Ripley's Christmas Park. See Miami City Ballet's Nutcracker.
Watch the Junior Orange Bowl parade in Coral Gables, or drive north for Fort Lauderdale's boat parade.
When is Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami in 2026?
Zoo Lights runs on select nights from November 27 to December 30, 2026, from 6:30 to 10pm. Check the zoo's calendar for the exact nights.
Christmas in other cities
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