Miami might not have snow-covered rooftops or frosty mornings, but it’s brimming with holiday magic and unique traditions that make the season unforgettable. From glittering light displays to tropical Santa sightings, here are the top things to do in Miami during Christmas and the holiday season.
Things to Do in Miami During Christmas and the Holidays
🌟 Dec 13-22, 2024 Miami Beach Festival of Lights
This holiday season, Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights returns to South Beach from December 13-22. Presented by the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival (MMF), the dazzling event promises to captivate audiences of all ages with a blend of live musical performances, festive characters, snow, and projection mapping displays to celebrate the holidays. Performances will take place at The Betsy Hotel on December 13-15 and December 20-22 at 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m.
A Very Merry Garden at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Throughout December, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden transforms into a festive wonderland with A Very Merry Garden. Enjoy a month-long series of holiday activities perfect for all ages. Take part in the Reindeer Round-Up scavenger hunt, write letters to Santa at the Gift Shop’s Santa’s Post Office, and soak in the beauty of the lush garden decked out for the holidays.
Miami’s Best Restaurants for Christmas and Hanukkah Feasts
This holiday season, skip the stress of cooking and let Miami’s Best Restaurants for Christmas and Hanukkah in Miami take care of your Christmas feast. Whether you’re planning an intimate family dinner or a festive gathering with friends, Miami offers an array of exceptional dining options to make your holiday truly special. From elegant multi-course menus to innovative takes on traditional dishes, these top-tier spots ensure a memorable celebration without the hassle.
Nights of Lights at Pinecrest Gardens
Pinecrest Gardens shines bright this season with its annual Nights of Lights festival. From December 6 to 29 (Thursdays through Sundays), visitors can wander through thousands of twinkling lights, take photos with Santa, and enjoy festive treats. Special evenings feature live holiday performances and a gift bazaar, making it a perfect outing for the whole family.
Holly Jolly Holiday Cocktail Bar
Celebrate in style at Wynwood Marketplace’s Holly Jolly Holiday Cocktail Bar. From December 12 to 29, this festive pop-up offers a winter wonderland complete with tinsel, ornaments, and immersive holiday décor. Sip on themed cocktails during your 90-minute reservation or stop by on Sundays for a holiday brunch with bottomless mimosas.
Downtown Miami’s Holiday Village
Experience Downtown Miami like never before at Holiday Village, running Saturdays and Sundays from November 16 to December 29. With over 60 vendors, the city’s first outdoor ice skating rink, Santa appearances, and fun community activities, this event offers something for everyone. Don’t miss the kickoff tree and menorah lighting on November 15, featuring a live performance by the Miami Symphony Orchestra.
💃🏻 Dec 20-21: The Great Gatsby Party®
Perfectly timed with the centennial of the Roaring Twenties, The Great Gatsby Party® returns to The Historic Alfred I. Dupont Building in Miami on December 20th & 21st to channel the exuberance, decadence, and spirit of revelry of the Roaring Twenties. Every evening has been tailor-made to dazzle. Live music, aerialists, burlesque stars, contortionists, showgirls, stilt walkers, and other performers add an air of possibility as flapper ladies and dapper gentlemen sip on era-inspired cocktails and bubbly developed specifically for the event. Channeling the glamour of the ‘20s, the ethereal entertainment, elegant fare, and flowing drinks will create a truly transportive experience.
🎤 Dec 22: An Evening with Andrea Bocelli
Celebrate the season with the unparalleled voice of Andrea Bocelli. Performing at the Kaseya Center on December 22, the world-renowned tenor will present holiday classics from A Family Christmas, along with timeless arias and crossover hits. This performance marks Bocelli’s 30th year in music and promises to be a night to remember. Experience the timeless voice of the iconic tenor as he performs beloved operatic arias, classical crossover hits, and holiday classics in an unforgettable performance that will leave you mesmerized.
Vizcaya Village Holiday Market
On December 19, head to Vizcaya Village for an evening filled with holiday cheer at the Vizcaya Village Holiday Market. Browse unique gifts from over 20 local vendors offering handmade jewelry, gourmet treats, and artisanal crafts. It’s the perfect spot to support small businesses while finding one-of-a-kind presents.
Holidays with The Miami Heat
Celebrate Christmas week with the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center! Catch the action-packed games as the Heat take on the Atlanta Hawks on December 22 and the Philadelphia 76ers on December 25. Enhance your game-day experience by visiting the festive Christmas Cantina at 601, where holiday cheer meets Miami Heat excitement. Don’t miss out—get Miami Heat tickets, so you can experience it live.
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🎄Dec 30: Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
Step into a world of holiday magic with the Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet at the iconic Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater on Monday, December 30, at 3:00 PM. This enchanting performance brings the beloved classic to life with stunning choreography, dazzling costumes, and festive music, perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
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🌟 Nov 14– March 8, 2025: Jungle Island’s Luminosa festival
Jungle Island, in collaboration with LEKTRIK Art, is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved Luminosa festival, now entering its third year. Building on the resounding success of previous years, Luminosa promises even more wonder, with enchanting new elements and immersive experiences. For a limited time, guests can also explore Jungle Island’s first-ever Holiday Village. Luminosa opens to the public on Thursday, November 14, and will be on display through Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Lincoln Road’s Santa’s Cabana
Capture the magic of a tropical holiday at Lincoln Road’s Santa’s Cabana. Every Friday through Sunday in December, Santa’s beachside retreat offers free photo sessions from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., making it a delightful (and free!) experience for families.
Frosty’s Hideaway
Hidden in the InterContinental Miami, Frosty’s Hideaway is an exclusive pop-up bar open select nights from December 6 to 21. This cozy, twinkling escape is ideal for snapping festive photos while sipping on holiday-themed cocktails.
Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park
Tropical Park is transformed into a Christmas Wonderland this holiday season when it gets decked out with holiday displays and light shows for a magnificent midway of thrilling carnival rides. Kids can explore Santa’s Village and meet jolly old Saint Nick plus enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus, while grown-ups can gather at the snowy ice bar. There’s also a Cirque du Soleil-style aerial show featuring hoops, balance boards and swords as well as a daredevil motorcycle show.
Main Street Festival of Lights
Join the 39th annual Main Street Festival of Lights in Downtown Miami Lakes on November 23. From live performances to Santa meet-and-greets, this local favorite offers plenty of free activities like tree lighting, arts and crafts, and even a pet adoption center for those looking to bring home a furry friend.
Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade
For a quintessential Miami holiday experience, don’t miss the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. This dazzling spectacle on December 14 features illuminated vessels cruising along a 12-mile route on the Intracoastal Waterway. Santa, Rudolph, and live entertainment add to the festive spirit.
Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Guests can enjoy festive holiday fun at Frost Science, including a special holiday-themed building light show from December 8 to January 2, daily live science shows from December 19 to January 5, and even a chance to see Santa diving in the Aquarium! To make the season even brighter, the museum will stay open late on select days, giving visitors extra time to extend their holiday experience. Guests can also take advantage and check out their new exhibit Bugs! This cinematic and immersive exhibition brings the world under your feet to life in larger-than-life proportions. Through state-of-the-art displays and interactive experiences, guests will discover how these tiny beings have influenced advancements in engineering, nanotechnology, and various other scientific fields.
Wynwood Walls
Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum of international street art that’s spurred the creation of murals throughout the Wynwood district and across the United States. It is now one of the best venues in the world to see the work of leading street artists. Encompassing more than 50 dazzling, cutting-edge murals created by respected street artists from Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States, the Wynwood Walls attract hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world each year. The space now features new murals, sculptures, and glass works by eight international artists: Askew One (New Zealand), Bublegum (Spain), Carlos Mare (New York City), Digital DOES (The Netherlands), ELLE Street Art (New York City), Logan Hicks (New York City), Simon Berger (Switzerland), and Sophie Mess (United Kingdom). Visitors can now actively participate in the art creation process with the newly expanded Street Art Experience. Under the hands-on guidance of the latest class of Wynwood Walls artists, participants can grab a spray can and leave their colorful mark on the legendary canvas, further immersing themselves in this dynamic and evolving art space.
Superblue Miami
Superblue Miami is an experiential art center located in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami that curates immersive experiences and enlightens audiences while supporting the voices and visions of modern artists to bring their artistic creations to life. Superblue’s inaugural show, Every Wall Is a Door, offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to be transported to an array of new worlds in a single visit through dynamic installations created by three of the world’s leading experiential artists — Es Devlin, teamLab, Studio Lemercier and James Turrell. Artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s latest work Pulse Topology, is also on display consisting of 3,000 suspended light bulbs, each of which glimmers to the heartbeat of different participants. Check out the newest installation, Lightfall by Studio Lemercier!
Paradox Museum Miami
With more than 70 paradox-based, fascinating exhibits, Paradox Museum is more than simply another activation site in Miami. It offers more mind-twisting, eye-tricking experiences than any other edutainment destination in the world. Visitors will discover everything about the exciting science behind paradoxes, have a blast, and take photos so spectacular their friends will not believe they are real. Guests can also step into the brand-new Zero Gravity Room—a gravity-defying illusion where the laws of physics are turned upside down! This sci-fi-inspired exhibit simulates weightlessness, offering visitors a surreal experience and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk on walls and ceilings. Perfect for all ages, Paradox Museum is a must-visit attraction for anyone seeking interactive, mind-blowing fun! FREE holiday crafts will be available for all guests in the studio with the purchase of a ticket!
Bayside Marketplace
Located in the heart of Downtown Miami, overlooking the Biscayne Bay, Bayside Marketplace is a lively hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment. With over 70 shops–including fan favorites like IT’SUGAR–and nearly 30 restaurants, Bayside offers a mix of flavors and experiences for everyone to enjoy. As the departure point for popular boat tours and home to the Sky Views Miami observation wheel, which rises 180 feet above the glimmering skyline, Bayside offers an unforgettable experience for the whole family to enjoy.
Miami Children’s Museum
South Florida’s premier nonprofit educational institution, dedicated to inspiring children through hands-on learning, has launched exciting holiday programming at Miami Children’s Museum! This December, both locals and visitors can immerse themselves in the holiday spirit with a variety of festive, family-friendly activities and engaging seasonal programming. Highlights include the Tropical Winter Wonderland Sock Skating Rink, where kids can skate and spin in their socks, as well as special events like Holidays Around the World (December 10th through December 29th), Pura Vida Monthly Cooking Club (December 21st and 22nd), A Holly Jolly Holiday (December 21st and 22nd), Noon Year’s Eve (December 31st), and more. Whether starting new traditions or celebrating cherished ones, Miami Children’s Museum offers a magical holiday experience for all ages! For more information on event details please visit https://www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/.
Celebrate the Season, Miami-Style
Miami’s holiday scene offers a little bit of everything—from cultural traditions to tropical twists on festive classics. Whether you’re skating under the palm trees, sipping cocktails in a winter wonderland, or marveling at dazzling light displays, there’s no shortage of ways to make the season magical in the Magic City. Plan your calendar now and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year, Miami-style!
