The holiday season is rollin’ in like a warm wave on South Beach, and it’s time to get festive! Forget your parkas and snow boots – here in Miami, we celebrate Christmas with a tropical twist. Think sparkling lights on palm trees, Santa Claus cruising in a convertible, and maybe even a sprinkle of salsa in your eggnog. ‘Tis the season to sizzle under the sun, because we’re bringing the heat to Christmas this year! Forget the snowflakes – in the 305, we’re all about palm trees, salsa beats, and the swankiest holiday shindigs you’ve ever seen. Get ready to sleigh Miami-style with the best Christmas events in town.
So, ditch the traditional and get ready for a Miami Christmas that’s caliente, divertido, and totally unforgettable!
Here are some can’t-miss Christmas events in Miami to get your holiday spirit poppin’:
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker:
This ain’t your grandma’s Nutcracker, y’all. The Miami City Ballet puts on a show that’s pura magia, with Art Deco costumes, pastel-hued sets, and a Miami-fied setting. Prepare to be mesmerized by the graceful dancers and stunning visuals!
Date: December 8-10 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, December 15-24 at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and December 28-30 at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park:
This winter wonderland is like stepping into a Christmas movie. 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. It’s the perfect place to take the fam for some holiday cheer.
Date: November 16-January 7
Santa’s Enchanted Forest:
Hop in your car and cruise through a dazzling display of millions of twinkling lights. This drive-thru experience (November 24-December 30) is a Miami tradition that’s sure to leave you feeling todo festive. Don’t forget to snap a pic with Santa at the end!
Date: November 24-December 30
The Commodore Presents Cookies & Coquito (The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami)
In an exciting collaboration with local influencer @chatchowtv’s Gio Gutierrez, The Commodore presents a sensational Coquito and Cookies special menu that promises to elevate your holiday experience. For just $18, guests can enjoy a glass of festive coquito creations, each artfully paired with three mini gourmet cookies. Savor the exquisite Mexican Rompope with Patron Repo tequila, expertly complemented by delightful Mexican wedding cookies. Delight your palate with the Cuban Crema de Vie featuring Havana Club Blanco rum, perfectly paired with delectable Torticas de moron cookies. Indulge in American Eggnog with Angels Envy bourbon and D’USSÉ cognac, served with chewy Gingerbread cookies. Finally, savor the Puerto Rican Coquito blended with Bacardi Ocho rum, accompanied by enchanting Mantecaditos cookies. Guests looking to taste all four coquitos and cookies are welcome to order the flight for $39++. The special Cookies & Coquito menu will be offered daily from December 1 – 31st.
Address: 3300 SW 27th Ave, Miami
BODEGA TAQUERIA Y TEQUILA’S HOLIDAY BAR POP-UP WITH PATRÓN
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila’s is bringing the holiday cheer, as their annual Holiday Bar Pop-Up with Patrón Tequila opens Monday, November 27th at all Bodega locations (excluding Aventura). Bodega is partnering with Patrón Tequila to create an immersive holiday bar experience featuring seasonal themed cocktails to help get everyone in the holiday spirit. Sleighbells, tinsel and mistletoe will deck the halls at each of the Bodega locations throughout the month of December, ending the day after Christmas. Bodega will also be partnering with local nonprofit organizations to donate toys during the holiday season. Guests are encouraged to bring a toy which will entitle them to one free holiday cocktail.
RUMBAR Reindeer Room
RUMBAR is getting festive this holiday season as they present guests with The Reindeer Room. Guests are invited to sleigh their way through January 1 by enjoying bites including Prancer’s Pizza, Charcutewreath and Tipsy Reindeer Bread Pudding. Cocktail highlights include Cafecito Coquito & Churros, Let Me Take An #Elfie and Baby, It’s Cold Outside. The Reindeer Room is open daily from 3 p.m. to close.
Address: 455 Grand Bay Dr, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Date: December 1 – January 1
NightGarden:
This immersive art experience gets a Christmas makeover for the holidays. Imagine twinkling lights, festive decorations, and special holiday-themed installations (November 23-January 7). It’s like stepping into a sueño mágico. Explore the illuminated gardens, be amazed by the light shows, and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones.
Date: November 23-January 7
MatzoBall:
Celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas at this annual event (December 18). Enjoy live music, delicious food, and plenty of dancing. It’s a fiesta for everyone!
Date: December 18
Holiday Parade #onLincoln:
Get ready for some alegria as this festive parade (December 2) marches down Lincoln Road. Watch giant balloons float by, groove to the music of marching bands, and wave at Santa himself. It’s a fun-filled event for the whole family.
Date: December 2
Miracle in Miami:
This pop-up bar (November 16-December 31) is a Christmas wonderland for adults. Get transported to a world of over-the-top decorations, sip on festive cocktails like the “Snowball Old Fashioned” or the “Jingle Bell Rock,” and indulge in some holiday-themed treats. It’s the perfect place to get your celebración on!
Date: November 16-December 31
The Berry Farm’s 4th Annual Winter Festival
Head to South Dade in Miami’s agricultural heartland for a The Berry Farm’s 4th Annual Winter Festival & Berry Bright Winter Nights at The Berry Farm. Your family can meet Santa, go on a hayride, compete on the obstacle course, enjoy seasonal dishes and take festive photos around the farm. When the sun goes down, the farm lights up with the dazzling light display of Berry Bright Winter Nights, which features a 42-foot-tall Christmas tree.
Date: November 17-January 7
Snow Carnival
Who says it never snows in Miami? When you take your family to the Snow Carnival at Aventura Mall in Aventura, you’ll enter a winter wonderland with more than 350 tons of real snow. Build a snowman, throw snowballs, make snow angels and race down the Mini Matterhorn snowtubing slide. Then it’s all aboard the Holiday Express for a journey through a festive forest covered in lights. Grown-ups can duck into the Yeti Snow Bar igloo for a festive libation.
Date: November 23-January 7
Miami Beach Festival of Lights
This holiday season, locals and visitors alike can experience a series of dazzling spectaculars of music and light as the Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights takes to South Beach December 1 through December 23.
Date: Dec 1 – Dec 23
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
The Moscow Ballet brings the magic of the holiday season to The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater, performing Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet. Featuring a cast of award-winning principal dancers from top ballet academies across Eastern Europe and Asia, the performance will also include spectacular acrobatics and larger-than-life puppets.
Date: December 31
Zoo Lights
Experience Miami Christmas lights at Zoo Miami during Zoo Lights, the annual holiday tradition during which the zoo stays open late and is illuminated by a dazzling array of more than one-million lights. In these immersive light displays, you’ll experience animal lanterns and festive entertainment plus seasonal treats, including cookies and hot chocolate. With its 26-foot-tall LED tree, themed nights and the chance to meet Santa, Zoo Lights is a fun-filled holiday treat for the whole family.
Date: November 24-December 30 (select nights)
A Drag Queen Christmas:
Get ready for a night of brillo y extravagancia at this drag show extravaganza (December 15). Miami’s top drag queens will be performing all your favorite holiday classics with a glamorous twist. It’s sure to be a fiesta inolvidable!
Date: December 15
North Pole Breakfast at Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove:
Treat your little ones to a magical morning at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove (December 2-25). They’ll get to enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet with holiday treats, meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, participate in fun crafts and games, and even take a ride on a magical reindeer train. It’s a perfect way to create lasting holiday memories for the whole family.
Date: December 2-25
Mistletoe & Martinis:
Ring in the holidays with an elegant evening of live music, dancing, and a delicious buffet (December 30). This event is perfect for a romantic night out with your special someone or a festive gathering with friends. Dress to impress and get ready for a night of pura diversión!
Date: December 30
