NORTH CENTRAL FL (352today.com) – It’s that time of the year when you wish you could see it all, but unfortunately, it’s impossible to be in two places at once.
So take a look at our big, big list of big holiday season events all around the 352, mark your calendars, plan accordingly, and check back regularly–we’ll be updating until our beautiful communities close the books on 2025.
All events are free to the public unless otherwise noted.
NOVEMBER
Scavenger Hunt for a Cause (11/15): CASA Marion is hosting a Domestic Violence Awareness Scavenger Hunt where guests can travel around downtown Ocala in teams, earning points and learning about the area with exclusive local artist t-shirts. Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraising team, top scoring team and best team costume. Prizes will be awarded at the after-party with lunch provided at Midtown Station. All proceeds go to CASA Marion’s mission of Standing Up to Silence and ending domestic violence in Marion County. $35, 11:30 a.m., Citizen’s Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala. (After-party 3 p.m. at Midtown Station, 235 NE Watula Ave., Ocala.
Light Up Lady Lake (11/22): This is one of the region’s biggies, and this year it’s going down at a new location in Snooky Park. It’s also happening earlier than before, so folks can enjoy the lights through the entire holiday season. What else can they enjoy at the actual lighting event? Live music, bouncy houses, Santa dropping in on his sleigh for photo ops, food trucks, vendors and more. 6-8 p.m., 120 W. Lady Lake Blvd., Lady Lake.
Light Up Mount Dora (11/22): Lake County’s waterside jewel gets all lit up the same evening as Ocala’s illumination. The lights go on in Elizabeth Evans Park, Sunset Park and Donnelly Park, and Santa will be on hand for photos with the kids. Festivities also include a drone show, fireworks and other entertainment. 6 p.m., multiple locations, downtown Mount Dora.
Light Up Ocala (11/22): One of the most anticipated annual events of the holiday season, Light Up Ocala draws thousands to the downtown area for live performances, Santa, and of course the ritual illumination. There are plenty of parking and shuttle options to make things fun and hassle-free this year; check out our advance coverage linked above for the full scoop. Multiple locations, downtown Ocala.
Winter Wonderland @ World Equestrian Center Ocala (11/28-12/23): The capital of The Horse Capital of the World goes Christmas crazy with lights, special weekend entertainment and a whole lot more, including extra programming during the days leading up to Christmas Eve. Additional info is available here. $5.50-$10.50 for lights and more evenings 5-9 p.m., VIP parking available for $26. 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala.
DECEMBER
City of Webster’s Annual Light Up Parade & Market (12/6): If all the things going on in and directly around Ocala on the first Saturday of December are a bit too stimulating, a trip south might be just the thing. Webster’s market and parade are always a family-friendly blast with a down-home feel, plenty of parking and lots to see. 6 p.m., parade begins at 85 E. Central Ave., Webster.
City of Wildwood Winterfest & Light Up Wildwood Christmas Parade (12/6): The City of Wildwood is describing it as a magical evening featuring two events in one. The annual parade will wind its way to City Hall for a tree lighting ceremony and a host of other diversions, including a snow slide, vendors and pics with Santa. More info here. Parade @ 6 p.m., tree lighting @ 7:30 p.m., 100 N. Main St., Wildwood.
Lady Lake Annual Christmas Parade (12/6): Lady Lake’s entry into Saturday’s parade-packed agenda is a morning affair with the theme of “Santa’s Toy Workshop.” Residents and visitors should be aware that Clay Avenue and W. Lady Lake Boulevard will be closed to through traffic beginning at 9 a.m., while County Road 466 will close between Rolling Acres Road and U.S. Highway 27/441 at 9:45 a.m. 10 a.m., Old Dixie Highway, Lady Lake.
Lake Panasoffkee Annual Christmas Parade (12/6): This one is also a morning affair (and remember how cold it was last year?), with the parade lining up across from Panasoffkee Hardware at 10 a.m. and rolling out at 11 a.m. through town along County Road 470 down to the library.
Light Up Bushnell Christmas Parade (12/6): The Bushnell parade kicks off at 5:30 p.m., after staging at South Sumter High. The cavalcade of Christmas fun rolls down Main Street, and will conclude at West Parkhill Avenue.
Light Up Lake Lillian (12/6): Belleview’s much-adored annual holiday do-up at the lake promises an even bigger display of lights this year, as well as live music, a holiday vendor market, a cookie decorating station and ornament making as well as meet-and-greets with the jolly man himself. 2-7 p.m., Lake Lillian.
Mount Dora Christmas Parade & Lighted Boat Parade (12/6): It’s a double whammy of holiday cheer over on the lake. First up is a morning parade through downtown on Donnelly Street starting at 10 a.m., then the day ends with a brilliant evening of lighted boats that kicks off at 6 p.m. at the lighthouse on Grantham Pointe (Tremaine Street and Liberty Avenue) and can be seen from multiple vantage points around the area. Multiple times and locations, Mount Dora.
Small Town Christmas Parade: A Florida Christmas (12/6): Dunnellon’s eminently family-friendly entry into the community holiday parade schedule kicks off at 6 p.m. at Dunnellon Middle School, then heads south down Cedar Street then east to San Jose Boulevard. More information here. 21005 Chestnut St., Dunnellon.
Children’s Christmas Snow in the Park (12/13): Snow in Florida is a rare thing, but here’s a chance to take the kids a-tubin’ without heading north for the winter. Tubes are available for trips down three levels of hills in Elizabeth Evans Park, and you can skip the line a bit by bringing a new toy to donate to a local charity. Santa will be there, too. 3-9 p.m., 100 N. Donnelly St., downtown Mount Dora.
Ocala Christmas Parade (12/13): The Ocala Christmas Parade always turns downtown into a spectacle of holiday cheer, and this year–the parade’s 70th!–it’s one of the only parades on the 13th, which should only add to the energy. “The route begins at the intersection of SE 25th Avenue and Ft. King Street, moving North to E. Silver Springs Blvd,” says the event’s info page. “It turns left/west onto the Boulevard and goes 1.6 miles to NE 8th Avenue. The parade then turns right/north onto 8th Avenue, ending at NE 3rd Street, just before Tuscawilla Park.” And yes, expect all the pertinent roads in the area to closed, beginning at 3 p.m. 5:30 p.m., downtown Ocala.
Florida Cracker Christmas feat. Sister Hazel (12/13): Now in its seventh year, the Florida Cracker Christmas always brings a heck of a show to Brooksville’s Jack Daniels Amphitheatre to raise money for kids at risk of food scarcity through Operation HeartF.E.L.T. This year Gainesville hitmakers Sister Hazel headline a bill stacked with Florida talent. 6 p.m., 966 E. Jefferson St., Brooksville.
Mount Dora 46th Annual Holiday Tour of Homes (12/13-14): This cherished longtime tradition, sponsored by the Mount Dora Women’s Club (a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs), shows off the unique styles of six homes in the area. Tickets are already on sale for $30, and proceeds benefit local nonprofit LovExtension, which provides nutritional, emotional and social support to homebound elderly and disabled individuals. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. both days, multiple locations, maps provided.