Holiday Events at Florida State Parks in 2024

In November and December, everything around Florida lights up with holiday lights and decorations. We don’t get that cold and snow to signal to our brains that Christmas is around the corner so we really lean into lighted events, like holiday boat parades, light shows at botanical gardens, and holiday events at Florida state parks.

Florida has one of the best state park systems in the country. During the holidays, a few of those parks really lean into their heritage and showcase a different side of the park. If you’re looking for historic celebrations in historic locations, the following are events you won’t want to miss.

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Camellia Christmas

• Dates: December 6
• Hours: 6:00pm to 9:00pm
• Where: Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
• Address: 3540 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee FL 32309
• Cost: Free; donations accepted.

Historic home lovers, this is a night you don’t want to miss! For one day each year, the historic Maclay House is decorated with holiday greenery and fresh camellias. It’s truly a stunning sight! Friends of Maclay Gardens serve hot cider and cookies and offer tours of the house. There are also visits with Santa, live music, and a silent auction.

Festival of Lights – Holiday Magic Nights

• Dates: December 6 – 23
• Hours: 5:00pm to 9:00pm
• Where: Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park
• Address: 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive, White Springs FL 32096
• Cost: $4/person

Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park lights up in December with holiday lights throughout the park plus fun activities. The North Pole Cafe will be open serving up all the regular favorites, like hamburgers, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs. 

If your holiday-loving heart longs for something more wintry, there will also be complimentary popcorn, hot cocoa, marshmallows by the fire, plus additional food vendors. Other activities you’ll find include visits with Santa, snow, and kids’ crafts. 

Festival of Lights will be open on December 24th as well, but it will be a special Silent Night.

Christmas on the Florida Frontier

• Dates: December 7
• Hours: 2:00pm to 7:00pm
• Where: Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
• Address: 7200 Battlefield Parkway, Bushnell FL 33513
• Cost: $5/vehicle

While many holiday events at Florida state parks rely on holiday lights, crafts, and Santa cheer, Christmas on the Florida Frontier takes visitors on a journey to Christmases past. Here, you’ll experience old-timey activities, such as wreath making, rag or corn husk doll making, and punch tin crafting. There are period demonstrations, live music from the era, frontier foods, and an old time general store.

Celebration of Lights

• Dates: December 13-15 and 19-22
• Hours: 5:30pm to 9:00pm
• Where: Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
• Address: 4150 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa FL 34446
• Cost: $10/adult or $5/child, suggested donation

This multi-day event is a favorite holiday tradition in Citrus County. A spectacular synchronized light and sound show turns the park’s Garden of the Springs into a holiday wonderland of dancing light. Local musicians and festive decorations add to the holiday ambiance. Santa visits the two Saturday nights (14th and 21st), too. Plus, wagons and well-behaved pets are welcome so the entire family can enjoy the festivities.

Holiday Open House

• Date: December 14
• Hours: 5:00pm to 7:30pm
• Where: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
• Address: 18700 County Road 325, Cross Creek FL 32640
• Cost: $3/vehicle

I recently heard about holiday open houses for the first time while watching Holiday Baking Championship. The idea is, you open your home for a number of hours and invite your friends, family, and neighbors to drop in when they can and stay for as long as they want within the open house hours. It’s a fun and low-key way to get together with friends during the holidays, without the whole blocking-an-evening-for-another-holiday-party challenge.

The same idea applies at the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings House Holiday Open House. With the house decorated as it might have looked in the 1930s, visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour of the house, listen to live music, indulge in refreshments, and explore Rawling’s orange grove.

Christmas Carols with Marketa

• Date: December 15
• Hours: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
• Where: John D. Macarthur Beach State Park
• Address: 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach FL 33408
• Cost: Free with park admission

This Florida state park holiday event is a little different than the others on this list. For starters, it’s during the day, not in the evening. If you love music in general, and Christmas carols in particular, why “go caroling” with Marketa?

Okay, okay. You won’t really go caroling. During this afternoon event, local musician Marketa takes over the amphitheater to sing Christmas carols. Of course, the audience is encouraged to sing along. It’s a fun, family-friendly event that will put you right in the holiday mood.

Festival of Lights – Silent Night

• Dates: December 24
• Hours: 5:00pm to 9:00pm
• Where: Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park
• Address: 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive, White Springs FL 32096
• Cost: $4/person

The final evening of Stephen Foster’s Festival of Lights is called Silent Night because there are none of the activities found during the previous two weeks of the Festival. Instead, the lights shine in silence while visitors stroll or sit, take photos, and enjoy the meditative quiet. It’s a serene and fitting end to the Festival.

Wrapping It Up: Holiday Events at Florida State Parks

Florida’s state parks are more than just beautiful landscapes; they’re a window into the state’s rich history and culture. The holiday events hosted at these parks bring that heritage to life, offering unique celebrations that blend festive traditions with the natural and historic charm of each location. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply looking for a memorable way to celebrate the season, these events promise something special. Plan your visit and experience the magic of Florida’s state parks this holiday season.

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