KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Kissimmee, located in the heart of Central Florida, is thrilled to unwrap its most dazzling array of holiday events yet. This vibrant city is set to shimmer with festive lights, resonate with joyful carols and come alive with the spirit of the season. Whether it's the enchantment of parades, the charm of open-air markets or the delight of festive performances, Kissimmee invites residents and visitors alike to revel in a holiday season like no other. Dive into our line-up and discover why Kissimmee is this year's ultimate holiday destination.

 

For images, click here.

 

Holiday Events and Attractions

All–New “Holiday Nights” Light Spectacular at Island H2O, Nov. 8  
A flurry of tropical holiday magic is coming to Island H2O Water Park with the park’s all-new “Holiday Nights” immersive island-themed holiday spectacle. During 44 nights, hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights, themed displays, unique photo spots, live entertainment, and tantalizingly themed treats and gifts will transform Island H2O Water Park into an extravaganza for the whole family. Holiday Lights will light up every Wednesday through Sunday from Nov. 8 – Dec. 10 and everyday Dec. 13 – 31.

Enchanted Holidays: Festival of the Trees presented by Orlando Museum of Art, Nov. 10-19
Visitors will enjoy enchanting décor, more than 30 designer-decorated trees, exceptional gingerbread houses and wreaths. They can also participate in the crowd-favorite Entertaining and Design tablescapes raffle, Silent Auction, photo ops with Santa and more. In addition, there will be a holiday shopping experience in their Toyland, pop-up Boutique, as well as live entertainment throughout the event. A variety of special events, including the Opening Night Party, Breakfast with Santa and a children’s Reindeer Romp party will add a special holiday touch to this year’s Festival of Trees. 

Toho Riverboat Adventures Pearl of the Lake and Upcoming Holiday Nights
The new paddlewheel riverboat, Pearl of the Lake, is expected in November. It brings history back to the town and a fun new atmosphere for passengers to see. The paddlewheel will have nightly Sunset Cruises with live music and themed party nights. It's great for private parties, weddings and work banquets and meetings as it accommodates 125 passengers. Holiday night cruises start in November. This family-friendly trip is a slow cruise with thousands of holiday lights, music and hot cocoa.

The Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort Return for a Whimsical Destination-wide Celebration, Nov. 17 – Dec. 31
Universal Orlando Resort invites guests to set their festive side free with its annual holiday celebrations kicking off in November. Guests can experience a mix of merry and mischief brought to life from holiday classics to experiences inspired by pop culture icons, creating a memorable holiday atmosphere unlike any other beginning Friday, November 17, and running daily through Sunday, December 31.

Celebrate in Style with a New Nighttime Holiday Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Nov. 11 – Dec. 20
This festive season, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host a brand-new nighttime party, Disney Jollywood Nights, on 10 select evenings from Nov. 11 to Dec. 20, 2023. The separately ticketed event will invite guests to experience a glamorous evening full of merry mashups, delicious tastes and sips, iconic throwback characters and a holiday vibe full of glitz and sparkle. For an extra dose of cheer, the party wraps with the return of the nighttime spectacular, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!”

Colorful Christmas and Jazzberry Jammin' New Year's Eve at the Crayola Experience, Nov. 18 – Jan. 7
Come enjoy holiday fun the Crayola way- make handmade gifts from the heart, complete a seasonal scavenger hunt and more. Then on Dec. 31, visit Crayola Experience for Jazzberry Jamin’ New Year’s Eve Party. This colorful celebration, complete with confetti and dance parties, lets tiny tots ring in the new year and be in bed before midnight.

Edge Escape Rooms Get Festive for the Holidays
Edge Escape Rooms welcomes you and your family for the holidays. They are offering discounts for Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas, along with extra hidden items in rooms for guests to find to score rebooking discounts. Additionally, keep an eye out for the opening of their fourth escape room: Jewel Thief.

Harry Styles is taking the stage at Madame Tussauds Orlando this December
This summer, Madame Tussauds debuted seven Harry Styles figures around the world and his eighth figure will be coming to the Sunshine State to join music sensations such as Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande and Maluma in Orlando. Each of his figures is styled after a different iconic moment in his career. Be sure to visit to find out how his Orlando figure is styled.

Celebrate FISHmas at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
This December, celebrate the holidays with FISHmas at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. Explore an underwater wintery wonderland and learn all about our cold-water sea creatures. Plus, experience a sea of lights and decorations to get you ready for the holiday season.

Festival of Lights parade in Downtown Kissimmee, Dec. 9
Residents, groups and businesses are invited to participate in this unique evening parade which illuminates the streets of downtown Kissimmee at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 9. Join thousands for a holiday event full of music, dancing, and holiday lights that is perfect for the entire family. Before the parade, head over to Kissimmee’s Lakefront Park Veterans Lawn for holiday festivities, including photos with Santa, the KUA Kids Power Zone and cookie decorating.

Holidays in Space at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Dec. 15 - 30
Watch Starflake’s Holiday Voyage, a nightly projected show, on the massive exterior of Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex^®. Embark on a journey with Starflake as she travels through the stars, Earth and beyond. Additionally, experience the visitor’s complex covered in holiday decorations throughout December- the new crowd favorite 50-foot tree with more than 61,000 pixels of light returns this year, the all-new Rocket Tree Trail Sponsored by L3Harris, six-foot-tall astronaut nutcrackers, the NASA meatball-turned-holiday ornament and so much more.

Mecum Celebrates 25^th Anniversary, Jan. 2-14
 Some of the rarest cars known to exist are headed to Mecum Kissimmee 2024, which will take place this January 2-14 at Osceola Heritage Park. With a projected 4,000 vehicle consignments expected in total, the annual event will continue to honor its official designation as The World’s Largest Collector Car Auction®, offering a broad selection of American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, exotics, trucks, Hot Rods, customs and more with live coverage on MotorTrendTV and MotorTrend+.  

JoJo’s ShakeBAR Transforms into a Winter Wonderland
JoJo’s ShakeBAR is transforming its Pointe Orlando Location into the ultimate Winter Wonderland. Every square inch of the restaurant will be covered in festive decor including an eight-foot tall nutcracker, giant ornaments, thousands of string lights and everything Santa’s elves could’ve dreamed of. Also, check out JoJo’s interactive Santa’s workshops that include Holly Jolly Mixology Classes, Ornament Painting Workshops, Wreath Making Workshops and Gingerbread House Workshops. JoJo’s is the ultimate destination this holiday season.

Gatorland’s Ho, Ho, Ho-Down Christmas Event, Dec. 2-17
Gatorland's signature holiday extravaganza unfolds with a delightful mix of music, festive displays, interactive characters and an array of tempting seasonal treats available for purchase. Capture the essence of a distinctively Floridian holiday by snapping a photo with Gator Claus aboard his swamp-worthy sleigh, meeting the mischievous Krampus Croc and singing along with the Florida Skunk Ape as he performs his favorite “Cryptid carols.” 

MaxFlight Helicopters Adds 5-min Holiday Lights Flight 
Experience a magical 5-minute private helicopter tour over Kissimmee, FL, witnessing enchanting Christmas decorations and Holiday Lights at Give Kids the World Village. Explore the festive scenery from the sky with every seat as a window seat. Available from now to January 5. 

Planet Hollywood Lights up for the Holidays 
Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs offers a festive holiday experience, featuring enchanting winter decorations, including Christmas trees, twinkling lights and seasonal garlands adorning the entire restaurant. Indulge in the seasonal ambiance while enjoying their regular business hours. Don't miss their special Frosty the Snowman Shake and holiday-themed merchandise, perfect for capturing the spirit of the season with photo opportunities throughout the restaurant. 

Resort Offerings

Skating Comes to Kissimmee with Glice Eco-Rink
This fall, the Melia Orlando Celebration hotel will bring holiday cheer to Orlando early, with the installation of an eco-rink. From Oct. 15 to Jan. 3, hotel guests can enjoy the excitement of skating in sunny Florida. Through a partnership with Glice, the hotel will install a 38’ x 38’ rink next to the main lobby entrance that requires no water, energy or carbon emissions. A sustainable alternative to traditional ice rinks, Glice Eco-Rink uses synthetic ice panels for year-round family fun. 

Hands-on Chocolate Experience Debuts at Caribe Royale Orlando
Get ready for a delicious time filled with all things chocolate at Caribe Royale Orlando’s debut of Studio du Chocolat, a unique and immersive experience that allows guests to get hands-on with chocolate, learning about the delicious concoction and making some sweet treats of their own. Executive Pastry Chef Joshua Cain, who was recently featured on Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship, and Chocolatier Maria Sanchez will guide guests as they create a variety of delectable treats. Each guest will bring home their chocolate creations plus samples of the unique chocolate blends created in France by Chef Joshua and only available at Caribe Royale Orlando.

Wintry Excitement Returns to Gaylord Palms Resort; ‘ICE!’ Holiday Attraction Features ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ Nov. 17 – Jan. 3
Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang will be the stars of the holiday celebration at Gaylord Palms Resort, as “ICE!” returns for 2023. The heartwarming, animated feature “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be brought to life from Nov. 17, 2023, to Jan. 3, 2024, by a team of 40 artisans who carve the characters out of 2 million pounds of ice to create the nearly 20,000-square-foot attraction. Kept at a cool 9 degrees Fahrenheit, “ICE!” will include other classic Peanuts characters like Lucy, Sally, Linus and Peppermint Patty, as well as Charlie Brown’s famous little Christmas tree.

 

Food & Beverage Offerings

Lazy Dog Restaurants’ DIY Gingerbread, proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity
Starting Nov. 8. Lazy Dog Restaurants will be selling DIY Holiday Gingerbread House Kits where 100% of the net proceeds of kits sold go to Habitat for Humanity. Every gingerbread house purchased at a Lazy Dog Restaurant will help families in need of a decent place to live in communities across the U.S. The kit is complete with pre-cut edible gingerbread walls and roof pieces, icing to keep it all together and a variety of candy for imaginative decorating. Guests who are not near a Lazy Dog Restaurant Kissimmee location can also purchase the kits online.

Join Wine Bar George for a Blind Tasting in December
Enjoy a memorable event this holiday season with George Miliotes, one of 273 Master Sommeliers in the world and owner of Wine Bar George at Disney Springs. Learn to taste wine like a professional with a "blind" tasting of six different wines. Hear firsthand from George about his journey through the wine world and what it takes to become a Master Sommelier. This 90-minute event is led by George in a relaxed setting on select afternoons in October, November and December. Each of the wines are hand-selected by George and varies by event. Check their website to view dates and secure your spot.

12 Beers of Christmas at Morimoto Asia
Get into the holiday spirit with 12 Beers of Christmas hosted by Chef Morimoto. Sample 12 amazing beers paired with 12 delicious bites. Non-alcoholic beverage options make this event open to everyone. Choose from two different time slots and either general admission or a booth with bottled water and a dedicated server.

Participate in Holiday Merriment at Medieval Times
This holiday season embark on a grand adventure to Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament and make this holiday gathering a legend. Come see the castle decorated for the holidays as you cheer your knight to victory in a thrilling tournament of jousting, sword fighting, and medieval games of skill. Witness majestic horses dancing gracefully and feel your heart race as the royal falcon soars above you.

 

Holiday Specials

To find accommodation deals and discounted attraction tickets for Florida residents and beyond, visit https://www.experiencekissimmee.com/deals.

About Experience Kissimmee:

Experience Kissimmee is the official tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida. Located at the heart of Central Florida, Kissimmee is 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), minutes from world-famous theme parks and attractions, and nestled in carefully preserved outdoor spaces so visitors can reconnect with nature. Also known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, Kissimmee has sprawling resorts with thousands of options ranging from two-bedroom condominiums to 15-bedroom mansions.

 

Media Contact:

Experience Kissimmee Communications Department [email protected]