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Christmas lights at night in Orlando
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Christmas lights · Orlando, FL

Christmas lights in Orlando

Beyond the theme parks, Orlando's lights are mostly free and mostly around its lakes: the tree at Lake Eola, the displays at Cranes Roost, Park Avenue in Winter Park. The one ticketed garden show is at Leu Gardens.

5 displays · 4 free · 2 with 2026 dates announced

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Where to see them

Where to go: with kids, on a date, with friends

With kids

Short walks, Santa, rides and something to do besides looking.

For a date

Somewhere to walk slowly, a drink in hand, and look good in the photos.

Walk-through: gardens, zoo, parks

Mostly ticketed per person, and on foot. Check the hours before you set out.

Lights at Lake Eola — illustrationIllustration
Park·Downtown OrlandoFree

Lights at Lake Eola

Downtown Orlando's lake park at Christmas: a 72-foot tree, the famous fountain lit in color and the city towers reflected in the water. A free, easy walk with restaurants all around.

✨ Date night🧒 With kids

What's there

  • 72-foot Christmas tree
  • Lit fountain
  • Free
  • Restaurants around the lake

A free, pretty evening stroll — pair it with dinner downtown.

2026 season
Tree lighting Fri, Dec 4, 2026 (5:30 – 9:30 pm); closing date not yet published
Cost
Free

Getting in and parking

  • Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando. Use a city garage nearby or the free LYMMO bus.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Pet-friendly.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Orlando Date Night Guide (2025)

Holiday Lights at Cranes Roost — illustrationIllustration
Park·Altamonte SpringsFree

Holiday Lights at Cranes Roost

The lake park in Altamonte Springs decorated with more than 200,000 lights on its boardwalks and structures, with restaurants and shops right around the water.

✨ Date night🧒 With kids

What's there

  • 200,000+ lights around the lake
  • Free
  • Boardwalks and restaurants
  • Fountain shows

What visitors sayGoogle 4.8 ★ · 6,394 reviews

Visitors call it one of Orlando's most beautiful parks, and say the holiday decorations — up by the end of November — are on point. It's lively, with plenty of places to eat.

An easy, free Christmas walk — great for a casual date.

2025 season
Nov 28, 2025 – Jan 2, 2026
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
Free

Getting in and parking

  • Cranes Roost Park, next to Altamonte Mall in Altamonte Springs. Free parking by the park.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Pets are allowed in designated areas here, unlike most city parks.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Orlando Date Night Guide (2025)

Official site
Park Avenue Holidays — illustrationIllustration
Walk-through·Winter ParkFree

Park Avenue Holidays

Winter Park's tree-lined shopping street strung with lights, with a carousel for the kids, boutiques and cafés open late.

✨ Date night

What's there

  • Lights along the shopping street
  • Carousel
  • Boutiques and cafés
  • Free

A charming evening for a date — Christmas shopping and dinner in one place.

2025 season
Nov 13 – Dec 25, 2025
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
Free
Start at
Park Avenue, between Fairbanks and Webster

Getting in and parking

  • Downtown Winter Park. Free two-hour street parking and public lots; it's a short walk from SunRail's Winter Park station.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Dog-friendly —Central Park runs along the avenue.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Orlando Date Night Guide (2025)

Dazzling Nights — illustrationIllustration
Garden·Harry P. Leu Gardens

Dazzling Nights

Leu Gardens' light trail, designed by Creative City Project and changed completely each year, with whimsical displays, food and drinks and endless photo spots.

🧒 With kids✨ Date night

What's there

  • New design every year
  • Lots of photo spots
  • Food and drinks
  • Family-friendly

What visitors sayGoogle 4.1 ★ · 21 reviews

Families make it a yearly tradition and say the displays are thoughtfully done with a hundred photos' worth of spots. The complaints are about the all-inclusive food and drink packages, which some felt weren't worth it.

Lovely — buy a regular ticket and skip the all-inclusive package.

2026 season
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027, select nights
Timed entry from 5:30 pm, a slot every 15 minutes
Cost
2026: adults 13+ $35–$56 and children 4–12 $33–$53, depending on the night and entry time; 3 and under free. Parking is extra.
Where
1920 N. Forest Ave, Orlando, FL

Getting in and parking

  • Harry P. Leu Gardens on North Forest Avenue, just north of downtown Orlando.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Weekday tickets are cheaper than weekends.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Orlando Date Night Guide (2025)

Snow in Celebration — illustrationIllustration
Walk-through·Celebration Town CenterFree

Snow in Celebration

The Disney-built town of Celebration covered in lights strung from building to building around a giant tree, with 'snow' falling on the main street every evening.

🧒 With kids✨ Date night

What's there

  • Nightly snowfall
  • Lights strung across the street
  • Holiday craft fair
  • Free

What visitors sayGoogle 4.7 ★ · 7,795 reviews

Visitors say the Christmas night scene is wonderful — lights hung between the buildings around a giant tree — and there are plenty of kids' activities and a craft fair.

The closest Orlando gets to a white Christmas — and it's free.

2025 season
Nov 29 – Dec 31, 2025, nightly
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
Free

Getting in and parking

  • Celebration Town Center, south of Disney's main entrance. Free parking in town.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Snowfall runs at set times each evening — check the schedule and come early on weekends.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Celebration Town Center (2025)

Official site

Before you go

Why some dates say 2025

Most displays announce the season in October or November. Until they do, we show last year's dates and say so, rather than guess this year's. Every card shows the day we last checked it and where the facts came from.

Santa services in the USChristmas markets in Orlando

Christmas lights in other cities

Questions

Which Christmas lights in Orlando are free?
Lights at Lake Eola (Downtown Orlando), Holiday Lights at Cranes Roost (Altamonte Springs), Park Avenue Holidays (Winter Park), Snow in Celebration (Celebration Town Center). None of them sell tickets, but some charge for parking and the busiest neighborhoods have long lines, so check each card and go on a weeknight.
When do the Orlando light displays open this year?
So far Lights at Lake Eola (Tree lighting Fri, Dec 4, 2026 (5:30 – 9:30 pm); closing date not yet published) and Dazzling Nights (Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027, select nights) have announced their 2026 dates. The rest publish in October and November; until then this page shows last year's dates, marked as such.