Surfing Santas, Shrimp Boats, Sandcastle Trees, Boat Parades: Celebrate Christmas FL Style

FLORIDA — You’ll never celebrate a white Christmas in Florida, but the Sunshine State boasts some wonderfully weird — and incredibly kitschy — holiday traditions.

Apalachicola Historic Downtown Christmas Celebration

Forget Rudolph leading Santa’s sled. In Apalachicola, the big guy arrives at this annual holiday celebration in the Panhandle in style — via shrimp boat. This year’s event takes place Friday from 3 to 8 p.m.

Sandi the Tree

West Palm Beach decks the halls by building and decorating a 700-ton sand tree. Sandi, the 35-foot sand sculpture, is at the heart of many of the city’s holiday activities. The tree lighting ceremony takes place Dec. 2, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Fort Christmas Cracker Christmas Festival

Yes, there really is a central Florida town called Christmas — and it's home to Fort Christmas. And, yes, it hosts an annual Cracker Christmas Festival, where you’ll find lots of pioneer life demonstrations, tours of the fort and cracker homes, unique craft vendors, and foods like gator meat. This year’s festivities take place Dec. 4-5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Night of Lights

This annual event lights up historic downtown St. Augustine. It’s the most magical time of the year in the oldest city in America. This festival of lights, considered one of the top 10 holiday light display shows in the world by National Geographic, kicked off Nov. 20 this year and runs through Jan. 31.

Holidays in Space

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex hosts a holiday village and themed events this season, including Christmas décor, educational activities, science experiments, live stage performances and a DJ dance party. This galactic holiday event runs Dec. 17-31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Deck the Chairs

Jacksonville Beach gets into the holiday spirit with an annual lighted sculptural exhibit featuring the iconic beach lifeguard chairs. This year, the event introduces its new SeaSongs Light & Music Spectacle, a motion-activated holiday sound experience. The exhibit opened Wednesday and remains on display through the end of the year.

Surfing Santas Cocoa Beach

Each holiday season, hundreds of totally stoked Surfing Santas — costumed surfers of all ages dressed as Jolly Ol’ St. Nick — hit the beach and catch some waves for charity. They’re calling all Santas to gather on Christmas Eve at 8 a.m.

Key West Holiday Fest

Key West has a reputation as a fun, funky town, and it’s no different during the holiday season. The colorful beach town hosts an annual holiday celebration that offers a number of festive events, including a “Harbor Walk of Lights,” a lighted boat parade, a tour of historic inns and a cheeky, burlesque version of “The Nutcracker.”

Theme parks galore

It might sound like sacrilege to some, but Florida’s theme parks add some extra magic to the most magical time of the year. At Walt Disney World Resort, your family can celebrate with the famous mouse and friends at Disney Very Merriest After Hours and other special events. Christmas in the Wizard World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando is truly an enchanting event, and parkgoers can also catch a live retelling of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Meanwhile, the holidays come to life at the festive Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

The Shell Factory and Nature Park

North Fort Myers’ best-known, old-school roadside attraction celebrates the holidays year-round. The Shell Factory’s Christmas House, which boasts Southwest Florida’s largest collection of Christmas gifts, ornaments and decorations, is open the entire year. Starting in November, Santa makes weekend appearances.

Santa’s Enchanted Forest

This Miami attraction, which opened nearly four decades ago, bills itself as the world’s largest holiday theme park. It features more than 100 rides, shows and attractions, as well as a dazzling light display.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms

Featuring more than 2 million pounds of ice, this hand-carved display and multisensory experience at Gaylord Palms in Orlando features the holiday classic “Elf” this year. Other activities include snow tubing, Cirque’s “Spirit of Christmas,” Elf Training Academy, the Snowball Build and Blast, and other Christmas traditions.

Boat Parades

There’s no shortage of holiday boat parades throughout the state. Some standouts are the Regatta of Lights Dec. 11 in St. Augustine, the Winterfest Boat Parade on Dec. 11 in Fort Lauderdale and the Daytona Beach Christmas Boat Parade on Dec. 4.

Enchant Christmas

St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, transforms into a magical holiday light maze. Visitors can immerse themselves in the adventure of the magical Christmas story of “The Mischievous Elf” this year. There’s also ice skating, the Enchant Market filled with artisan vendors, gourmet holiday treats and more.