5 can’t-miss holiday events in Orlando this year

Still need to get into the holiday spirit? Florida’s beautiful climate doesn’t have to make you feel like a Grinch this time of year! Central Florida offers so many dazzling, festive events during the holidays it can sometimes be hard to choose.

If you know us at Wekiva Island, you know we’re ALL about the holidays (just stop by the Island this December and you’ll see!). To help our fans out, we wanted to select some of our favorite ways to get into the spirit this year. Check out our top picks for things to do in Orlando this holiday season.

Be awed by the Asian Lantern Festival

Looking for a unique take on holiday lights? The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has you covered with the Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild! This festival features more than 30 displays and hundreds of hand-crafted, larger-than-life traditional Asian lanterns that light up the night. There are also cool interactive elements along the ¾-mile path. Trust us, this Orlando event absolutely wows! Learn more from our friends at the Zoo at www.centralfloridazoo.org/lanterns/.

Take in the lights at Cranes Roost

Just down the road from us at the Island is Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs. The park features boardwalks and pathways surrounding a lake, and during the holidays, dozens of themed lighting displays pop up all around. Grab a cup of cocoa and take a family stroll together. Don’t forget to stop for a pic in front of the giant Christmas tree.

Find your thrills at the parks

For those of us in Central Florida, visiting the Wizarding World or Magic Kingdom is as much of a holiday tradition as sitting on Santa’s lap or singing carols. And when you live so close to the magic, why not? Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Disney all go all-out for the holidays, so pick your park and grab your ticket to soak up the season.

Enjoy the theme in a different way

Speaking of theming, you can drink in the holidays—literally—at one of Orlando’s fun themed bars this season for an adult spin on festive spirit. During the holidays, for instance, The Courtesy Bar in downtown Orlando transforms into Miracle on Orange. Or, get your taste of the cold weather in the rest of the country at ICEBAR Orlando. Cheers!

Visit us at Winter Wonderland!

Of course, we might be biased, but we think Wekiva Island’s Winter Wonderland is an absolute can’t-miss this holiday season…and this year, it’s BIGGER than ever! We’ve supersized our Christmas Tree Forest with a gorgeous, 20-foot-tall Christmas Tree. We’ve also absolutely packed the calendar with fun outdoor activities in Orlando, from our Orlando holiday party, the VIP Party, to weekly visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a visit from the Grinch, Stories with Mrs. Claus and holiday outdoor movies. You can even get out on the river with our “Sleigh” rides, every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 19. Check out our full calendar here.

Ready to welcome the season now? We’re ready to have you at Wekiva Island! Be sure to get out and explore some Seminole County events, and we hope to see you soon.