We may not have snow here in our part of the south, but that doesn’t mean we lack holiday cheer. Floridians are experts at making our own winter wonderlands, with help from lots of lights. The weather isn’t what makes the season for us, it’s the joy we share with family and friends. The places listed below would put even the Grinch in the holiday spirit. And this time of year, everyone seems to be searching for “Christmas lights near me.” In no particular order, here are some of the best Christmas lights in Florida.

1. St. Augustine Nights of Lights
Nights of Lights, 170 St George St, St. Augustine, FL 32084, USA
Om / Flickr
During the holiday season, our nation's oldest city really shines. Every night from mid-November until the end of January, the city is decorated with millions of tiny lights. Take a trolley tour or a romantic carriage ride to take in all the magic of one of the best Christmas light displays in Florida. Read more about the St. Augustine Nights of Lights in our featured article.

The St. Augustine Nights of Lights celebration is a wonderful way to enjoy Florida lights each season. Learn more about it in this video from ChadGallivanter:
2. Downtown Mount Dora
Mount Dora, Mt Dora, FL 32757, USA
Jared / Flickr
Whether you already know and love the town of Mount Dora or you've never been before, you should schedule your next visit soon. The town is decorated with more than two million twinkling lights from the end of November through the month of December. There will be various events throughout the month including bus tours, a boat parade, and a magical train ride. Read more about charming Mount Dora before you go.
3. Pensacola Winterfest
Pensacola Winterfest, Pensacola, FL 32502, USA
Pensacola Winterfest / Flickr
Pensacola Winterfest: Falling snow, hot chocolate, holiday performances, and magical train rides. To find out this year's performance dates, check out the Pensacola Winterfest website.
4. Santa's Enchanted Forest, Miami
Santa's Enchanted Forest, 7400 NW 87th Ave, Miami, FL 33166, USA
Bob B. Brown / Flickr
Santa's Enchanted Forest: The World's Largest Holiday Theme Park, features over 100 rides, shows, games, and attractions. It runs through the beginning of January so you have plenty of time to road trip over and partake in one of the most festive Christmas events in Florida. To learn more, about Santa's Enchanted Forest, read our feature article!
5. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Swan, Bay Lake, FL 34747, USA
jpellgen (@1179_jp) / Flickr
This magical celebration includes a spectacular parade, live entertainment, and fireworks on select nights from the beginning of November until the third week of December. It's the most magical place on Earth!

Perhaps the best Christmas lights display in the world can be found at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney World. Learn more in this video from DFBGuide:
6. Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901, USA
Edison & Ford Winter Estates / Facebook
At the vacation homes for Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, you can tour the homes and the 21-acre botanical garden. During December, the houses are lit up and hours are extended for the Annual Holiday Nights Celebration. This event begins at the end of November with the annual tree-lighting ceremony. Nightly tours, river cruises, food service, and entertainment (and on certain dates, visits from Santa), will run from the end of November through the end of December. To learn more, visit the Edison & Ford Winter Estates website.
7. Festival of Lights, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive, White Springs, FL 32096, USA
Dorothy Finley / Flickr
This park has so much holiday spirit, with marshmallow roasting, carol singing, and millions of lights twinkling in the majestic oaks. The Festival of Lights will have some nights open for drive-through viewing only. Be sure to check out these holiday lights this year!
8. The Oakdale Christmas House, St. Petersburg
Oakdale Christmas Display, 2719 Oakdale St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
Matthew Paulson / Flickr
This huge light display with half a million Christmas lights in Florida is famous for its quirky charm. It's sure to put a smile on the face of even the grumpiest Scrooge out there. You can catch the magical display from the day after Thanksgiving until the beginning of January. It's truly one of the best Christmas lights displays in Florida.
9. Rainbow Springs State Park
Rainbow Springs State Park, SW 81st Pl Rd, Dunnellon, FL, USA
Darryl Kenyon / Flickr
If you thought there was no way this park could be more enchanting, you should see it decorated for the holidays. Rainbow Springs State Park is decorated with 500,000 lights, with music, stories, visits from Santa, and food and crafts for sale. It takes place in December.
10. Stetson Mansion, DeLand
Stetson Mansion, 1031 Camphor Ln, DeLand, FL 32720, USA
Stetson Mansion Tours / Facebook
Florida's first luxury home, built by the famous hatmaker blends different architectural styles and Gilded Age decorations. The house is especially charming dressed up for the holidays. Christmas tours are given from November through part of January and reservations are required. Have you ever visited Stetson Mansion during Christmas in Florida?
11. Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo
Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL 33774, USA
Travis Shaw/Google Reviews
These gardens are always full of color and beauty, and their holiday lights are no exception. Bright lights cover this tropical paradise, making a stunning combination. This is truly one of the most magical displays of Christmas lights in Florida.

For more amazing Christmas lights in Florida, check out the Florida Botanical Gardens Christmas light display in this video from OKWalk:
12. Space Coast Lightfest, Palm Bay
Fred Poppe Regional Park, 1951 Malabar Rd, Palm Bay, FL 32907, USA
Space Coast Light Festival/Facebook
Note: Unfortunately the Space Coast Light Festival has been cancelled until further notice. The organizers are hopeful it will resume at a future date.

The Space Coast Lightfest is a holiday light spectacular that takes place from mid-November through the beginning of January. It's a drive-through experience in Fred Poppe Park but you can walk through the lights on select nights in December and enjoy entertainment, food, and fun.

Have you visited any of these Christmas light displays in Florida before? Where do you go to find the best Christmas lights in Florida? Even without piles of frozen snow, we think a Christmas in Florida is pretty special. Here are ten reasons why we think a Florida Christmas is the best.

Many of us stick pretty close to home for Christmas, but we think you’d love this holiday lights road trip in Florida! Rent an RV from RVShare and make this holiday season extra special.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

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More Florida Christmas Lights Near You

Jackie Ann | November 01, 2019

What is the largest Christmas lights display in Florida?

This year, you can expect a dazzling display of twinkling lights peppered all throughout the great state of Florida. A Canadian Christmas light company is bringing the world’s largest Christmas maze to St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field, which will feature a 90,000-square-foot light maze complete with falling snow, Santa, and all of his reindeer.

What is there to do at Christmas in Florida?

A few things to do at Christmas in Florida include:

 

Florida may not be blanketed in snow for Christmas, but there are several holiday activities to put you into the holiday spirit. Pensacola Winterfest is always a fun time for families, and Ice! At Gaylord Palms is an event not to be missed. With over 20,000 square feet of hand-carved ice sculptures and two-story tall slides, this is one event the whole family will adore. These are some of the best things to do at Christmas in Florida.

What are the best Christmas towns in Florida?

Some of the best Christmas towns in Florida include:

 

One of the best Christmas towns in Florida is St. Augustine. Their annual Christmas event, the Night of Lights will mesmerize you with their displays of lights, trolley rides, and loads of hot chocolate to put you into the holiday spirit. For those on the panhandle side of the state, Pensacola transforms for the holidays, and it’s here you’ll find their annual Christmas event, Winterfest. Surfing Santas, trolley rides, and falling snow all make for one epic holiday adventure that families with kids of all ages will enjoy.

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