Frosty, Fireworks and Masquerade Balls

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The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island hosts a day-long holiday celebration and tree-lighting ceremony each holiday season.

Photo Credit: Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island

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Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Studios features some floats made famous during the New York Thanksgiving version.

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

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Flagler College is decorated with dazzling white lights during the holidays.

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Millions of white lights twinkle during St. Augustine's Nights of Lights.

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Delray Beach's 100-foot-tall Christmas Tree remains lit through the beginning of the New Year

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Christmas on Captiva Island

Photo Credit: Anne Reilly

The holiday weeks are full of celebrations, many of them free.

Here is a list of festive Florida events from Dec. 19 to Jan. 1.

Amelia Island

S.S. Amelia Gingerbread Pirate Ship Display
Date: Through Dec. 28
Place: Ritz-Carlton Resort
About: 17-foot gingerbread pirate ship is memorable backdrop for holiday photos.
Information: ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland

Omni Amelia Island Plantation Holiday Events
Date: Through Dec. 31
Place: Omni Amelia Island Plantation
About: Cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, cookie decorating, horse-drawn carriage
rides.
Information: omnihotels.com/findahotel/ameliaisland.aspx

Kids Mad Scientist New Year’s Eve Celebration
Date: Dec. 31
Place: Ritz-Carlton Resort
About: For kids five to 12 years old; features dinner buffet, games and two-hour interactive show by the Mad Scientist
Information: 904-277-1100

New Year’s Eve Black and White Masquerade Ball
Date: Dec. 31
Place: Ritz-Carlton Resort
About: Black and white attire encouraged. Masks will be provided or guests can bring their own.
Information: 904-277-1100

Boca Grande

Twelve Days of Christmas
Date: Dec. 21-Jan. 1
Place: Gasparilla Inn & Club and Boca Grande
About: Dinners, holiday decorations, caroling, beach games, teddy bear teas, tree trimming,
holiday arts and crafts, gingerbread house decorating, Christmas movies, New Year’s
countdowns and more
Information: gasparillainn.com

Bradenton/Sarasota

Victorian Christmas
Date: Dec. 20-23
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Powel Crosley Theater
About: Stories and songs of the holiday throughout the rooms of the Estate
Information: annamariaisland-longboatkey.com/powel-crosley/shows

Captiva Island

Captiva Holiday Village
Date: Through Dec. 20
Place: Captiva Island
Information: captivaholidayvillage.com

Dade City

Church Street Christmas
Date: Dec. 21-23
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Place: Downtown Dade City
About: Music, life-size Christmas cards
Information: 352-567-0284, dadecitychamber.org

DeLand

Stetson Mansion Christmas Tours
Date: Through Jan. 7
Reservations: Call Kent at 386-490-2054 or JT at 386-873-0167
Information: stetsonmansion.com/christmas-tours.html

Delray Beach

100-foot Christmas Tree
Date: Through Dec. 25
Place: Old School Square

Fort Myers

Frosty the Snowman
Date: Through Dec. 23
Place: Broadway Palm Children’s Theater
Information: broadwaypalm.com

Decorated Historic Homes Holiday House
Date: Through Dec. 23
Place: The Downtown Fort Myers River District
Information: fmwcc.com and BurroughsHome.com

A Christmas Survival Guide
Date: Through Dec. 25
Place: Broadway Palm Theater
Information: broadwaypalm.com

White Christmas
Date: Through Dec. 25
Place: Broadway Palm Theater  
Information: broadwaypalm.com

It Came Upon A Midnight Fear
Date: Starts Dec. 27
About: Christmas-themed murder mystery
Information: semgulf.com

36th Annual Holiday Nights
Date: Through Dec. 31
Place: The Edison and Ford Winter Estates
About: A holiday homes tour
Information: edisonfordwinterestates.org

Florida Repertory Theatre’s Santaland Diaries
Date: Through Dec. 31
Place: The Studio Theatre in Downtown Fort Myers
Information: floridarep.org

Fort Pierce

The National Touring Company’s A Christmas Carol
Date: Dec. 21
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Place: Sunrise Theatre, 117th S Second St.
Information: sunrisetheatre.com

State Ballet Theater of Russia’s The Nutcracker
Date: Dec. 27
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Place: Sunrise Theatre, 117th S Second St.
Information: sunrisetheatre.com

Fort Lauderdale

Light Up Lauderdale
Date: Through Jan. 14
Place: Riverwalk and Arts & Entertainment District

Green Cove Springs

Parade of Trees
Date: Through Jan. 6
Place: Spring Park
Information: 904-449-4608, info@greencovecivic.org

Homosassa

Christmas Celebration of Lights
Date: Dec. 19-24, 27
Place: Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Information: homosassasprings.org

Orlando

The Holidays Fanfare (The Macy’s Holiday Parade, the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular
and Mannheim Steamroller)       
Date: Through Jan. 1
Place: Universal Orlando Resort, Islands of Adventures and Universal Studios
About: Holiday entertainment for the entire family to enjoy from a Dr. Seuss book brought to life in a heartwarming live stage show to a beloved parade featuring colorful holiday characters, floats and larger-than-life balloons.
Information: universalorlando.org

Palm Beach

Holiday Evening Tours
Date: Through Dec. 23
Place: Whitehall
About: Families can tour the historic Whitehall after hours and discover the origins of American Christmas traditions while enjoying carols and refreshments.

New Year’s Eve at the Breakers Fantasy Ball
Date: Through Jan. 1
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Breakers Palm Beach Resort
About: Black-tie event
Information: 1-888-BREAKERS (273-2537)

Pensacola

Season the Holidays with Island Spirit
Date: Through Dec. 31
Place: Santa Rosa Island
About: Lighted boat parades, a kowabunga breakfast with Santa and ornament decoration.
Information: 850-932-1500, pensacolabeachchamber.com

Fifth Annual Pelican Drop
Date: Dec. 31
Place: Downtown Pensacola
About: Street party with live music, children’s area where kids can participate in a bubble stomp, fireworks and a half-ton illuminated pelican dropped 100 feet at midnight.
Information: 850-435-1603, pensacolapelicandrop.com

New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Date: Dec. 31
Place: Pensacola Beach
Information: 850-932-1500, pensacolabeachchamber.com

Punta Gorda

Annual Christmas Light Canal Tours
Date: Through Dec. 31
About: Hour-long cruise of residential canals to view holiday decorations.
Information: kingfisherfleet.com

Sanibel Island

Winter Wonderettes
Date: Through Dec. 31
Time: 8 p.m.
Place: Big Arts Herb Strauss Theater
About: '60s renditions of holiday tunes by the all-girl singing group
Information: www.bigarts.org

St. Augustine

Candlelight Tours of Villa Zorayda
Date: Friday and Saturdays throughout December
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Villa Zorayda, 83 King St.
Information: 904-829-9887, villaZorayda.com

Holly Jolly Trolley Nights of Lights Tour
Date: Through Dec. 31
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Place: Visitors Information Center, 11 W Castillo Drive
About: Caroling, hot apple cider and homemade cookies
Information: 904-829-3800

Beach Blast 2012 Kick Off
Date: Dec. 31
Time: 4-10 p.m. (Fire and Ice Chili Cook-Off) and 8:30 p.m. (fireworks and music)
Place: St. Augustine Beach
Information: 904-829-5681, beachblastoff.com

Santa’s Big Red Christmas Train ride
Date: Through Jan. 1
Time: 6-8 p.m. (Sunday - Thursday) and 6-9 p.m. (Friday and Saturday)
Information: redtrains.com

Winter Wonderland
Date: Through Jan. 1
Time: 2-10 p.m., except Christmas Day (5-10 p.m.) and New Year’s Eve (noon-5 p.m.)
Place: St. Augustine Amphitheater, 1340 A1A
About: Ice skating rink, ice slide, Elf Express train rides, the Elf Village, sleigh rides, scheduled
visits from Santa, refreshments, and snow.
Information: 904-209-0367, WinterWonderlandFlorida.com

Gold Tours Nights of Lights
Date: Through Jan. 31
Time: 5-10 p.m.
Place: Old Drug Store car park on Orange Street
Information: 904-325-0547, staugustinegoldtours.com

Stuart

Rockin’ Riverwalk
Date: Every Sunday of October-May with Christmas and New Year’s Day exceptions
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Place: Riverwalk stage at the end of St. Lucie Avenue in downtown Stuart
About: Free, open-air concert featuring jazz, rock, reggae, and blues
Information: 772-288-1010

For even more events throughout the Sunshine State, check out visitflorida.com/events.