The winter holiday season in Orlando is usually full of festivals and events celebrating Christmas and other holidays, but with the pandemic, the 2020 holiday season looks very different.
But there are still plenty of events to enjoy, and I’ve picked out the best ones (and the ones adhering to safety guidelines of masks and social distancing).
From ongoing events to limited time events, here are my picks for holiday events to enjoy this season:
Bringing some holiday cheer to Orlando, Dazzling Nights will turn Harry P. Leu Gardens into a magical wonderland December 1 – January 3, 2021.
Holidays at LEGOLAND returns for select dates Nov. 27 through Dec. 31, transforming LEGOLAND Florida into a holiday wonderland with unforgettable live, seasonal entertainment, unique LEGO® activities, twinkling lights, specialty treats, and more.
The annual Winter Wonderland event returns to Wekiva Island in Longwood from December 1 to January 1, 2021, and it has been updated for the safety of its guests.
This year’s Winter Wonderland will feature a Christmas tree forest full of decorated trees that will serve as the perfect backdrop to the festivities. The schoolhouse will be made up to look like a giant gingerbread house, and “snow” flurries will fall nightly from 6 to 9pm weekdays, and 12 to 9pm on weekends.
Thanksgiving is almost upon us, but 2020 is not giving us the usual holiday. The pandemic is affecting all of us, and gatherings need to be smaller and safer.
If you’d like to eat out in a small group, or order for take-out to have at home, here are our picks for enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner.
Please note: most take-out orders need to be in by this weekend for pick-up before the holiday, and all need to be pre-ordered. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended for in-person dining.
Earlier this summer, Give Kids the World (GKTW) temporarily closed due to the pandemic, but it has reopened for the holidays to host its first ever “Night of a Million Lights” event for visitors to enjoy.
Now through January 3, 2021, the Gaylord Palms resort is hosting its annual Christmas at Gaylord Palms event, featuring live performances, a festive breakfast with the Grinch, gingerbread decorating and more.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration returns for 2020, taking place select dates November 14 through December 31, and turning the park into a winter wonderland.
Universal Orlando celebrates the holidays with Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an all-new Holiday Experience featuring Macy’s Balloons, the Mean, Green One Himself – Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, and more, from November 14 through January 3, 2021.
To help Central Florida get into seasonal mode, ICON Park is hosting The Santa Workshop Experience starting Friday, November 6, at 5pm.
For parents who are concerned about having to skip the classic pictures with Santa tradition this year, ICON Park and The Santa Workshop Experience have the perfect, socially-distanced solution.
The halls of the Orlando Museum of Art will look a lot like Christmas when the 34th annual Festival of Trees returns November 12-29, 2020.
This year’s theme is “Joy to the World — Celebrating a Season of Joy,” selected by the Council of 101 to focus on adding a little joy during the holiday season.
In a normal year, there are many ways to celebrate the 4th of July here in Orlando and Central Florida, from theme park events to city-sponsored events, and everything in between.
But 2020 is proving to be anything but normal, and due to COVID-19 safety precautions many of our regular patriotic picks simply aren’t happening.
You don’t have to put off celebrating July 4th completely, though. I have scoured press releases and the internet, and here are our picks for celebrating this year’s holiday:
Mother’s Day 2020 will be different from most years since many restaurants are still closed for inside dining.
Thankfully, many restaurants are offering Mother’s Day feasts to enjoy at home, with a little pre-planning. There are also options at the end of this restaurant list for some entertainment and more.
I’ve perused all the listings and press emails, and here are CitySurfing Orlando’s picks for celebrating your mom on Mother’s Day 2020:
Florida’s Orange County has made it easier to get into the holiday spirit by bringing back the Bright Lights Big County: OCPA Holiday Lights Crowdsourced Map for 2019.
This map is for both holiday decorators and sightseers.
To celebrate the spirit of the season, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Full Sail University and Rollins College will come together to present “Songs of the Season,” a free annual holiday concert.