December is here, and so is the holiday season! From running a 5k to running to the mall to go Christmas shopping, there is so much to do in Palm Beach County this time of year. Enjoy holiday light shows, Santa visits, winter festivals, and more:
Santa Experiences
Free Santa Photo at the Palm Beach Outlets: receive two free 4×6″ Santa photo prints and digital download of a single image for every family who visits Santa.
Gardens Mall Photos with Santa: open during mall hours. Each child who takes a picture with Santa receives three gold coins to shop at the Kids’ Corner Holiday Shop, where they can “shop” for gifts, and do a craft. A different craft is available daily. Without taking a photo with Santa, the cost is $5 per child, all proceeds benefit The Arc of Palm Beach County.
The Mall at Wellington Green: Photos with Santa at the Ice Palace, featuring falling snow. For hours, check here.
Town Center at Boca Raton Santa Photo Experience: open during mall hours, in Nordstrom Court.
Tree Lighting Ceremonies
Thursday, December 5
Clematis by Night: 6-10pm, 100 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, 7pm Lighting of Sandi, the World’s Only 700-ton Sand Holiday Tree. Santa visit, holiday gift boutique in the Lake Pavilion, live music featuring Bay Kinds Band.
Delray Beach 100 Ft. Christmas Tree Lighting: 5:30pm, Old School Square Park, NE 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach. Santa arrives at 6:45pm, tree lighting 7pm. Holiday street fair event with food, music, entertainment, crafts, and holiday fun.
Friday, December 6
Palm Beach Gardens Tree Lighting Festival: 6-8pm, Burns Road Community Center. Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Winter Wonderland for ages 4 & under, crafts, food trucks, DJ
Wellington Christmas Tree Lighting: 6-9pm, Wellingtown Ampitheater. Food trucks, kona ice, free concert featuring The Blues Brothers Cover band.
Riviera Beach Winter Wonderland at the Marina: 6-9pm, Tree lighting 7pm, Riviera Beach Marina Village. Parade, caroling, holiday “snow,” hot cocoa, cookies, gifts for the first 500 kids. Cost: Free, register online here.
Town of Lake Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony: Downtown Park Avenue (Corner of Park Avenue and 9th Street), Santa is coming to town at 6:15pm, Tree lighting 7pm, games, vendors
Christmas Lights
Lights 4 Hope Holiday Light Show: Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Novemer 22 through December 29. Cost: $12 per vehicle, up to 8 people per vehicle, proceeds benefitting local children in hospitals.
Hoffman’s Chocolates Winter Wonderland: 5190 Lake Worth Road, Greenacres, now through December 30, 6-10pm (closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Featuring more than 100,000 LED lights, holiday displays, and photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Cost: Free.
Mounts Botanical Gardens Garden of Lights: 531 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach. Open on 13 nights from December 13 through December 29, 6-8:30pm (closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Cost: $5 for children ages 5-12, $12.50 for adults and children ages 13 and up. Thousands of jewel-toned lights will illuminate the garden along an easy to follow route through garden areas.
City Place Nightly Snowfall on the Square: open now through December 31. Monday through Wednesday at 6pm and 7pm; Thursday through Sunday at 6, 7, and 8pm. Magical snowfall in Rosemary Square at City Place in West Palm Beach.
Crafts and Baking
Hoffman’s Chocolates Factory Tour & Holiday Experience: Hoffman’s Chocolate Shoppe, Factory & Gardens, 5190 Lake Worth Road, Greenaces. Cost: $24.95 per person. Create a chocolate bar and decorate it with toppings, enjoy gourmet ice cream, and take a behind-the-scenes tour through the factory while chocolatiers are making holiday treats.
Gingerbread Decorating with What’s Cooking Kids! Downtown at the Gardens, December 6, 7, and 8. Join Miss Nancy and Grace for holiday gingerbread house decorating. Cost: $10 per child. Portion of proceeds benefits Toys for Tots.
Family Fun Events
Zoo Lights, Palm Beach Zoo. For the first time, Palm Beach Zoo will be illuminated for the holidays. Open now through December 29, 6-10pm. Cost: special ticketed event, requires a separate ticket. Adults $14.95, Children 12 and under $12.95, children 2 and under are free. Prices for zoo members: $9.95 for adults, $7.95 for children 12 and under. Zoo lights takes place in the east side of the zoo, including the Fountain Plaza, Florida Wetlands, Tropics of the Americas and the Tropics Café.
Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade: Saturday, December 7, 6-8pm. The parade, led by a traveling fireworks display, is a premier event of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, and navigates up the Intracoastal Waterway from North Palm Beach to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.
Running Events
Bill Bone 5k and 10k Glow Run: Friday, December 6, 6:30pm. An evening glow run on a tree-lighted course on Flagler Drive along the water.
FITTEAM Palm Beach Marathon and Half Marathon: Sunday, December 8, 6:30am, West Palm Beach.
Wellington Jingle Bell 5k: Sunday, December 15, 7:00am, Wellington
The Hot Chocolate Run: Sunday, January 12, 8am. The Salt Suite, 3100 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach.
