Festive Towns and Cities in Central and North Florida to Visit This Holiday Season

When people think of the holiday season, the images that come to mind tend to involve snow and chilly weather. These conditions aren’t likely on a holiday trip to North or Central Florida, but you can still have a festive, memorable, and family-friendly seasonal getaway.

Instead of pine trees and snow, you’ll find palm trees and tropical weather, but North and Central Florida are still excellent places to relax and enjoy a holiday season. Let’s look at some of the towns and cities in these regions to visit for a festive experience.

Jacksonville is one of Florida’s biggest cities, a thriving metropolis on the Atlantic Coast. Several holiday traditions in Jacksonville provide family-friendly, wholesome seasonal excitement. The Nutcracker Tea is a classic show from the Florida Ballet that is a must-see for families. Visiting the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Garden during their Dazzling Nights display is an incredible experience, in which a quarter-mile of the garden is lit by a million lights. Another fun Jacksonville tradition is the Jacksonville Light Boat Parade. 

Pensacola is a mid-sized city on the Florida Panhandle that is famed for its gorgeous beaches and aquatic life. Festive events offer family-centric fun, including the Pensacola Winterfest, a massive celebration throughout the holiday season that includes an elf parade, appearances from iconic Christmas characters, live shows, and even a Polar Express train. The First City Lights Festival is another Pensacola celebration in which the entire downtown is lit up in holiday lights and colors.

New Smyrna Beach is a beach town hotspot for surfing and sunbathing, with an unspoiled soft-sand coast. It is a laid-back community that provides a scenic backdrop for holiday festivities. There are many events that provide entertainment for people with a variety of interests, creating a month of constant seasonal fun and excitement. Spark the Spirit is when all the celebrations kick off, as the town lights a massive Christmas tree and businesses downtown have extended hours. There is a Coastal Christmas Market that sells handmade goods, a Holiday Beach Parade, and even a Christmas Boat Parade.

St. Augustine is a picturesque little city known as one of the oldest in the country. It has sandy beaches and Spanish Colonial architecture, making it a unique setting for holiday fun. The most well-known part of St. Augustine’s holiday celebration is the Nights of Lights display. This annual tradition started nearly 30 years ago. For this display, St. Augustine’s downtown is covered in lights from ground to rooftop, creating a one-of-a-kind holiday sight. There is also an exciting annual Christmas Parade, complete with floats and costumes.

Tallahassee is Florida’s capital, a historic city with gorgeous architecture and rolling hills that make it a scenic attraction. Tallahassee has several dynamic Christmas celebrations that make it one of the best places in Florida to spend your holidays. The Winter Festival downtown is a cozy family-friendly event with delicious treats, live music, craft merchants, a light display, and holiday movie screenings. The Nighttime Holiday Parade is a fun occasion in which brightly lit floats and costumed citizens march through the town. The Holiday Stroll through Cascades Park is the ideal event to enjoy some holiday melodies performed by many live ensembles.