If you’re in Orlando around the holidays, you’ll find the city overrun with holiday decorations and special events. Fill an empty evening or afternoon without shelling out the kind of cash you’ll spend on a Disney holiday event by hitting up one of these lesser-known options around the city.
1. ICE! at the Gaylord Palms
Image: Gaylord Palms
Every year the Alpine Village at the Gaylord Palms hosts a walk-through ice exhibit. This year, the theme of the event is The Nutcracker. In the chilly 9-degree space you’ll find two million pounds of ice sculptures carefully carved by hand. The exhibit spans six rooms and includes four ice slides, The Frostbite Factory live carving zone, and a clear crystal ice nativity for the finale.
Adult visitors can also check out the On the Blocks ICE Bar while they’re there. Admission to the bar is separate.
2. Light Up UCF
Image: UCF
Light Up UCF is a holiday event held at the CFE Arena. Attractions include an ice rink pavilion, arctic glide slide, Ferris wheel, and Light Up Express. The Winn Dixie community Stage hosts the UCF Marching Knights as well as local musicians and high school bands and choirs from around Central Florida. Classic holiday films are shown on an outdoor screen Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Beginning at 6pm every night, a holiday light show illuminates the area with thousands of lights strobing in synchronization to holiday tunes.
3. Legoland Florida Resort Christmas Bricktacular
Image: Merlin
On weekends throughout December, the Legoland Florida Resort hosts a special Christmas celebration that includes a 30-foot-tall Lego Christmas tree, Lego Santa, and Lego toy soldiers. Visitors can participate in the Lego model build activity and help construct a tree that will ultimately stand more than 20 feet tall by Christmas. A Lego Santa scavenger hunt offers even more fun as families search for Santa in Miniland USA.
4. Holidays on Ice at Rosen Center
Image: Rosen Hotel Group
The Rosen Center hosts a special holiday show on ice on select days during the holiday season. Catch the 45-minute show at 6:00 PM on Thursdays and Sundays, or choose from 6:00 or 7:30 shows on Fridays and Saturdays. Individuals and couples take the ice and perform to holiday music. A festive light show accompanies the performance. You can also enjoy free skate time on select days.
5. A Christmas Carol at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater
Image: Orlando Shakespeare Theater
Catch this classic Christmas show live at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater for a relaxing way to end a long day in the theme parks. The show runs from December 3 through the 28. Nine live actors bring the timeless Dickens story to life.
6. The Singing Christmas Trees
Image: First Baptist Orlando
The Singing Christmas Trees at First Baptist Orlando are an annual tradition. The holiday performance includes a full orchestra and choir as well as drama and dance performances that bring the story of Christmas to life. The most unique element of the performance is the two 40-foot-tall Christmas Trees and display of 250,000 lights. Dinner tickets include a dinner buffet and premium seating for the performance. The Singing Christmas Trees take place December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14.
Fill out your holiday festivities without adding another long day of theme park fun to your vacation with one of these local gems.
