Boca Raton holidays 2026: Mizner Park's lit palms, Surf's Up Santa Dec. 8, Holiday POPS Dec. 5, Tuba Christmas Dec. 13 and Gumbo Limbo Aglow nights.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates come from the City of Boca Raton’s Merry in Mizner page, its Fall 2026 Recreator (PDF) and the organizers linked below.

Boca Raton’s holiday season starts with the lights. Mizner Park’s 75 palm trees, wrapped in 50,000 LED lights, switch on with the city tree at the Holiday Tree Lighting on Saturday, Nov. 21. From there, December brings Merry in Mizner pop-ups, a ticketed Holiday POPS concert, a free Tuba Christmas and evening visits to the glowing aquariums at Gumbo Limbo.

The tree lighting and the Holiday Street Parade (Wednesday, Dec. 2) have their own page: Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Plan ahead

  • City holiday events: Recreation Services, 561-393-7810; Community Events
  • Mizner Park Amphitheater: 590 Plaza Real; amphitheater page
  • Paid programs at Gumbo Limbo open for registration Nov. 1.

Light displays

  • Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real: the city says 50,000 LED lights on 75 palms, plus 2D light displays for photos, light up at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 with the city tree (Holiday Tree Lighting page).
  • Boca Center: Santa arrives and the center lights its tree at the Holiday Kickoff, Friday, Nov. 20, 5:30 to 8 p.m., with a holiday DJ, cookie decorating and Santa photos for a $10 donation to the Boca Raton Toy Drive (Boca Center events).
  • Gumbo Limbo Aglow!, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd.: on Saturdays Dec. 12, 19 and 26, and Jan. 2, 6 to 8 p.m., the nature center opens its glowing outdoor aquariums after dark, with holiday refreshments, crafts, yard games and photos with Luna, its sea turtle mascot. Dec. 12 is $8 for residents and $10 for nonresidents; the other nights are $10 and $13. Walk-ins pay more if space is left; under-2s are free. Registration opens Nov. 1.
  • Deck the House: the city’s citywide home decorating contest takes submissions from Monday, Nov. 23, until judging closes Monday, Dec. 14.

Santa visits

When Where What
Friday, Nov. 20, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Boca Center Santa’s arrival; photos for a $10 toy drive donation
Saturday, Nov. 21, 6 to 10 p.m. Boca Raton Museum of Art, Mizner Park Selfie photos with Santa during the tree lighting
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 to 8 p.m. Downtown Boca giant Adirondack chair, Mizner Park Merry in Mizner: Surf’s Up Santa
Friday, Dec. 11 DRIFT at the Boca Raton Marriott, 5150 Town Center Circle Wags in Wonderland: Santa Paws photos for kids and dogs

Surf’s Up Santa trades snow boots for flip-flops: a Florida Santa in a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts, free (Merry in Mizner). Wags in Wonderland adds a dog costume contest and adoptable dogs, with proceeds to Tri-County Animal Rescue; Boca Center had not posted a time when we checked.

Concerts and shows

  • Holiday POPS Concert, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheater. The third annual concert by The Symphonia Boca Raton under Jacomo Bairos, with the FAU Chamber Singers and Schola Cantorum of Florida. Tickets $25 to $60.
  • FAU Tuba Christmas, Sunday, Dec. 13, 5 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheater. Free. Tuba and euphonium players of all ages led by FAU’s Marc Decker; bring chairs, blankets and your singing voice.
  • “The Nutcracker”: Fort Lauderdale Ballet at The Wick Nov. 7-8, and the city’s own Boca Ballet company at the Olympic Heights Performing Arts Theater Nov. 27-29. Times and tickets on our Nutcracker page.

Holiday markets and crafts

  • Merry in Mizner Stuff-a-Plush, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 6 p.m., Mizner Park South Gazebo. Make a plush winter critter, free for the first 200.
  • City Night Market, Thursday, Dec. 10, 6 to 9 p.m., Sanborn Square, 72 N. Federal Highway (Night Market). More markets are on our holiday shopping page.
  • Ornaments Naturally, Dec. 5-6, 10 a.m. to noon, Gumbo Limbo: ornaments from shells, sea beans and pinecones, ages 7 and up ($20 residents, $24 nonresidents; registration from Nov. 1).
  • Winter Make & Take, Friday, Dec. 4, 3 to 4 p.m., Downtown Library: free crafts and the film “Abominable.”
  • Winter Family Movie Night: “Frozen,” Thursday, Dec. 10, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., outdoors by the lake at the Spanish River Library. Free; bring chairs and blankets.

Winter break for kids

Schools are out Dec. 21, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2027. The city’s Winter Wonderland at the Chickee Lab is Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the Children’s Science Explorium (ages 5-12, $10/$12.50), and the Jolly Jamboree fills Sugar Sand Park Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26 ($10 a person at the front desk). Both are in the Fall Recreator.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, and the eighth candle is lit Friday, Dec. 11 (Hebcal). No public menorah lighting in Boca Raton had posted 2026 details when we checked; we will add lightings as their organizers announce them.

Frequently asked questions

When do the Mizner Park lights go on? At the city tree lighting, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21.

Where can kids see Santa? Boca Center Nov. 20, the tree lighting Nov. 21 and Surf’s Up Santa in Mizner Park Dec. 8.

Is there a free Christmas concert? FAU Tuba Christmas, 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at Mizner Park Amphitheater.

When is Hanukkah 2026? Sundown Friday, Dec. 4, through Dec. 12.

Is there a decorating contest? Deck the House: submissions Nov. 23 to Dec. 14.

What this means for you

  • Mark Nov. 1 for Gumbo Limbo Aglow registration; the nights are small.
  • Merry in Mizner events are free; Stuff-a-Plush stops at 200 people, so arrive early.
  • Expect busy Mizner Park parking on Dec. 5, Dec. 8 and Dec. 13.

Related: Christmas parade and tree lighting, New Year’s Eve in Boca Raton, Black Friday and holiday shopping and things to do this month.