Kissimmee's Festival of Lights runs Nov. 28 to Jan. 6, with free snow at Lakefront Park on nine December nights. Gaylord Palms opens Friday, Nov. 13.

Last checked Nov. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Christmas at Gaylord Palms, the Promenade at Sunset Walk, Give Kids the World, the City of Kissimmee’s Festival of Lights and Menorah Lighting Ceremony pages, the Osceola Library System’s event calendar and Experience Kissimmee, Osceola County’s tourism agency.

Kissimmee’s holiday season has one big ticketed show, at Gaylord Palms, a free nightly show with snow and Santa at Sunset Walk, and a free walk downtown, where the city strings lights along Broadway and Kissimmee Lakefront Park for the Festival of Lights. The city’s tree lighting and the Festival of Lights Parade have their own page: Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Updated Nov. 5: the city has posted its 2026 Festival of Lights, Nov. 28 to Jan. 6, with the tree lighting Saturday, Nov. 28, and the parade Saturday, Dec. 12. Snow at Kissimmee Lakefront Park is new this year; dates to come.

Updated Nov. 12: the city has posted the snow nights at Kissimmee Lakefront Park, nine in December, with snow at 4:15, 5:15 and 6:15 p.m.

At a glance

  • Christmas at Gaylord Palms: Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, 6000 W. Osceola Parkway. Ticketed.
  • Holiday Nights at Sunset Walk: 6 to 10 p.m. on select nights, Nov. 19 to Dec. 25, 3251 Margaritaville Blvd. Free.
  • Downtown Festival of Lights: nightly, Nov. 28 to Jan. 6, free; tree lighting Saturday, Nov. 28; parade 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
  • Snow at Kissimmee Lakefront Park: 4:15, 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 and 27 to 29. Free.
  • Gingerbread Run: Under the Lights: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Give Kids the World Village, 210 S. Bass Road
  • Breakfast with Santa in Pajamas: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, Chambers Park Community Center. Free.
  • City Events Division: 407-518-2503

Christmas at Gaylord Palms

Christmas at Gaylord Palms runs Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, at the resort on Osceola Parkway. Day visitors are welcome. The resort lists:

  • ICE! featuring The Polar Express: scenes from the film carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice
  • POMP, SNOW and CIRQUEumstance: a music, magic and cirque holiday show
  • Snow Flow Mountain: ice tubing
  • Photos with Santa, a gingerbread decorating corner, a snowball game and Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions story time
  • More than 3 million lights through the resort, plus holiday shopping

Each activity is ticketed separately on the resort’s site. Tickets, parking costs and what to wear are on our Christmas at Gaylord Palms page.

Holiday Nights at Sunset Walk

The Promenade at Sunset Walk, the outdoor dining and shopping center at 3251 Margaritaville Blvd. off U.S. 192, runs Holiday Nights from 6 to 10 p.m. on these 2026 nights:

  • November: 19-22 and 27-29
  • December: 3-6, 10-13 and 17-25

A 40-foot animated tree lights at 6:30 p.m. each night, followed by nightly snowfall. Santa and his elves, toy soldiers, s’mores fire pits, live music, holiday craft and street markets and car shows are on the lineup. Admission and parking are free; Pearl Express train rides are $8 and trampoline rides $15, sold through Sunset Walk’s Eventbrite page. Dance Station Studios performs holiday shows 6 to 7:15 p.m. Dec. 14, 16 and 21.

Two more Sunset Walk dates with Santa:

  • Santa’s Toy Drive and Car and Truck Show, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, with Santa from noon to 2 p.m. It collects toys for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office toy drive; Sunset Walk suggests two new, unwrapped toys per person. Free admission and parking. Sunset Walk’s listing.
  • Margaritaville Resort Orlando Holiday Celebration, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, in the resort’s Grand Lobby, with live music, Santa and his elves, family activities and a toy drive for Give Kids the World. Free admission and parking; register through Eventbrite. Sunset Walk’s listing.

Breakfast with Santa in Pajamas

The City of Kissimmee’s 22nd annual Breakfast with Santa in Pajamas is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Chambers Park Community Center, 2380 N. Smith St. The city lists:

  • A free hot breakfast in group seatings, first come, first served, from 10:15 a.m.
  • Photos with Santa by a professional photographer, with a link to download them
  • Raffle prizes: pick up a ticket at the welcome tent; winners must be present
  • Holiday pajamas encouraged but not required

It is free and open to all ages, with no registration. Prizes and gifts last while supplies do. Parks and Recreation: 407-518-2599.

Downtown Festival of Lights

The city’s Festival of Lights is a free, self-guided walk: lights shine nightly from dusk until late evening along Broadway, the side streets and Kissimmee Lakefront Park, 201 Lakeview Drive. In 2026 it runs from the tree lighting on Saturday, Nov. 28, through Three Kings Day, Wednesday, Jan. 6, the city says.

New this year: snow at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Snow falls on the Lighthouse Lawn for 20 minutes at 4:15, 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. on nine nights, the city says:

  • Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5
  • Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12
  • Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19
  • Sunday, Dec. 27, through Tuesday, Dec. 29

It is free. The city has not posted a parking plan for the snow nights; our getting around page lists the free downtown garages, and road construction and closures has current closures.

The city lists three dated events for 2026 so far:

Date Event Where
Sat. Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony; tree lit at 7 p.m., Santa arrives about 8 p.m. City Hall, 101 Church St.
Fri. Dec. 4, from 5:30 p.m. KUA Movie in the Park; movie at 7 p.m. Kissimmee Lakefront Park
Sat. Dec. 12 Holiday Festival 4 to 7 p.m.; parade at 7:30 p.m. City Hall and downtown

The movie page’s listing says Friday, Dec. 4, but its text says Dec. 5; check it before you go. The city’s Jingle Bar Hop page still shows its 2025 date. In 2025 Kissimmee Main Street’s Holiday Market ran every weekend of the season; no 2026 schedule was posted when we checked. Full details of the tree lighting and parade: Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Gingerbread Run: Under the Lights

Give Kids the World, the nonprofit resort for children with critical illnesses at 210 S. Bass Road, holds its Gingerbread Run at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Runners, walkers and wheelchair users do a 5K through the Village under its holiday lights. It is a fundraiser; registration is on the event page, and there is a virtual option. Give Kids the World: 407-396-1114.

Menorah lighting

The City of Kissimmee lights a menorah at City Hall, 101 Church St., with refreshments. In 2025 the ceremony was 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16. We will add the 2026 date when the city posts it.

Snow in Celebration

Experience Kissimmee, the county’s tourism agency, says Celebration Town Center has nightly snowfall during the holidays. Celebration is about eight miles from Kissimmee.

Library holiday programs

Free, from the Osceola Library System:

  • Holiday Portraits, 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, Hart Memorial Central Library, 211 E. Dakin Ave.
  • Elf-tastic Holiday Adventure, 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, then a holiday movie, Elf, at 2 p.m., Buenaventura Lakes Library. Buenaventura Lakes is about five miles away.
  • All branches close Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25.

Christmas week trash

City of Kissimmee pickup is as usual on Christmas Eve. There is no service on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25; the make-up day is Saturday, Dec. 26 (city schedule). Osceola County offices close Dec. 24 and 25.

Related: Christmas parade and tree lighting, New Year’s Eve in Kissimmee and Black Friday and holiday shopping.

Frequently asked questions

When is Christmas at Gaylord Palms 2026?

Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, at Gaylord Palms Resort, 6000 W. Osceola Parkway. ICE! featuring The Polar Express and the other holiday attractions are ticketed.

When is the Festival of Lights in downtown Kissimmee?

Nov. 28, 2026, to Jan. 6, 2027. The city lights Broadway, the side streets and Kissimmee Lakefront Park nightly from dusk, free. The tree lighting is Saturday, Nov. 28, and the Festival of Lights Parade is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.

Is there a menorah lighting in Kissimmee?

Yes. The City of Kissimmee has held a menorah lighting at City Hall, 101 Church St., since 2024. In 2025 it was 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16. The 2026 date had not been posted when we checked.

Is there free fake snow in Kissimmee at Christmas?

Yes, in two places. The city’s new snow nights at Kissimmee Lakefront Park, 201 Lakeview Drive, have 20 minutes of snow at 4:15, 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. on the Lighthouse Lawn on Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5; Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12; Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19; and Sunday, Dec. 27, through Tuesday, Dec. 29. Holiday Nights at the Promenade at Sunset Walk, 3251 Margaritaville Blvd., has nightly snowfall, Santa and a 40-foot animated tree lit at 6:30 p.m., 6 to 10 p.m. on select nights from Nov. 19 to Dec. 25, 2026. Admission and parking are free.

Where can I see Santa in Kissimmee?

The city’s free Breakfast with Santa in Pajamas is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Chambers Park Community Center, with free photos with Santa. Santa also visits Holiday Nights at Sunset Walk on select nights from Nov. 19 to Dec. 25, and Gaylord Palms sells tickets for Photos with Santa.