Seasonal · West Palm Beach / Palm Beach / Delray Beach / Boca Raton / Jupiter / Palm Beach Gardens / Fort Lauderdale
Holiday lights, boat parades & music under the palms
Follow the 2026 festive calendar from Boca’s first lights to concerts and boats dressed for the season.
Holiday dates have their own rhythm: a place to meet, a view worth waiting for, and something warm or sweet afterward. Choose a celebration close to home or make a night of a different town. The dates below come from published 2026 organizer listings.
Begin with a tree-lighting night
Boca starts its celebration November 21; Delray lights its giant tree December 1. Choose the town you want to spend the evening in, then decide whether dinner comes before the festivities or afterward.
Meet Sandi on the waterfront
West Palm Beach has announced December 3 for its Holiday in Paradise tree lighting. Keep this on your calendar for a waterfront date, and check the city’s final program before leaving. The full nightly-show schedule is still to come.
Let the parade come to you
The Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade heads from North Palm Beach toward Jupiter on December 5. Choose a legal public viewing spot, arrive with time to settle in, and watch the lights move along the water.
Choose a concert for a quieter celebration
The Four Arts December 9 chamber concert is at Royal Poinciana Chapel. Carols on the Lawn follows December 13 with a free outdoor afternoon performance. Pick reserved seats or a blanket on the lawn to suit your mood.
Try an outdoor film or a veranda concert
Bring a blanket for the December 4 screening of Elf in Palm Beach Gardens, or make a Fort Lauderdale evening of Bonnet House’s December 3 veranda concert. The movie is a free family-friendly outing; the concert requires separate advance registration.
Add one tradition that belongs to you
Choose a favorite festive song for the ride, exchange a note, or stop for a treat after the lights. Bring a weather layer and agree on a meeting point so the practical details do not steal the evening.
The dates to know
Published 2026 dates, checked October 13. Confirm programs and availability with the organizer.
Boca Holiday Tree Lighting
· 6–10 p.m. ET; tree lighting 7:30 p.m.
Live music, a holiday market, and a tree-lighting celebration start Boca's festive season.
Mizner Park Amphitheater
Good to know
Free celebration; purchases extra. Interior Plaza Real roads close at 5 p.m. Outside chairs are prohibited; rentals are offered.
Delray 100-foot Tree Lighting & Yuletide Festival
· 6–9 p.m. ET; tree lighting 7 p.m.
A festive walking date around Old School Square and Atlantic Avenue, anchored by the lighting of Delray's giant tree.
Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Avenue
Good to know
Plan parking around announced Atlantic Avenue closures. Check individual holiday-attraction prices; do not assume all activities are included.
Holiday in Paradise / Sandi Tree Lighting
· 6–10 p.m. ET
The city's published save-the-date lists a free waterfront celebration and the illumination of its holiday sand tree.
West Palm Beach Waterfront
Good to know
The official calendar lists this date; the full 2026 entertainment and nightly-light-show schedule still need confirmation.
Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade
· Starts 6 p.m. ET; approximate Jupiter arrival 8 p.m.
Decorated boats and a traveling fireworks display bring the holiday celebration to the waterfront.
Intracoastal Waterway, ending at Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
Good to know
Check public viewing locations and access before leaving; arrival times and bridge openings are approximate. The organizer welcomes new, unwrapped toy donations.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Baroque Concertos
· 7 p.m. ET
A chamber-music evening that gives an anniversary or a midweek date a sense of occasion.
Royal Poinciana Chapel, 60 Cocoanut Row
Good to know
$40 per person; no charge for Four Arts members. General-public reservations open October 22 at 10 a.m. Complimentary valet only. This concert is at the chapel.
Boca Night Market
· 6–9 p.m. ET
Turn browsing local makers and snacks into an easy December evening together.
Sanborn Square, 72 N. Federal Highway
Good to know
Check the current vendor lineup before going. Purchases are extra; the city page does not state an entry fee.
Carols on the Lawn
· 4 p.m. ET
Share an outdoor holiday afternoon with carols from the Palm Beach Atlantic University choir in the sculpture garden.
Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden, 100 Four Arts Plaza
Good to know
Free, with no reservations required. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. This is a family-friendly outdoor performance.
Boca Holiday Street Parade
· 7:30–9 p.m. ET
Find a viewing spot together for decorated floats, music, and a festive community evening themed around Boca by the Beach.
Downtown Boca Raton; final route to be announced
Good to know
The date and time are published, but the city says route changes are expected because of Federal Highway roadwork. Check the final route before choosing parking or a viewing spot.
Cabaret: Seth Rudetsky and Friends Broadway
· 7 p.m. ET
Share a cozy cabaret evening of Broadway music and backstage stories with Seth Rudetsky and a guest Broadway performer.
Johnson Hall, Dixon Education Building, 240 Cocoanut Row
Good to know
Listed at $40. General-public reservations open October 22 at 10 a.m. This event is in the Dixon Education Building; confirm ticket availability before arranging dinner.
Films on the Field: Elf
· 6:30 p.m. ET
Bring a blanket and your favorite person for Elf under the stars. Holiday pajamas are optional; sharing the laughs is the plan.
Gardens North County District Park, Field 10, 5101 117th Court N.
Good to know
Free, family-friendly outdoor screening. Bring chairs or a blanket. Food is available for purchase; check city updates if rain is possible.
Holiday Magic Concert on the Veranda: LAMUN
· Starts 6 p.m. ET
An evening concert, holiday decorations and a self-guided nighttime look through the historic house make a dressed-up December date.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, 900 N. Birch Road
Good to know
Pre-registration required; tickets are nonrefundable. The published admission includes catered food and two drink tickets. Confirm the evening's timing before adding another reservation.
Turn the idea into a plan.
Good to know
Is Sandi’s full 2026 nightly show schedule confirmed here?
No. This edition includes the city’s December 3 save-the-date only.
Are all holiday outings free?
No. Some listed celebrations have free entry, while concerts, food, parking and individual attractions can cost extra. Check each official listing.
Sources & editorial notes
Official venue, operator and local destination pages support the practical details. The combinations and personal touches are our editorial suggestions, not claimed firsthand reviews or bookable packages. These sources were reviewed for this edition October 11–13, 2026; current terms can change.
- Boca Holiday Tree Lighting ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Delray 100-foot Tree Lighting & Yuletide Festival ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Holiday in Paradise / Sandi Tree Lighting ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Baroque Concertos ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Boca Night Market ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Carols on the Lawn ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Boca Holiday Street Parade ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Cabaret: Seth Rudetsky and Friends Broadway ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Films on the Field: Elf ↗ (opens a new tab)
- Holiday Magic Concert on the Veranda: LAMUN ↗ (opens a new tab)
For full admission, accessibility, dietary, weather and cancellation requirements, check directly before booking. No paid placements or affiliate booking links are included.
