Jacksonville · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Jacksonville
24 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Jacksonville, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 4 are free.
Updated Oct 24. Every listing links to its organizer’s page.
Don’t miss
- Light displays
Through Jan 1
Nights of Lights and Light-Up! Night in St. Augustine
Plaza de la Constitución and historic downtown St. Augustine
FreeAll ages
- Parades
Sat, Nov 28 · 5:00 PM
Jacksonville Holiday River Fest and Light Boat Parade
Riverfront Plaza
FreeAll ages
- Markets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Market and Free First Saturday at the Cummer Museum
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
FreeAll ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nutcracker and shows
Wed, Nov 18 · 10:30 AM
Frosty: A Musical Adventure at the Florida Theatre
Florida Theatre
Paid
- Tree lightings
Wed, Nov 25 · 5:30 PM
Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island Christmas Tree Lighting
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island (Courtyard)
- Crafts and cookies
Sat, Nov 28 · 9:30 AM
Build-A-Gingerbread House with a Ritz-Carlton Pastry Chef
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island (Cumberland Room)
Paid
- Parades
Sat, Nov 28 · 5:00 PM
Jacksonville Holiday River Fest and Light Boat Parade
Riverfront Plaza
FreeAll ages
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Crafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 3 · 4:00 PM
Creative Kids: Holiday Ornament Painting
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
From $15
- Nutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 3
Holiday Pops with the Jacksonville Symphony
Jacoby Symphony Hall
PaidAll ages
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 8:30 AM
Hope for Lillian Grace Reindeer Run 5K and Kids Mile
Race start, 140 Landing Street
From $15
- Markets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Market and Free First Saturday at the Cummer Museum
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
FreeAll ages
- Christmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 2:00 PM
Classic Christmas Treats Baking Class
JAX Cooking Studio
From $75
- Light displays
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Festival of Lights 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
San Marco Square
From $20
- Markets and festivals
Mon, Dec 7 · 9:30 AM
Winter Wonderland Kids Cooking Party
JAX Cooking Studio
From $68Ages 7+
- Markets and festivals
Fri, Dec 11 · 4:00 PM
Dickens on Centre Christmas Market and Festival
Historic downtown Fernandina Beach (Centre Street)
FreeAll ages
- Markets and festivals
Fri, Dec 11 · 6:00 PM
Holiday Night Market at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
From $10
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 8:00 AM
Claus Cause 5K and Elf Dash Fun Run
The Avenues Mall
Paid
- Christmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 8:00 AM
Conqueror 5K: Jingle Jog Edition and Kids Fun Run
Trinity Christian Academy
From $15
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 12:00 PM
Nutcracker in a Nutshell (The Florida Ballet)
Thrasher-Horne Center
From $23
- Santa visits
Fri, Dec 18 · 6:00 PM
Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Reindeer Glow Run
Saint Johns Golf and Country Club
From $20All ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 18
First Coast Nutcracker
Moran Theater, Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
PaidAll ages
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 19 · 5:30 PM
Run Santa Run 5K and One Mile Fun Run
Klutho Park
From $15
- Crafts and cookies
Sun, Dec 20 · 1:00 PM
Family Fun: Holiday Cookie Decorating at Sur La Table
Sur La Table St. Johns Town Center
From $69Ages 7+
- Christmas
Mon, Dec 21 · 2:00 PM
Disney Inspired Holiday Baking Class
JAX Cooking Studio
From $70
- Santa visits
Wed, Dec 23 · 9:00 AM
Cookies for Santa Baking Workshop
JAX Cooking Studio
From $70
- Nutcracker and shows
Wed, Dec 23 · 3:00 PM
Jen Kramer's Magical Holiday Show
The Florida Theatre
Paid
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
Nothing matches that filter in Jacksonville. Try another one.
Quick answers
What free Christmas events are there for kids in Jacksonville?
4 listed. Coming up:
- Nights of Lights and Light-Up! Night in St. Augustine · Sat, Nov 21 · Plaza de la Constitución and historic downtown St. Augustine
- Jacksonville Holiday River Fest and Light Boat Parade · Sat, Nov 28 · Riverfront Plaza
- Holiday Market and Free First Saturday at the Cummer Museum · Sat, Dec 5 · Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
- Dickens on Centre Christmas Market and Festival · Fri, Dec 11 · Historic downtown Fernandina Beach (Centre Street)
For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Jacksonville?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Jacksonville listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 24 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.