November brings lots of fun things to do in Orlando and Kissimmee, especially as we transition from Halloween and gear up for the holiday season. And many events are very close to our vacation rental home, Seas Life Cottage at Margaritaville Resort Orlando. So let’s take a look at some of the upcoming events this month.
What’s Happening in November
Holinights Celebration
November 21 through December 25, 2024 on selected nights from 6pm to 9:30pm
Promenade at Sunset Walk, 3251 Margaritaville Boulevard, Kissimmee, FL 34747
The Holinights celebration features Santa Claus, the Mischievous Elves, towering toy soldiers, live music and the nightly lighting of the 45-foot animated Holinights Christmas tree at 6:30pm. Also there are Holinights craft and street markets, car shows, and the Pearl Express miniature steam engine train tours daily. All of this is open to the public with free admission and free parking. Promenade at Sunset Walk is located at Margaritaville Resort Orlando. If you are staying at our vacation rental home, Seas Life Cottage, you don’t even have to leave the resort to get to Sunset Walk.
Learn more: Holinights Celebration
Festival of Trees
November 16 – 24, 2024 from 10am to 5pm
Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803
The Orlando Museum of Art is decorated with more than 30 designer-decorated trees for the Festival of Trees. There are also gingerbread houses and wreaths, live entertainment, and a Toyland pop-up boutique.
Learn more: Festival of Trees
Holidays at Universal Orlando
November 22, 2024 through December 31, 2024
Universal Orlando, 6000 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819
Holidays at Universal Orlando is a multipart celebration. There’s the Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s. See larger than life balloons floating through the streets of Universal Studios Florida. Then Seuss Landing is decorated for the holidays Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular. Enjoy music and fun and meet the Grinch for photos. Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a celebration as Hogwarts castle lights up and festive decor in Universal Islands of Adventure.
Learn more: Holidays at Universal Orlando
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Open through November 23, 2024
Epcot, 200 Epcot Center Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32821
The festival is a fun culinary experience where you can eat and drink foods from around the world, all while visiting Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Attendance to the festival is included with a valid EPCOT ticket.
Learn more: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Jingle Eve 2024
November 23, 2024 from 4:30pm to 9:00pm
Ivanhoe Village, 1001 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32804
Jingle Eve is the annual kickoff of the Orlando holiday season. Spanning stretches of Orange Avenue and Virginia Drive, as well as Gaston Edwards Park, families and adults alike find no shortage of yuletide festivities. From beer gardens to music, local artisans, food trucks, a children’s holiday village and special event promotions by Ivanhoe Village retailers, restaurants and bars. The evening culminates with fireworks above Lake Ivanhoe. Jingle Eve is free and open to the public.
Learn more: Jingle Eve
Celebration Town Center Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 30, 2024 from 5pm to 9pm
Celebration Town Center, 610 Sycamore St, Kissimmee, FL 34747
The Celebration Town Center Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off the 26th Annual Now Snowing event. It features Santa Claus, live music, strolling carolers and the first snowfall of the season. Following the tree lighting at 5:50pm, snow will fall nightly through December 31st.
Learn more: Tree Lighting
Stetson Mansion "Christmas Spectacular!"
November 1, 2024 through January 18, 2025
Stetson Mansion, 1031 Camphor Lane, Deland, FL 32720
The 13th Annual Stetson Mansion “Christmas Spectacular!” Holiday home tours are a Florida holiday tradition. Guided and self-guided tours of the mansion decorated for the holidays are available for a fee. It’s voted as one of USA Today’s 10 Best Holiday Home Tours in America. Built in 1886 by famed hat maker and philanthropist John B. Stetson, the Stetson Mansion if Florida’s first luxury home. His winter retreat was the only richly detailed “Guilded Age” estate built in Florida. It has been restored and updated in a timeless fashion.
Learn more: Christmas Spectacular Holiday Home Tours
