Miami Beach lights its tree at Winter Wonderland in North Shore Park; in 2025 that was Dec. 12, with drone shows on Ocean Drive Dec. 13. 2026 dates to come.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year. The City of Miami Beach has not announced its 2026 holiday events; the details below are from its 2025 holiday lineup and menorah lighting announcement. Questions: Parks and Recreation, 305-673-7730.
The City of Miami Beach’s 2025 holiday lineup did not include a Christmas parade. Instead, the season opened with a tree lighting at Winter Wonderland in North Shore Park, followed the next night by a Holiday Extravaganza of concerts and drone shows on Ocean Drive. All of the city’s own holiday events in 2025 were free. We will update this page when the 2026 dates are announced; the city published its 2025 lineup on Dec. 11, 2025.
Winter Wonderland and the tree lighting
In 2025 the Parks and Recreation Department held its annual Winter Wonderland from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at North Shore Park, 501 72 St. It featured:
- The tree lighting ceremony
- Youth dance performances
- A visit from a special guest
- Food trucks and music
Entry was free for all ages. Wristbands for unlimited rides were sold for $5.
Holiday Extravaganza on Ocean Drive
On Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, the city held its Holiday Extravaganza in Lummus Park on Ocean Drive between 13 and 14 streets:
| Time | What happened |
|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | Ceremonial remarks |
| 6:15 p.m. | Miami Beach Classical Music Festival concert with projection mapping |
| 7 p.m. | Aerial drone show, about 15 minutes |
| 7:15 p.m. | Second concert with projection mapping |
| 8 p.m. | Second drone show |
The two concerts and the two drone shows were identical, so families could come to either. Guests brought their own seating.
More holiday events in 2025
- Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights, presented by the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival at The Betsy Hotel, 1440 Ocean Drive, on Dec. 14, 20 and 21 at 6 and 7:30 p.m.: orchestral music, Santa, the Grinch and Elsa, and projection mapping across the 1400 block of Ocean Drive.
- Elf Jr. The Musical at the Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Dec. 14 and 15, presented with K.O. Performing Arts. Tickets were sold.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas, a free SoundScape Cinema screening at SoundScape Park, 400 17th St., Dec. 17.
- The French Market at South Pointe Park, 1 Washington Ave., Dec. 21, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Menorah lighting
The city lit its Hanukkah menorah outside City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
What this means for you
- Plan for the second weekend of December; that is when the city held its 2025 tree lighting and drone shows.
- Bring chairs and blankets to Lummus Park; the city did not provide seating.
- Watch the city’s events calendar from November for the 2026 dates.
More: things to do in Miami Beach this month and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Miami Beach tree lighting?
The city lights its tree at Winter Wonderland in North Shore Park, 501 72 St. In 2025 that was 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. The 2026 date has not been announced.
Does Miami Beach have a Christmas parade?
The city’s 2025 holiday lineup did not include a parade. Its main events were Winter Wonderland in North Shore Park and the Holiday Extravaganza with concerts and drone shows in Lummus Park.
When are the Miami Beach holiday drone shows?
At the 2025 Holiday Extravaganza on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Lummus Park on Ocean Drive between 13 and 14 streets, free drone shows ran at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., each after a concert with projection mapping.
Where is the Miami Beach menorah lighting?
Outside City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive. In 2025 it was at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18.
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