What to do with your kids over the Christmas holidays in Miami

Bring on the dancing rats! Everyone’s favorite holiday show is back at the Adrienne Arsht Center this winter with twice-daily shows from December 13 through December 24. Over 100 performers from the Miami City Ballet will bring to life George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed by a live orchestra. Whether you’ve seen it once or a million times over, this fantastical performance is always a treat. 

Santa's Enchanted Forest may have up and left Tropical Park, but the spirit of Christmas (and carvnival) lives on at this Palmetto-side park, albeit with a more Miami twist. There are rides, rollercoasters and the largest traveling Ferris wheel in North America. Then there are a number of other attractions like 3D-mapped igloo shows, a whole North Pole village and HoliDade, a celebration of the 305 with Instagram-worthy displays. Oh, and the lights. THE LIGHTS! There's a half-mile of holiday displays, light shows, and immersive experiences, including a light show on the hour, every hour where all six worlds of Christmas Wonderland illuminate in a synchronized manner.

When it comes to holiday lights, the zoo goes wild. One million bright, animal-shaped lights illuminate the premises during Zoo Lights Miami, which takes place every weekend between November 29th and December 30th. Families can stroll around while sipping hot chocolate and listening to carollers and if you're lucky, you might just get a glimpse of Santa, or The Grinch. Check the Zoo Miami website to see what the theme is for the weekend (Galactic night should be interesting) and don't miss Merry Meadow from December 20 to 23. There will be rides, a human snow globe photo spot and a gaming trailer where you can try out new games to add to your holiday shopping list.

A much-anticipated precursor to the holiday season in Miami, Night at the Garden returns in November for its sixth season at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, promising even more psychedelic scenery and interactive artwork than ever before. Running through January 2025, Night at the Garden invites guests to frolic around a neon-lit wonderland of tropical trails lined with holographic sculptures, secret sunken ponds and hidden fairy worlds. Follow winding paths to the disco dance party, snap a pic in front of LED dandelions or visit Archie, the talking tree for a bit of age-old wisdom. This magical event welcomes the whole family and features ADA-compliant trails for wheelchairs. Tickets start at $32 for kids ages four to 10, with discounted group packages available online.

The fifth annual winter festival at The Berry Farm is a family-friendly holiday event with acres of holiday-themed activities from morning to night. There are meet-and-greets with Santa, hay rides and tons of Instagram-worthy photo backdrops and at night, the farm lights up with thousands of tiny bulbs during their Berry Bright Winter Nights. (Great news: your day and evening tickets are the same). Depending on when you go, you can catch classic holiday flicks on the lawn or live music and as a special gift from Mother Nature, strawberry-picking season kicks off in December! 

Jungle Island's enchanting nighttime wonderland returns for a third year with over 40 all-new lantern installations inspired by fairytale worlds and kawaii culture, plus a first-ever Holiday Village and marketplace (Nov 14–Jan 5) featuring more than 100 Christmas trees, food stands with holiday treats like elephant ears and mulled wine, a bazaar with seasonal crafts and gifts and a 30-foot decorated centerpiece tree. 

Bah Humbug! Ebenezer Scrooge just won’t budge on his disdain for Christmas. Perhaps a few singing ghosts will do the trick? Charles Dickens’ holiday classic gets a musical twist at the Actors’ Playhouse this year in a family-friendly adaptation everyone can enjoy. A Christmas Carol, The Musical shows on Saturday afternoons from November 18 through December 22, with a sensory-inclusive performance on December 15.  

Pack your picnic baskets—New World Symphony WALLCAST Concerts are back! These free concerts in Miami Beach take place at SoundScape Park, where indoor symphony performances are live-streamed outside on a 7,000-square-foot projection wall. Save the date for Sounds of the Season on Saturday, December 21 and watch your favorite holiday pieces performed by New World Symphony Fellows, all decked out in their festive best. 

If you're looking for a light show, there's nowhere better than the Frost Planetarium’s 67-foot dome. Every month, they host a night filled with lasers, music and fun – with a different theme every hour. Refreshments and snacks are available for purchase in the Main Atrium until 10pm.

This bustling vintage market enters its 32nd season on South Beach's famed Lincoln Road. Approximately every other Sunday (check their calendar for exact dates), 125 vendors convene along the promenade to showcase their wares and barter with discerning shoppers. Find everything from mid-century furniture to Art Deco decor and more. The long-running weekend social presents a solid mix of 19th and 20th-century memorabilia and unique collectibles. While you're there, stock up on locally grown produce, fresh flowers and artisanal goods from the Lincoln Road Farmer's market, which occurs every Sunday from 9am to 6pm.