Where to find holiday parades and events in Volusia, Flagler
Although Thanksgiving is just a little over a week away, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Volusia and Flagler counties.
Yes, the holiday spirit seems to arrive earlier every year, so it’s no surprise that there’s already a long list of events on the calendar to mark the most festive of all seasons, from Santa-centric celebrations to opportunities for spiritual contemplation.
Here’s a look at ways to celebrate the holidays in Volusia and Flagler counties.
Daytona Beach
Magic of Lights, drive-through “holiday wonderland” featuring colorful displays illuminated by more than one million lights: 6-10 p.m. daily Nov. 17-Dec. 31; Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Tickets start at $22. Enter at intersection of ISB and Bill France Boulevard. Visit daytonainternationalspeedway.com for details.
Annual Tree-lighting ceremony, 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 17; Tanger Outlets mall, 1100 Cornerstone Boulevard, Daytona Beach. Event features live snowfall, giveaways, kids craft stations, musical entertainment and Santa Claus. Free. Visit tanger.com for details.
“The Nutcracker,” performances by Volusia Civic Ballet: 2 p.m. Dec. 2, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Boulevard, Daytona Beach. Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday favorite presented by a cast of 70 performers representing dance studios across Central Florida. Tickets range from $25-$45 at Ticketmaster.com.
City of Daytona Beach Christmas Parade, “Jingle All the Waves” parade presented by Brown & Brown Insurance: 6 p.m. Dec. 9, along Beach Street in Daytona Beach. Parade route starts at Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard and travels south on Beach Street to Jackie Robinson Parkway. Free.
Children’s Christmas Party, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 8; Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 105 E. Orange Ave., Daytona Beach. Sponsored by the City of Daytona Beach and City Commissioner Paula Reed, the kid-friendly event for ages 3-12 features a book giveaway, free refreshments, games, line dancing, photos with Santa, a chance to run the bases hosted by the Daytona Tortugas and a screening of the movie “Elf.” Guests are encouraging to bring nonperishable food items for community donation. Visit codb.us for details.
Daytona Beach Christmas Boat Parade, presented by the Halifax River Yacht Club: 6 p.m. Dec. 16, along the Halifax River in Daytona Beach. Boats will assemble north of the Seabreeze Bridge at 5:45 p.m. for 6 p.m. start along the river. Visit hryc.com for details.
DeBary
Holiday Tree-lighting and Chili Cookoff: 2-6 p.m. Dec. 2 at Gateway Park, U.S. Highway 17-92 and Saxon Boulevard, DeBary. Event features pictures with Santa, live entertainment, holiday music and laser lights show. Free admission. Visit debary.org for details.
City of DeBary Christmas Parade: 3 p.m. Dec. 10: “Christmas Through the Decades.” Parade route runs along U.S. Highway 17-92 from Spring Vista Drive to Poinsettia Drive in DeBary. Visit debary.org for details.
Winter Walk of Lights: Dec. 3-17 at Gateway Park, U.S. Highway 17-92 and Saxon Boulevard, DeBary. Outdoor holiday display featuring thousands of lights, decorations and more. Hours: 6-8 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 6-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Free. Visit debary.org for details.
DeLand
“Christmas Spectacular!” Stetson Mansion holiday home tours: daily through Jan. 20, 2024: Stetson Mansion, 1031 Camphor Lane, DeLand. Multiple tours scheduled daily with reservations required of 10 rooms adorned with designer decorations and over 30 nativities from around the world to celebrate the birth of Christ. Tickets start at $28 for adults. Visit stetsonmansion.com for details.
DeLand Rotary Christmas Parade: 6 p.m. Dec. 2. Parade route travels along Woodland Boulevard in downtown DeLand. Visit mainstreetdeland.org for details.
DeLand Christmas Boat Parade, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Downtown DeLand: 6 p.m. Dec. 9. Parade travels along St. Johns River from Whitehair Bridge to Lake Beresford. Visit DDRotary.org for details.
Deltona
City of Deltona Holiday Parade: 6 p.m. Dec. 9. “Whoville Parade” route steps off at 1200 Deltona Blvd. in Deltona. Visit deltonafl.gov for details.
Edgewater
City of Edgewater Christmas Parade, “Christmas Traditions Through History” parade: 10 a.m. Dec. 11, along Indian River Boulevard, Edgewater. Parade route starts on Air Park Road, proceeds east on Indian River Boulevard to Hibiscus Drive finish line at Friendship Community Church. Visit cityofedgewater.org for details.
Holly Hill
64th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, presented by the City of Holly Hill: 6-7 p.m. Dec. 1; Holly Hill City Hall, 1065 Ridgewood Ave., Holly Hill. The event will feature an appearance by Victoria DiSorbo, Miss World America 2023, as well as Christmas carols, hot chocolate, ice cream and a visit from Santa Claus. Visit hollyhillfl.org for details.
64th Annual Christmas Parade, with Grand Marshall Victoria DiSorbo, Miss World America 2023: 10 a.m. Dec. 2. Parade route travels along Ridgewood Avenue from Walker Street to 10th Street in downtown Holly Hill.
Lake Helen
Lake Helen Christmas Parade and Holiday Bazaar: 4-9 p.m. Dec. 16 at Blake Park, 493 S. Lakeview Drive, Lake Helen. Parade starts at 4 p.m. near Fox Glass. Holiday Bazaar follows at Blake Park with food trucks, vendors and other activities. Visit lakehelen.org for details.
New Smyrna Beach
Spark the Spirit, holiday community event: 5-7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at Christmas Park, corner of Live Oak and Canal Street, New Smyrna Beach. Kick-off event for monthlong “Christmas on Canal Street” features tree-lighting ceremony, live entertainment and Santa’s grand entrance. Visit canalstreetnsb.com for details.
36th Annual Light Up Flagler, merchant holiday open-house: 5-8 p.m. Dec. 1; Flagler Avenue business district, New Smyrna Beach. Visit flaglerave.com for details.
New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade: 4:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in downtown New Smyrna Beach. Parade route travels from intersection of Flagler and South Atlantic avenues west along Flagler and the North Causeway, then heads south on Riverside Drive, turns west on Canal Street to finish at Orange Street. Visit canalstreetnsb.com for details.
Southeast Volusia Holiday Boat Parade: dusk Dec. 9. The procession of illuminated watercraft travels along the Intercoastal Waterway in New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater, with viewing available at Riverside Park. Visit canalstreetncb.com for details.
Orange City
Light Up Orange City: 5-8:30 p.m. Dec. 1; City Hall, 205 E. Graves Ave, Orange City. At 5:30 p.m., the switch will be flipped to illuminate the city’s holiday tree and light display. Event includes food trucks, kid zone, train ride, Santa photos and a holiday movie, as well as free hot cocoa and cookies. Visit orangecityfl.gov for details.
Orange City Christmas Parade: 5 p.m. Dec. 9, along Volusia Avenue (U.S. Highway 17-92 in downtown Orange City. Visit orangecityfl.gov for details.
Ormond Beach
Tree-lighting ceremony, as part of 45th Annual Casements Guild Christmas Gala: 6 p.m. Dec. 1; Rockefeller Gardens, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach. Event includes train rides, ice cream, live music and the arrival of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the Snow Queen. Free admission. Visit thecasements.net for details.
City of Ormond Beach Home for the Holidays parade, with “A Groovy Christmas” theme: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in downtown Ormond Beach. Parade route travels from Division and Ridgewood avenues north to Granada Boulevard, then east Granada to Beach Street, then south to City Hall. Visit ormondbeach.org for details.
Ponce Inlet
Ponce Inlet Christmas Parade: Hosted by the Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial Association, activities begin with “Breakfast with Santa” at 9 a.m. Dec. 2 at Ponce Inlet Community Center, 4670 S. Peninsula Drive. Parade starts at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 on route that travels north along South Peninsula Drive from Davies Lighthouse Park to Harbour Village Boulevard. Visit c4pi.org for details.
Port Orange
45th Annual Port Orange Holiday Parade, “A Very Florida Christmas” parade starts at 2 p.m. Dec. 3, along Dunlawton Avenue, Port Orange. Parade route starts at Jackson Street and travels east on Dunlawton Avenue to Spruce Creek Road. Visit port-orange.org for details.
South Daytona
North Pole Drive-Thru, community holiday event: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 1; Reed Canal Park, 919 Reed Canal Road, South Daytona. Visit southdaytona.org for details.
Flagler County
Holiday Market, third annual event featuring more than 100 vendors, appearance by Santa: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 25; Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell. Free admission. Go to visitflagler.com for details.
City of Palm Coast Holiday Market, with shopping, food trucks, kids activities, holiday lights: 5-9 p.m. Dec. 2; Palm Coast Central Park, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast. Visit Eventbrite.com for details.
Holiday At the Beach Parade: 1-2 p.m. Dec. 2. Parade route travels along State Road A1A in Flagler Beach. Visit cityofflaglerbeach.com for details.
Holiday Family Movie Night, showing “The Muppet Christmas Carol”: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 12; Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW, Palm Coast. Free admission and snacks. Call 386-446-6763 for details.
Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade, presented by Palm Coast Yacht Club: 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 9. The procession of lighted boats begins at Cochise Waterway, Palm Coast’s northern cut to the Intracoastal Waterway, and heads south. It passes the Cimarron and Club House Waterways sails under the Hammock Dunes toll bridge past St. Joe Walkway and Waterfront Park. Visit palmcoastyachtclub.com for details.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Christmas parades and events abound in Volusia and Flagler counties
