When it’s time to celebrate Christmas in Boca Raton and South Florida, the warm weather doesn’t stop the festivities. There are plenty of Christmas events and celebrations to get you into the holiday spirit. Here are some of the best Christmas events you can attend this holiday season.

Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade

Winterfest Boat Parade comprises 100 boats decorated with lights and holiday decor. This year’s holiday parade theme is “Neon Nightlife Under the Sea.” The floats will play music along the way, from classic holiday tunes to rock music. The parade will feature giant showboats, private boats, and superyachts, with thousands of lights. Also, along the way, there will be musical groups, celebrities, entertainment, beauty queens, and more.

The parade route is 12 miles long, beginning at the docks west of Stranahan House, and traveling East along New River. The parade starts in Fort Lauderdale and ends in Pompano Beach. The boat parade is on Dec. 10, with gates opening at 4 p.m. and the parade taking place from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. You can view the parade for free from your own spot or for $25 from a special parade viewing area.

Magical Snowfall

Magical Snowfall is a special event at Dolphin Mall, where indoor snowflakes fall, creating a wondrous atmosphere. The event takes place nightly at 7 p.m. from Nov. 23 to Jan. 8, except on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, when the snowfall will occur at 9 p.m. Kids will receive a free light-up snowflake wand, and there will be holiday music to dance to in the snow. There’ll be no snow on Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 24, 25, 31, and Jan. 1. The Magical Snowfall occurs at Ramblas Plaza, Entry 3, within Dolphin Mall, located at 11401 NW 12th St. in Miami.

Santa’s Enchanted Forest

Another great Christmas event is Santa’s Enchanted Forest, America’s largest Christmas theme park. The enchanted forest features over a million twinkling lights, fun attractions, and over 100 Christmas-themed games, shows, and rides. When you work up an appetite from playing in the forest, you can grab a giant turkey leg to munch on, eat a slice of pizza, or satisfy your sweet tooth with an array of delicacies, including homemade candies and caramel apples.

Santa’s enchanted forest runs from Nov. 9 to Jan. 8. Hours are from 5 p.m. to midnight, but on busy nights and weekends, it may stay open until 1:30 a.m. Santa’s enchanted forest is located at 7400 NW 87th Ave. in Miami.

Deering Estate Holidays

Deering Estate has a plentiful variety of holiday programming, starting with Historic Holiday Decor. This daytime event is where you can view the grand 17-foot tree in the Great Hall of the stone house and multiple smaller trees, making up a dozen decorated trees. The stone house of the Deering Estate dates from 1922, and the decorations will harken back to the jazz age to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the building. This exhibit runs from Nov. 25 to Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Next is the Historic Holiday Evening Stroll, two family-friendly holiday evenings on Friday, Dec. 2, and Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Guests are invited to tour the stone house and stroll the grounds. There’ll be a campfire and screenings of holiday films. Kids will have a chance to drop off letters to Santa, and Mrs. Claus will tell bedtime stories for children.

Guests are invited to attend Mistletoe & Martinis, a special event with a 1920’s theme, in period dress to celebrate the Yuletide season with designer-led holiday décor, live entertainment, and a lavish spread of food and drinks from some of the best drink sponsors, sophisticated catering teams, and some of Miami’s finest restaurants. The grounds are strung with lights for you to enjoy an evening stroll. Mistletoe and Martinis takes place on Dec. 9, from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are $175-$1,800.

They’ll also have story time, photos with Santa, and a holiday evening by the bay. Check Miami Holidays for more details. The Deering Estate is located at 16701 SW 72nd Ave. in Palmetto Bay.

The Nutcracker Ballet

George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” is a Christmas classic brought to life by 100 dancers and children from the Miami city ballet adorned in the finest costumes. This time-honored story follows little Marie’s dream as she and her Nutcracker Prince battle a host of holiday characters to reach their destination. The Nutcracker runs from Dec. 16 to Dec. 30. Performances will be held at the Arsht Center at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and the Kravis Center at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach.

Holiday Fantasy of Lights

A stunning family-friendly drive-through light show, Holiday Fantasy of Lights is choreographed to Christmas music you listen to through your car’s stereo system. This light show is also perfect for those with mobility issues as you stay in your vehicle. The show has 3 miles of Christmas lights animated to bring you holiday cheer. The show runs from Nov. 23 to Jan. 1. Ticket prices are $24 per car, $2 extra per pair of 3D special-effect glasses, and $45 for a 12+ person vehicle or bus.

The Polar Express Train Ride

Take a magical journey on The Polar Express Train Ride. This event is a favorite for children. All aboard a festively-decorated train for a ride to the North pole through the wilderness as the story unfolds. The journey leads to a meeting with Santa Claus. Guests on the polar express are invited to wear their pajamas as the magical story is told. There’ll be hot cocoa, treats, and a Christmas carol sing-along.

You can board the train at Miami central Brightline station or Brightline Fort Lauderdale station. Adult tickets are $75 plus fees, children’s (ages 2-11) tickets are $65 plus fees, and infants under 2 ride for free with an adult guardian.

With so much Christmas cheer to take in, the holidays are a special time for you, your friends, and your family to enjoy. Our Titan Funding team invites you to enjoy the holiday season by attending one or more of the best Christmas events in Boca Raton and South Florida.