Posted by: South Florida usually offers perfect winter weather to venture out. If you're out and about December 25, festive light displays, restaurants, attractions, art installations, parks, and places to shop are open.
Please return to this feature as other information is added for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. If you're looking for a place to eat, these restaurants are open Christmas Day in South Florida.
If you want to recommend a venue that's open, please email news@southfloridaonthecheap.com. Happy holidays!
Things to do Christmas Day 2024
Photo: Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale
Shopping
Lauderhill
Swap Shop flea market offers indoor and outdoor vendor areas. The venue includes lots of independent vendors and a Ferrari display with free entry. Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop, 954-791-7927, is at 3291 W. Sunrise Boulevard, Lauderhill. Parking fees usually are free week days and on weekends it's $2-$4.
Pompano Beach
Festival Marketplace, an indoor bazaar marketplace is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 25 with about dozens of vendors, including lots of independent vendors. Festival, 954-979-4555, is at 2900 W. Sample Road, Pompano Beach. Parking is free.
Entertainment & Attractions
Some are free. Other require a fee.
Hallandale
Photo/Gulfstream Park
Free Symphony In Lights is an outdoor holiday display with lights dancing to favorite holiday music at Gulfstream Park Village in Hallandale Beach. Shows are usually 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. on the hour, 901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach 33009. Free entry and free parking. Gulfstream Park Village is a shopping, dining and entertainment plaza.
Hollywood
Downtown Hollywood Murals features about 45 murals on buildings and sidewalks in a walkable route, and it's free. Information about the artwork and artists is online.
Hollywood Beach
Holiday Reggae with Jah Steve & The Counteract Crew 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Hollywood beach bandshell, 320 Johnson St., Hollywood. Entry is free. Parking fees apply.
Photo/MODS
Fort Lauderdale
Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., 954-467-6637, 401 SW Second Street, Fort Lauderdale 33312. Discount opportunity is offered for residents of Broward, Dade and Palm Beach. Residents receive $3 off the regular fees. Regular entry fees for non-members — without the discount — include $23 for ages 1-12, $28 for adults, and $26 for seniors. For military, it's $25. Buy tickets online. Bring photo ID for $3 off residents discount.
North Broward
Holiday Fantasy of Lights drive-thru display in Coconut Creek, with entry fees. For a discount voucher, register for emails
Pembroke Pines
Christmas at Oasis Church offers a drive-thru holiday lights display 6:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. December 25 at 12201 SW 14th St., Pembroke Pines; 954-433-4838; it's a free attraction, with donations accepted
Photo: Xtreme Action Park
Fort Lauderdale
For a playful vibe, Xtreme Action Park, indoor arcade and recreation venue, is open 1 p.m. to 12 a.m., Xtreme Action Park, 954-491-6265, 5300 Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale 33309. The venue includes bowling, ropes, and plenty of other attractions and features.
West Palm Beach
Live entertainment 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. December 25 at CityPlace, 700 S. Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach. The Square features a holiday light show and snowfall 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.with parking fees fees are about $8.30 with taxes and fee after 5 p.m. Mondays – Thursdays, and after 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays, the parking fee is $11.59.
Ferris wheel, West Palm Beach
Holiday Ferris wheel in West Palm Beach. Photo/Scott Wiseman
Holiday in Paradise in West Palm Beach includes a ferris wheel 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. including December 25, with fees of $5 not including tax and fees. The attraction includes Sandi, a lighted sand sculpture tree that stands about 35 feet tall. Sandi and a dancing fountain are featured in light, projection and music shows. Entry to the attraction is free for spectators. Festivities are at 127 Clematis St., West Palm Beach
Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail offers $5 all-day rates holidays and weekends. The railroad runs in Miami-Dade, Broward and greater Palm Beach. Information about Tri-Rail, including routes and shuttles to and from stations, 954-783-6030 or 800-874-7245
Photo: Delray Beach
Delray Beach
Exciting holiday display in Delray Beach with a lighted & decorated 100-foot tree and free carousel rides 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. December 24 & 25, 561-243-7250, at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Feature: Delray displays 100-ft tree with ice skating, Santa and more
Pinecrest
Pinecrest Gardens botanical gardens is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. December 25; entry is $5, free for younger than 2, $3 for 65 and older. Parking is free, 305-669-6990, 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest
Miami
Frost Science Museum , at 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. December 25; 305-434-9600, website, entry fees apply
Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St., is open 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. December 25; 305-255-5551; website, entry fees apply
Other fun
Many movie theaters are open on Christmas Day
Bowling lanes, phone or browse online to verify if they are open, including
Bowlero in Boca Raton, 21046 Commercial Trail, Boca Raton 33486, 561-237-0322
Nature & Parks
- Florida State Parks entry fees for state parks usually $2-$10 per person or per vehicle
- StoryWalk featuring pages from a storybook displayed along a nature path @ Pondhawk Natural Area, west of Spanish River Library, 1501 Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton
- Palm Beach County Parks are open; lots with free entry and free parking
- Miami-Dade Parks are open, with a few exceptions
- Boca Raton parks are open, some amenities & activities are not open
- Delray Beach parks are open
- Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale is ideal for waterfront walks it's lit up for the holidays
- Hollywood Broadwalk runs oceanside, a popular venue for walking, skating and live entertainment
- Other local municipal parks and natural areas may be open, but please verify with your city department
Entertainment from home
- Winterfest Television Show, including 5 a.m. and 12 p.m. December 25 and January 1 on WSVN 7
- Download free digital movies, e-books and music, plus other online resources, from Broward County libraries, or other libraries you're affiliated with
- Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale offers videos on YouTube and other social media
- Live webcams at Broward County beaches
- Webcams at Palm Beach County beaches
- Webcams in Miami-Dade County
- Manatee webcam from Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach
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