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Things to do Christmas Day in South Florida

South Florida usually offers perfect winter weather to venture out. If you're out and about December 25, festive light displays, restaurants, free live entertainment, and places to play and 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 2023

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 museum 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 200 vendors, including lots of independent vendors. Festival,  954-979-4555, is at  2900 W. Sample Road, Pompano Beach. Parking is free.

Lake Worth

Lake Worth Swap Shop flea market is open Mondays, Thursdays and weekends, including holidays. Parking is $1 weekdays and weekends it's $2- $4.  Lake Worth Swap Shop, 561-965-4518, 3438 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth 33461

Entertainment & Fun

Photo: Xtreme Action Park

Fort Lauderdale

For  a playful vibe, Xtreme Action Park, indoor arcade and recreation venue, is open 11 a.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.

West Palm

Live entertainment  5 p.m. – 9 p.m. December 25 at The Square, 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.; parking fees range from free to $12, with rates usually $5 to $7. Feature: Holiday snowfalls & lights at The Square in West Palm

Holiday Ferris wheel in West Palm Beach. Photo/Scott Wiseman

Ferris wheel, West Palm Beach

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

Photo/Las Olas Oceanside Park

Skating Rink, Fort Lauderdale

Las Olas Oceanside Park in Fort Lauderdale is featuring a synthetic ice rink that is open on holidays.  Purchase tickets online. Prices are $15 – $20 with an extra $2.50 fee.

Other fun

Many movie theaters are open on Christmas Day

Bowling lanes, phone or browse online to verify if they are open  

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

Attractions & Lights  in Broward

Photo/Gulfstream Park

Hallandale

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.

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 — Residents of Broward, Dade and Palm Beach receive $3 off the regular fees. Regular entry fees for non-members — without the discount —  include  $22 for ages 2-12, $27 for adults, and $25 for seniors. For military,  it's $24. Buy tickets online. Bring photo ID for $3 off residents discount. 

North Broward

Holiday Fantasy of Lights drive-thru display in Coconut Creek  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: Delray Beach

Attractions in Palm 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 at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 561-243-7250, website. Feature: Delray displays 100-ft tree with ice skating, Santa and more

West Palm Beach

Sandi is among South Florida's distinctive holiday attractions. It's a sand sculpture tree that stands about 35 feet tall.  Sandi and a dancing fountain are featured in light, projection and music shows on the quarter hour from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Entry is free for spectators. Festivities are at 127 Clematis St., West Palm Beach.  The attraction includes a Ferris wheel. Rides, usually offered 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., are $5 or $20 for unlimited rides per night, fees and taxes are extra. Feature: West Palm Beach’s ‘Holiday in Paradise’ dazzles

Other Display

Lights 4 Hope drive-through display is open for the season

Attractions in Miami-Dade

Santa’s Enchanted Forest is at 7400 NW 87th Avenue, Miami 33166, Feature: Santa's Enchanted Forest  for pricing and discounts

Pinecrest Gardens botanical gardens is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. December 25; entry is $5, free for 2 and younger, $3 for 65 and older. Parking is free, 305-669-6990, 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest

Frost Science Museum , at 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. December 25; 305-434-9600, website

Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St., is open 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. December 25; 305-255-5551; website

Nature & Parks

Entertainment from home

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Patti Roth

About Patti Roth

Patti Roth, the editor of Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap, scouts out state and national deals, discounts and coupons for our readers, finding the real deals and presenting them in an easy-to-read format. A veteran newspaper and magazine writer and a longtime South Florida resident, she has written for The Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Travel and Life, E Environmental Magazine, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, US Architecture and Earth911.com. Send your cheap tips to her at info@fortlauderdaleonthecheap.com.

Living on the CheapMiami on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

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