Lakeland's 2026 holiday season: Snowfest at Lake Mirror Dec. 5, Light Up BSP Dec. 18-31, downtown lights, the Jingle Bell Jog and drive-by light displays.

Last checked Nov. 7, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the City of Lakeland, the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority’s calendar, Bonnet Springs Park, Visit Central Florida, Polk County’s tourism office, and race pages on RunSignup.

Lakeland’s holiday season starts when the downtown lights come on after Thanksgiving dinner and runs to New Year’s Eve. The big free nights are the city’s Snowfest at Lake Mirror on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Light Up BSP at Bonnet Springs Park from Dec. 18 to 31. The Christmas parade, on Thursday, Dec. 3, has its own page: see the Christmas parade and tree lighting guide.

Updated Nov. 7: Bonnet Springs Park posted Light Up BSP details: free entry until 8 p.m., closed Dec. 25, $10 parking inside the gates and a ticketed preview night Dec. 17.

Who to call

  • City of Lakeland Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts (Snowfest): City Hall 863-834-6000
  • Bonnet Springs Park: bonnetspringspark.com
  • Lakeland Police non-emergency: 863-834-6900

Light displays

Display Where When
Downtown lights Munn Park, Lake Mirror and the downtown streets From Thanksgiving night through the season
Light Up BSP Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd. Dec. 18 to 31 (closed Dec. 25), entry until 8 p.m., free admission
Lakeside Village dancing lights 1479 Town Center Drive Nightly Nov. 22 to Dec. 31 in 2025; 2026 not yet posted
Ariana Village Christmas Lights 1625 Ariana St. Drive-through, Dec. 15 to 23 in 2025, 6 to 9 p.m.; 2026 not yet posted
Curtis Family Lights Yarborough Lane, a quarter mile south of County Road 540-A From early December

Downtown. Lakeland’s downtown displays go back more than 50 years. There is no lighting ceremony; the lights come on after sunset on Thanksgiving. Santa and his reindeer fly atop the Lakeland Electric building, a tree floating on Lake Mirror plays Christmas music and large toy soldiers stand guard in Munn Park, Visit Central Florida says. This year Munn Park also has a new 40-foot Christmas tree, the downtown authority says. The floating tree on Lake Morton is described on our parade page.

Ariana Village is a 55-and-older community that opens its gates for nine nights of drive-through lights, inflatables, music and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus. In 2025, its 35th year, it added a live Nativity and choir on Dec. 19 to 22. It is free; donations are welcome.

Lakeside Village in 2025 ran a nightly dancing-lights show under its new tree and “snow” flurries on the hour from Thursday to Saturday evenings through Dec. 20, the tourism office listed.

Snowfest at Lake Mirror

The City of Lakeland’s Snowfest is Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Frances Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror, 121 S. Lake Ave. Admission was free with a canned food donation in 2025, the city said. Families walk through man-made snow, lights and holiday music. At the 2025 Snowfest, the city’s release listed Santa and Mrs. Claus, Santa’s Workshop with treats and crafts, a book giveaway from the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, an artisan market, food trucks and free train rides for children. The canned food goes to groups serving Lakeland seniors.

Light Up BSP

From Friday, Dec. 18, to Thursday, Dec. 31, Bonnet Springs Park lights the AgAmerica Heritage Gardens and the Crenshaw Canopy Walk, with rotating live holiday music outside the Hollis Family Welcome Center or on the Family Lawn, hot cocoa and crafts, the park says. Admission is free for all ages. The nightly schedule is “to be announced,” the park says.

  • Closed Christmas Day, Dec. 25. On Christmas Eve the park is open through 8 p.m.
  • Entry closes at 8 p.m. each night, for walkers too. The canopy walk runs one way, from the Heritage Gardens near the Welcome Center to the Family Lawn.
  • Parking: gates open for parking at 4 p.m. Preferred parking inside the park is $10 a car, card only, or $10 plus a fee prepaid online; free parking is outside the gates at the Tree Lot and across the street, with no tram from there. Shuttles run from 4 to 9:30 p.m.
  • Not allowed: pets on the light walk, coolers, canopies and umbrellas.
  • Preview night: a ticketed fundraiser, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, with smaller crowds.

In 2025 the park also offered free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus in its Roundhouse Coffee Shop on six December evenings.

Holiday events downtown

  • Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Thursday, Nov. 19, a touring holiday circus show at the RP Funding Center.
  • Margarita Ball, 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, on the Lake Mirror Promenade. It is 21 and up; guests bring an unwrapped gift or cash for local charities along with their ticket, the LDDA’s April listing said. The authority’s new calendar no longer carries it, so check with the Lakeland Margarita Society before you go.
  • First Friday: Holiday Spectacular, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, with gift vendors, Santa photos and the new 40-foot tree in Munn Park, the LDDA says.
  • Holiday Night Market, 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, downtown, with more than 150 artisan, food and craft vendors, the LDDA says. Shopping details are on our holiday shopping page.
  • In 2025 downtown shops stayed open late with live music and costumed characters on two Festive Fridays, Dec. 12 and 19; 2026 dates had not been posted.

Runs and other traditions

  • Holly Jolly Jingle Bell Jog 5K, 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. The city’s 12th annual holiday race runs on the Three Parks Trail from Cleveland Heights Golf Course, 2900 Buckingham Ave. Holiday costumes are encouraged; finishers get a shirt and an ornament. Early packet pickup is 4 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at Gandy Pool, the race page says.
  • Hanukkah begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4. We had not found a public menorah lighting announced in Lakeland as of Oct. 31; congregations can send theirs through our contact page.
  • Nearby: LEGOLAND Florida in Winter Haven, about 14 miles east, holds its holiday season on select December dates, with tickets required, the tourism office lists.

What this means for you

  • Free nights for families: Snowfest Dec. 5 and Light Up BSP Dec. 18 to 31. Bring a can of food to Snowfest.
  • Downtown drives are slow on Dec. 3 (parade) and Dec. 5 (Snowfest); park once and walk.
  • Polk County students are on winter break from Monday, Dec. 21, and return Wednesday, Jan. 6.

Related: Christmas parade and tree lighting, New Year’s Eve and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is Snowfest 2026 in Lakeland?

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Frances Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror. Admission is free with a canned food donation.

When do the downtown Lakeland Christmas lights come on?

Traditionally after sunset on Thanksgiving. Santa and his reindeer sit atop the Lakeland Electric building, toy soldiers guard Munn Park, and a lighted tree floats on Lake Mirror.

Where can I see Santa in Lakeland?

Santa photos are part of First Friday downtown on Dec. 4, the LDDA says, and the Munn Park craft bazaar on Nov. 28 has pictures with Santa from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In 2025 Santa and Mrs. Claus also appeared at Snowfest.

What is Light Up BSP?

A free walk through holiday lights in the Heritage Gardens and along the Crenshaw Canopy Walk at Bonnet Springs Park, Dec. 18 to 31, 2026, except Christmas Day, with live holiday music, hot cocoa and crafts. Entry closes at 8 p.m. Parking inside the gates is $10; free parking is outside the gates. A ticketed preview night is Thursday, Dec. 17, from 6 to 9 p.m.