Is Miami warm at Christmas?

Yes. Normal highs are about 74-77°F in December, with lows in the 60s. A cold front can bring a cooler night or two.

When is Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami in 2026?

On select nights from November 27 to December 30, 2026, from 6:30 to 10pm. Tickets are sold online only and usually sell out.

Is Santa's Enchanted Forest open in 2026?

No. The holiday park closed after 2023 and its former manager has said it will not return. Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park has run in recent seasons instead.

What is open on Christmas Day in Miami?

Beaches, parks, many restaurants and most hotel dining stay open. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and many museums are closed, so check attractions first.

When is Hanukkah in 2026?

From sundown on Friday, December 4 to sundown on Saturday, December 12, 2026.

Christmas in Miami 2026: Lights, Events & What's Open

By the Miami Beach Guest team · Updated 10 November 2026 · Facts checked October 2026

Christmas in Miami swaps snow for warm evenings: expect highs in the mid-70s, holiday light trails at Zoo Miami and Fairchild, free concerts and light shows on Miami Beach, and decorated boats on the water. Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, so the holiday weekend runs straight into the busy New Year week.

Some events had confirmed 2026 dates when we checked in October 2026; others had not, and we note which is which below.

What's the weather like in Miami at Christmas?

Miami is mild and mostly dry at Christmas. National Weather Service normals for Miami Beach show daily highs of about 76°F in mid-December, slipping to about 74°F by New Year's Eve, with lows in the low to mid 60s. Rain totals are low, around 2 inches for the month.

A passing cold front can drop nights into the 50s for a day or two, so pack a light jacket alongside your swimsuit. Most days are fine for the beach, though the water feels cooler than in summer.

Holiday light shows and events

The big light shows are ticketed, run on select nights only and often sell out, so book as soon as tickets go on sale.

Event	Where	2026 status
Zoo Lights	Zoo Miami, southwest Miami-Dade	Confirmed: Nov 27-28, Dec 4-5, 11-12, 18-23 and 26-30, 6:30-10pm
A Very Merry Garden	Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables	Listed for Nov 13 to Dec 24 (daytime decor and Santa visits)
NightGarden	Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden	Recent seasons: select evenings from November into January; check 2026 dates
Christmas Wonderland	Tropical Park, Miami	Has run each season since 2023; 2026 dates not yet announced
Miami Beach holiday events	Lummus Park, Lincoln Road, North Shore Park	Usually mid to late December; 2026 program not yet announced

Zoo Lights tickets are sold online only, and the zoo closes early on show nights to set up. If you are thinking of Santa's Enchanted Forest, the long-running holiday park, note that it has closed for good; Christmas Wonderland is now the main holiday fair-style park.

Free holiday events on Miami Beach

The City of Miami Beach runs a free holiday program each December. In 2025 it included a Holiday Extravaganza at Lummus Park with drone shows and projection mapping, a tree lighting at North Shore Park, Santa events on Lincoln Road, and a Festival of Lights on the 1400 block of Ocean Drive. Expect something similar in 2026 and check the city's holiday page from late November. Our South Beach guide helps you plan the rest of the evening.

Holiday boat parades

Lit-up boat parades are a South Florida tradition, and watching from the shore is free. The largest is the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale, set for Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 6pm, along a roughly 12-mile route from the New River up the Intracoastal. Closer to Miami, Key Biscayne has hosted a free holiday boat parade and paddleboard flotilla at No Name Harbor in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park; in 2025 it was on December 9.

Want to be on the water yourself? Evening cruises on Biscayne Bay pass the downtown skyline and lit-up waterfront homes; compare options on our boat tours page.

Hanukkah in Miami

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at sundown on Saturday, December 12. Miami Beach has a large Jewish community, and public menorah lightings are a fixture: in 2025 the city held one outside City Hall on Convention Center Drive, and Lincoln Road has hosted a menorah lighting in recent years. Local Chabad centers and synagogues post their 2026 lighting schedules in late November.

What's open on Christmas Day in Miami?

Beaches, parks and the outdoors stay open on Christmas Day, which makes December 25 a good beach day. Many attractions close, so check before you go.

Open: public beaches, most hotel restaurants, many restaurants in South Beach and Brickell (book ahead for Christmas dinner), and many tour operators (check schedules).
Closed: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is closed on December 25. Many museums, banks and government offices close too, including Miami Beach City Hall.
Check first: Zoo Miami, Vizcaya and other attractions set holiday hours each year; call or check their sites.
Getting around: check Miami-Dade transit's holiday schedule before relying on buses or Metrorail.

Tips for a Miami Christmas trip

Book hotels early: rates climb in the second half of December and stay high through New Year's. A base in South Beach puts you close to the free Miami Beach events, while Coral Gables or Coconut Grove are handier for Fairchild. For New Year's Eve plans, see our New Year's Eve guide, and for everything else this month, our Miami in December page.