West Palm Beach Holiday Events 2026: Local Host Guide

If you've never spent the holidays somewhere warm, West Palm Beach is a lovely place to try it: palm trees wrapped in lights, a Christmas tree made of sand, boats glowing on the Intracoastal, and evenings made for dinner outside.

Here's what's on the calendar from mid-November through New Year's, based on dates organizers have published so far. Events can change, so check each official page the week of your visit.

Mid-November: the season starts early

CityPlace Holiday Kickoff — Saturday, November 14, 5 to 9 p.m. CityPlace (the downtown district that was called Rosemary Square for a few years) opens its season with live entertainment, district lighting and the first snowfall of the year. Per CityPlace, the nightly snowfall runs November 14 through December 31 at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Ice skating at The Ben. The Ben's Winter Wonderland rink downtown is open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., through January 3 ($30 adults, $15 children, skates included; ages 4 and up).

Zoo Lights — November 20 through January 3. The Palm Beach Zoo hosts an after-hours light walk on select evenings; tickets are sold by date.

Holiday in Paradise and Sandi the sand tree

The city's signature celebration, Holiday in Paradise, runs November 27 through December 31, 2026 on the downtown waterfront. The star is Sandi, West Palm Beach's famous Christmas tree sculpted from sand.

Holiday Tree Lighting — Thursday, December 3, 6 to 10 p.m. This free Clematis by Night evening at Centennial Square and the Great Lawn (100 N. Clematis Street) includes live music and the official lighting of Sandi, per the city's event page.
Winter in Paradise — Friday, December 4, 6 to 9 p.m. A free neighborhood party on Rosemary Avenue in the Historic Northwest, with a park lighting, live music and food vendors.
Aloha Islanders Tropical Holiday Spectacular — Thursday, December 17, 6 to 9 p.m. A free Polynesian dance show on the Great Lawn.
Sandi's music and light shows and the Ferris wheel. Both are on the city's 2026 program, but nightly show times and Ferris wheel hours and prices weren't posted yet when I checked. Last season, the shows ran nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. Check the Holiday in Paradise page for this year's schedule.

Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade — Saturday, December 5

The 32nd Annual Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade runs rain or shine. Decorated boats, led by a traveling fireworks display, leave North Palm Beach at 6 p.m. and head up the Intracoastal to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, arriving around 8 p.m. Public viewing spots include Bert Winters Park and Juno Park in Juno Beach, and Lighthouse Park and Riverwalk in Jupiter. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for the toy drive.

It's a drive north, so go early for parking, or make a day of it with our Jupiter day trip guide.

Worth Avenue's tree lighting — Tuesday, December 1

Across the bridge, the Worth Avenue Association lights its holiday tree on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Santa and his elves start their parade at 6:10 p.m. on the 100 block of Worth Avenue, and the tree lights at 6:25 p.m. Our Palm Beach island day guide covers the rest of the island.

Hanukkah

CityPlace hosts a free Chanukkah Celebration with Palm Beach Synagogue West on Friday, December 11, 4 to 6 p.m., with a menorah lighting, live music, latkes and donuts. Zoo Lights also has a dedicated menorah-lighting space during Hanukkah. I didn't find a 2026 city-run menorah lighting listed, so check local congregations for others.

New Year's Eve — Thursday, December 31

The city's free Sandi's New Year's Eve runs from 8 p.m. to midnight at Centennial Square and the Great Lawn, with DJ Reflex and the party band Wonderama. Last year's party ended with midnight fireworks over the Intracoastal, but 2026 fireworks haven't been announced yet, so check the city's page closer to the date.

A host's tips for a holiday visit

Book early. Homes and popular restaurants fill fast in peak season; our season-by-season guide explains why.
Pack layers. Evenings on the water can feel cool.
Plan for event-night parking. Garages fill and may charge event rates, so arrive early or skip the car.
Ride West Palm Move. The city's fixed route runs between the Norton Museum of Art and Northwood Village for $1, with stops near Clematis and CityPlace; on-demand rides are $2, and cash isn't accepted. See our guide to getting around without a car.
Keep Saturday mornings free. The GreenMarket runs on the waterfront every Saturday.

Spend the holidays with us

Staying in a home means room to spread out, a kitchen for a holiday meal, and an easy drive to all of the above. I'm Chris Linteris, and I host guests through West Palm BnBs. If you're thinking about a holiday trip, reach out here and we'll help you find the right home for your dates.

Happy holidays from West Palm Beach!