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25 Magical + Memorable Things To Do During Christmas Break in Lakeland + Polk County

Indoor Fun Christmas + Holiday Outdoor Fun Things to Do

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Things to do during Christmas Break in Lakeland Florida

School’s out for more than two weeks, and you’re ready for some family fun!

Whether you need quick ideas to keep the kids busy while you’re wrapping gifts or want to make the most of time together, we’ve rounded up the best ways to enjoy Christmas Break in Lakeland and Polk County.

Explore new places or revisit your family’s favorites — this list of things to do during Christmas Break will save you time searching and spark plenty of ideas for fun around town. Our master list of things to do in Lakeland is also a great resource anytime you’re looking for local activities.

Polk County School Christmas Break 2025–2026:
Winter Break runs December 20, 2025 – January 6, 2026 (teachers return Jan 5; students return Jan 7). Charter and private school calendars may vary — check with your child’s school for exact dates.

If you’re heading somewhere on Christmas Eve or Day, or New Year’s Eve or Day, please be sure to call first – we aren’t able to verify the hours for each place on our list but have provided links so you can easily call before you go.

Looking for more holiday magic? Don’t miss the 2025 Lakeland + Polk County Christmas Guide — your go-to list for parades, Santa photos, Christmas lights, concerts, craft fairs, and all things merry and bright this season.

★ NEW for 2025! Grab our Printable Holiday Guides (Christmas Lights Guide + Holiday Activities Planner) to print or save to your phone — no ads, no scrolling, all your holiday fun in one festive guide. Holiday planning made easy!

A few of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means we will receive a small commission when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. We have researched these deals to be sure they are a savings to you. Thank you for supporting Lakeland Mom! 

Winter Break Camps

Winter Break Christmas Camps Lakeland Florida

Need childcare or something fun for the kids while you work or prep for the holidays? Check out our list of Winter Break Camps in Lakeland + Polk County, including favorites like the Florida Children’s Museum, Camp Fire, and Bricks 4 Kidz.

Holiday Themed Fun in Lakeland + Polk County

Sometimes it is easier to fit in holiday fun after Christmas! Many holiday attractions stay open after Christmas — perfect for families celebrating through New Year’s.

◆ Go on a Christmas Light Drive — explore the best local light displays with our Neighborhood Christmas Lights Guide. Many of these displays will be running through New Year’s.

◆ Drive through Ariana Village Christmas Lights — enjoy a free light display, nightly from Dec 15–23 (6–9 pm).

◆ Watch a Christmas Movie — catch classics at Silvermoon Drive-In or Polk Theatre.

◆ Shop Local — browse Holiday Markets + Christmas Craft Fairs for handmade gifts.

◆ Enjoy a Show — catch the Nutcracker Ballet or a Holiday Concert.

◆ Take a Holiday Day Trip — plan a festive adventure with our Holiday Day Trips Guide.

◆ Plan a Month of Fun — download the 25 Days of Christmas Fun Calendar.

Ice Skating Central Florida

◆ Go Ice Skating — see our list of Ice Skating Rinks in Lakeland, Tampa + Orlando.

◆ Take Photos with Santa or join a local Santa Breakfast.

◆ Spread Kindness — print our 25 Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Calendar and share some holiday cheer.

Random Acts of Kindness for Kids Christmas

◆ Find free Christmas activities including walk-through light displays and ideas for things to do at home.

◆ Plan family activities at home like building gingerbread houses or having a movie night.

Track Santa NORAD Google Christmas Eve

◆ Track Santa — follow him live with Google or NORAD Santa Tracker – plus fun games before the big day.

◆ Ring in 2026 on New Year’s Eve — check out Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events.

Lakeland New Years Eve

◆ Visit Bonnet Springs Park for Light Up BSP — a magical canopy of lights and themed events. Light Up BSP is taking a break in 2025 – look for a reimagined event to return in 2026.

Holiday Day Trips in Central Florida

Take a quick road trip to enjoy even more Christmas fun in nearby cities! These make great day or evening outings during Winter Break — and we’ve got full guides with all the details.

Tampa Bay + St. Pete

Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Pete shine bright for the holidays! Enjoy waterfront lights, theme park celebrations, and festive attractions across the bay.

See our full article: Holiday Activities + Christmas Lights in Tampa Bay
Here’s a peek at what you’ll find there:

  • Christmas Lane in Plant City
  • The Light of Christmas show in Plant City
  • Nights of Shimmering Lights in Dover
  • Christmas Town at Busch Gardens
  • Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa at Lowry Park
  • Yule Tides at the Florida Aquarium
  • Light Displays at the Tampa Riverwalk and St. Pete Waterfront (FREE)
  • Drive-Thru Lights and Walk Through Lights in Tampa + Clearwater (FREE)
Christmas Lights Tampa Florida

Orlando + Central Florida

Orlando goes all out for Christmas with world-class light displays and holiday events — perfect for a day trip from Lakeland.

See our full article: Holiday Activities + Christmas Lights in Orlando
Highlights include:

  • Christmas at Gaylord Palms – ICE at Gaylord Palms
  • Now Snowing at Celebration, Florida (FREE)
  • Dazzling Nights at Harry P. Leu Gardens
  • Holidays at Disney Springs + Christmas Tree Trail (FREE)
  • Holidays at Universal Studios
  • Sea World’s Christmas Celebration
Christmas in Orlando Florida

Christmas Break Single Day Events

Browse our live event calendar for one-day and weekend activities during Winter Break. Looking for a specific type of event? Narrow down your options with these event guides:

December 2025
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Outdoor Fun

Use our master list of outdoor activities to find family fun all season long! Here are a few local favorites to get you started:

◆ Explore local hiking trails — discover Polk County favorites like Circle B Bar Reserve, Holloway Park, Colt Creek State Park, and Lakeland Highlands Scrub in our hiking trail guide.

◆ Play at Bonnet Springs Park — wander through the gardens and let kids explore all four playgrounds.

◆ Ride bikes or walk one of Lakeland’s paved bike trails — perfect if Santa brings new wheels!

◆ Visit Hollis Garden — stroll among colorful blooms and learn about native plants. (Opens 10 a.m., closed Mondays.)

◆ Let kids climb + play at themed playgrounds: the Pirate Ship Playground at Rotary Park, the Car Playground at McGee Park, and Common Ground’s Fire Truck Station. See our playgrounds list for more.

◆ Play catch or soccer in an open field — find local parks and rec spots in our outdoor play guide.

◆ Visit Bok Tower Gardens — explore Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden, stroll the trails, and snap a photo by the Singing Tower.

◆ Plan a picnic — Florida’s weather is perfect this time of year! See 10 Great Picnic Spots in Lakeland.

◆ Go on a Drive-Thru Safari at Safari Wilderness — spot exotic animals from your car!

◆ Play mini golf at the Family Fun Center — enjoy an 18-hole outdoor course with a lake and waterfall.

◆ Hunt for murals using our Lakeland Mural Map — 20+ colorful works of public art around town.

◆ Head to the beach! Take a quick day trip east or west for a classic #ChristmasInFlorida experience.

◆ Spot wildlife at Circle B Bar Reserve — alligators, eagles, and more! (FREE admission; named one of USA Today’s Top 51 Places to See Wildlife in the U.S.)

◆ Walk around Lake Hollingsworth — a 3-mile paved path perfect for families with older kids.

◆ Dig for shark teeth at the Mulberry Phosphate Museum — bring a small shovel and bucket!

◆ Tour Florida Southern College to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning architecture.

◆ Try geocaching — an outdoor treasure hunt using GPS coordinates.

◆ Visit Little Free Libraries — swap books for free using the Little Free Library Map and clean out your shelves at the same time. Plus find other places for free books.

Indoor Fun + Things to Do at Home

◆ Plan a Family Game Night – we’ve got a list of our top 10 favorite board games

◆ Play at home – we’ve got 75+ ideas for fun things to do at home

Use our Indoor Fun Guide, Outdoor Fun Guide, Free Fun Guide, or Ultimate List of Things to do with Kids to find more family fun.

Christmas Events + Holiday Activities

Check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas Events + Holiday Activities to find more things to do including Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays, FREE Christmas Events, Santa Photos, Christmas Parades, and more.

FIND MORE CHRISTMAS + HOLIDAY FUN