Looking for free Christmas events near you? We’ve found dozens of budget-friendly ways to celebrate the season in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Auburndale & across Polk County. From tree lightings and Christmas parades to concerts and craft fairs, plus walk-through light displays and neighborhood Christmas lights, there’s something for every family — and it won’t cost a thing. Keep checking back as we add new events throughout the season!
We’ve divided this guide into two easy parts:
✦ Free Christmas Activities by Type — ideas for parades, Santa visits, concerts, light displays & more
✦ Free Christmas Events by Date — a full calendar of one-day and weekend-only celebrations happening across Lakeland & Polk County.
Click any teal link for more details including event dates, times, + locations.
★ New for 2025 ★
Printable Holiday Planner + Christmas Lights Guide
Want an easier, more magical holiday season?
Our 2025 Printable Holiday Planner and Christmas Lights Guide bundle includes 50+ easy-to-use pages of local events, can’t-miss activities, Christmas light displays, planning tools, scavenger hunts, memory-making ideas, and more — all beautifully designed and ad-free.
Perfect for saving to your phone or printing to take along — your cheerful companion for the busy month ahead.
Free Christmas Activities
Jump to:
Free Christmas Parades + Tree Lightings
✦ Go to the Lakeland Christmas Parade {tips at the link below}
✦ Watch a Christmas Parade in Mulberry, Bartow, Auburndale, Winter Haven, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Davenport, or Haines City – full schedule at the link below
✦ Attend a holiday tree lighting in Lakeland, Downtown Lakeland, Winter Haven, Mulberry, Dundee, or Davenport
✦ Celebrate the start of Hanukkah at a Menorah Lighting in Lakeland or Winter Haven
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!
Free Santa Photos + Meet and Greets
✦ Sign up for a FREE phone call from Santa Claus
✦ Use our list of the best places for pictures with Santa to find a place for free Santa visits and photos with Santa {and maybe Mrs. Claus!}
Free Christmas Lights + Outdoor Displays
✦ Go for a drive to see Christmas Lights and find the best holiday light displays. We’ve got a huge list {AND MAP} to help you find the best free Christmas lights near you. Don’t forget your pajamas and hot cocoa!
✦ Drive through the Ariana Village Christmas Lights – open December 15 – 23, 2025 {details + our tips at the link below}
✦ Stroll through Downtown Lakeland to enjoy the holiday decorations and Christmas lights in Munn Park. Go during a special holiday event for a festive night out! (see events in Downtown Lakeland)
✦ Check out a free outdoor event or drive-through holiday lights display
✦ Drive to First Baptist Church of Plant City to see their free 30 minute Light of Christmas show. {On pause for 2025 due to construction}
✦ Go to Light Up BSP at Bonnet Springs Park – Christmas Lights + Nightly Activities Light Up BSP is taking a break in 2025 – look for a reimagined event to return in 2026.
Free Outdoor Events + Activities
✦ Check out the huge Christmas Tree at Lakeside Village and enjoy the “snow” on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in December (5 minutes of snow at the top of the hour from 6-9 pm) plus live entertainment, including the ‘Tis the Season Holiday Concert.
✦ Play in the park and enjoy an outdoor movie at the Winter Haven Winter Wonderland
✦ Walk through the snow at Snowfest in Lakeland. {This is a free event but suggested admission is a canned food item}.
✦ Watch an outdoor movie under the stars – check out our full list up upcoming Christmas movie showings.
Free Holiday Concerts + Craft Fairs
✦ Enjoy live holiday music at a Christmas music performance – often held for free at local churches.
✦ Stroll through a Holiday Market or craft fair (free unless you buy something!)
Volunteer + Give Back
✦ Make handmade Christmas Cards for seniors (see addresses in our Random Acts of Kindness list)
✦ Volunteer to ring the bell for Salvation Army or volunteer with another local organization this holiday season.
✦ Perform random acts of kindness around town and spread holiday cheer.
At-Home + Free Family Fun
✦ Bake cookies and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa at home.
✦ Drink your cocoa and eat cookies while you enjoy a Christmas Movie at home or a TV Special
✦ Attend a Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or other worship service during December.
✦ Read Christmas Books. Visit a local library to check out a few holiday favorites or check our list of places to find free books.
✦ Get crafty and make homemade decorations or Christmas ornaments {we’re not crafty so you’ll have to check Pinterest or the internet for ideas!}
✦ Print out free Christmas Activity sheets online – coloring pages, word search, etc. Turn it into a game night where everyone tries to finish a word search or puzzle first, or have a coloring contest.
✦ Have a family game night. Sometimes the best part of the Christmas season is simply time spent as a family.
Holiday Day Trips + Free Christmas Fun in Central FL
✦ Take a drive to Tampa, Clearwater or St. Pete to see the light shows and Christmas Light Displays that are completely free including the Tampa Riverwalk and the area around the St. Pete Pier.
✦ Head towards Orlando for Christmas fun. Free Christmas things to do in Orlando include a visit to Disney Springs to see the Christmas Tree Trail, and Snow in Celebration.
Budget-Friendly (Under $10 Per Person)
Although these activities aren’t free, they are less than $10/person.
✦ Check out a holiday movie at the Drive-In! Silvermoon Drive-In is only $8/person (10+) and $3 for kids (4-9).
✦ Decorate a gingerbread house. {While this isn’t technically free, we’ve seen options as low as $5-10 per house at 5Below, Walmart, and Target}
✦ Go Ice Skating
Free Christmas Events in Lakeland + Polk County
All of the community events listed below are FREE to attend! Click on the event name to get more information on any event.
Editor’s note – While we have done our best to confirm the accuracy of this list, events are included/excluded from this list based on a single checkbox on each event… we are human and occasionally make mistakes when inputting calendar details. Please check event details carefully, an outside link is provided for every single event where you can confirm pricing and other event details.
We also have a full Calendar of Christmas Events in Polk County – plus separate articles to find Christmas events near you in each city.
Polk County Christmas Events by City
Looking for more Christmas Events Near You?
- Master List of Polk County Christmas Events by Date
- Auburndale Christmas Events {includes Polk City}
- Bartow Christmas Events
- Davenport + Haines City Christmas Events
- Frostproof + Lake Wales Christmas Events
- Lakeland Christmas Events + Activities
- Mulberry Christmas Events
- Plant City Christmas Events + Activities
- Winter Haven Christmas Events + Activities
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.
