Posted by: South Florida usually offers perfect winter weather to venture out. If you're out and about December 25, festive light displays, restaurants, free live entertainment, and places to play and shop are open.
Please return to this feature as other information is added for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. If you're looking for a place to eat, these restaurants are open Christmas Day in South Florida.
If you want to recommend a venue that's open, please email news@southfloridaonthecheap.com. Happy holidays!
Things to do Christmas Day 2023
Photo: Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale
Shopping
Lauderhill
Swap Shop flea market offers indoor and outdoor vendor areas. The venue includes lots of independent vendors and a Ferrari museum with free entry. Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop, 954-791-7927, is at 3291 W. Sunrise Boulevard, Lauderhill. Parking fees usually are free week days and on weekends it's $2-$4.
Pompano Beach
Festival Marketplace, an indoor bazaar marketplace is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 25 with about 200 vendors, including lots of independent vendors. Festival, 954-979-4555, is at 2900 W. Sample Road, Pompano Beach. Parking is free.
Lake Worth
Lake Worth Swap Shop flea market is open Mondays, Thursdays and weekends, including holidays. Parking is $1 weekdays and weekends it's $2- $4. Lake Worth Swap Shop, 561-965-4518, 3438 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth 33461
Entertainment & Fun
Photo: Xtreme Action Park
Fort Lauderdale
For a playful vibe, Xtreme Action Park, indoor arcade and recreation venue, is open 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., Xtreme Action Park, 954-491-6265, 5300 Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale 33309. The venue includes bowling, ropes, and plenty of other attractions.
West Palm
Live entertainment 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. December 25 at The Square, 700 S. Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach. The Square features a holiday light show and snowfall 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.; parking fees range from free to $12, with rates usually $5 to $7. Feature: Holiday snowfalls & lights at The Square in West Palm
Holiday Ferris wheel in West Palm Beach. Photo/Scott Wiseman
Ferris wheel, West Palm Beach
Holiday in Paradise in West Palm Beach includes a ferris wheel 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. including December 25, with fees of $5 not including tax and fees. The attraction includes Sandi, a lighted sand sculpture tree that stands about 35 feet tall. Sandi and a dancing fountain are featured in light, projection and music shows. Entry to the attraction is free for spectators. Festivities are at 127 Clematis St., West Palm Beach
Photo/Las Olas Oceanside Park
Skating Rink, Fort Lauderdale
Las Olas Oceanside Park in Fort Lauderdale is featuring a synthetic ice rink that is open on holidays. Purchase tickets online. Prices are $15 – $20 with an extra $2.50 fee.
Other fun
Many movie theaters are open on Christmas Day
Bowling lanes, phone or browse online to verify if they are open
Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail offers $5 all-day rates holidays and weekends. The railroad runs in Miami-Dade, Broward and greater Palm Beach. Information about Tri-Rail, including routes and shuttles to and from stations, 954-783-6030 or 800-874-7245
Attractions & Lights in Broward
Photo/Gulfstream Park
Hallandale
Free Symphony In Lights is an outdoor holiday display with lights dancing to favorite holiday music at Gulfstream Park Village in Hallandale Beach. Shows are usually 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. on the hour, 901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach 33009. Free entry and free parking. Gulfstream Park Village is a shopping, dining and entertainment plaza.
Hollywood
Downtown Hollywood Murals features about 45 murals on buildings and sidewalks in a walkable route, and it's free. Information about the artwork and artists is online.
Fort Lauderdale
Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., 954-467-6637, 401 SW Second Street, Fort Lauderdale 33312. Discount opportunity — Residents of Broward, Dade and Palm Beach receive $3 off the regular fees. Regular entry fees for non-members — without the discount — include $22 for ages 2-12, $27 for adults, and $25 for seniors. For military, it's $24. Buy tickets online. Bring photo ID for $3 off residents discount.
North Broward
Holiday Fantasy of Lights drive-thru display in Coconut Creek For a discount voucher, register for emails.
Pembroke Pines
Christmas at Oasis Church offers a drive-thru holiday lights display 6:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. December 25 at 12201 SW 14th St, Pembroke Pines; 954-433-4838; it's a free attraction, with donations accepted
Photo: Delray Beach
Attractions in Palm Beach
Delray Beach
Exciting holiday display in Delray Beach with a lighted & decorated 100-foot tree and free carousel rides 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. December 24 & 25 at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 561-243-7250, website. Feature: Delray displays 100-ft tree with ice skating, Santa and more
West Palm Beach
Sandi is among South Florida's distinctive holiday attractions. It's a sand sculpture tree that stands about 35 feet tall. Sandi and a dancing fountain are featured in light, projection and music shows on the quarter hour from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Entry is free for spectators. Festivities are at 127 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. The attraction includes a Ferris wheel. Rides, usually offered 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., are $5 or $20 for unlimited rides per night, fees and taxes are extra. Feature: West Palm Beach’s ‘Holiday in Paradise’ dazzles
Other Display
Lights 4 Hope drive-through display is open for the season
Attractions in Miami-Dade
Santa’s Enchanted Forest is at 7400 NW 87th Avenue, Miami 33166, Feature: Santa's Enchanted Forest for pricing and discounts
Pinecrest Gardens botanical gardens is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. December 25; entry is $5, free for 2 and younger, $3 for 65 and older. Parking is free, 305-669-6990, 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest
Frost Science Museum , at 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. December 25; 305-434-9600, website
Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St., is open 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. December 25; 305-255-5551; website
Nature & Parks
- Florida State Parks entry fees for state parks usually $2-$10 per person or per vehicle
- StoryWalk featuring pages from a storybook displayed along a nature path @ Pondhawk Natural Area, west of Spanish River Library, 1501 Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton
- Palm Beach County Parks are open; lots with free entry and free parking
- Miami-Dade Parks are open, with a few exceptions
- Boca Raton parks are open, some amenities & activities are not open
- Delray Beach parks are open
- Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale is ideal for waterfront walks it's lit up for the holidays
- Hollywood Broadwalk runs oceanside, a popular venue for walking, skating and live entertainment
- Other local municipal parks and natural areas may be open, but please verify with your city department
Entertainment from home
- Winterfest Television Show, including 5 a.m. and 12 p.m. December 25 and January 1 on WSVN 7
- Download free digital movies, e-books and music, plus other online resources, from Broward County libraries, or other libraries you're affiliated with
- Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale offers videos on YouTube and other social media
- Live webcams at Broward County beaches
- Webcams at Palm Beach County beaches
- Webcams in Miami-Dade County
- Manatee webcam from Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach
Miami on the Cheap is a member of 