Tis the season for holiday events. You won’t want to miss out on all the holly, jolly festivities this year!
Space Coast Must-See Holiday Traditions
Dec 24 | Surfing Santas | Cocoa Beach
Nobody has more fun on Christmas Eve than the Space Coast’s Surfing Santas. Join us as hundreds of Santas hit the waves in Cocoa Beach! There will be costume contests, live entertainment and so much merriment you’ll make this event a family tradition!
Nov 28 – Dec 19 | Down town Melbourne Candlelight Shopping | Downtown Melbourne
Enjoy four Saturday nights celebrating the holidays in Downtown Melbourne 4-8pm. Melbourne Main Street will host activities like a Tree Lighting Ceremony, Santa Claus, Cookie Crawl, Holiday Wine and Art Walks, Pop-up Shops, and more!
Nov 28 – Dec 23 | Hot Cocoa Holidays | Cocoa Village
November 28th through December 23rd, enjoy a series of festive events hosted by our community, find unique gifts for loved ones at our small businesses, and experience our charming downtown adorned with twinkle lights! Enjoy Hot Cocoa Crawls, Art Bazzars, Bike Parades and more!
Dec 19 | Kennedy Under the Stars: Holiday Edition | Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Experience a festive after-hours celebration at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Enjoy an evening filled with live entertainment, holiday cheer, festive décor, and after-hours access to favorite attractions and experiences. End the night beneath the stars as our Holidays in Space Drone Show Spectacular! illuminates the sky with a breathtaking display.
Nov 20 – Jan 2 | Holiday Lights | Brevard Zoo
Immerse yourself in the magic of the holidays as visions of sugar plums, an enchanted forest, the North Pole, and other fantastical places and characters come to life through illuminated displays featuring about 1 million lights in total! Experience the magic beyond the lights with a festive mix of holiday entertainment, from the classic sounds of Christmas carolers to dazzling shows and high-energy performances that bring the magic of the season to life. Plus, enjoy a curated menu of cozy eats and treats!
Dec 19 – Dec 23 | Jolly Days | Brevard Zoo
Put on your jingle bells and head to the Zoo for a flurry of festive fun! Enjoy a blizzard of activities, music and watch the animals “unwrap” holiday treats! All Jolly Days activities are included with general Zoo admission.
Dec 4 – 20 | Holiday Tour of Historic Homes | Various Locations
See beautiful architecture and gorgeous decorations at the Historic Homes Holiday Tour! This year, go back in time to discover seven of the Space Coast’s historic homes decked out in their most festive trimmings and trappings. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
Dec 26 | Skydiving Saint Nicks | Melbourne Beach
Come watch Santa, Mrs. Claus and their crew of high-flying elves parachute from a Bell 412 helicopter over Melbourne Beach!
Join us December 26 at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront for this one-of-a-kind holiday skydiving event. The event is open to the public, and tandem skydives will also be available for anyone ready to experience the Space Coast from a whole different perspective.
Holiday Boat Parades
It’s not the holiday season on the Space Coast until the Indian River Lagoon is twinkling with a parade of holiday lights. Join us all throughout the county to see impressive displays of festive boats glide past, and see why this is one of our favorite holiday traditions.
Dec 12, 5:30 pm | 24rd Annual Turkey Creek Christmas Boat Parade | Palm Bay
December 12, 6:00 pm | Cocoa Beach Christmas Boat Parade | Cocoa Beach
Tree Lighting, Christmas Parades, and Festivals
Nov 21 | 42nd Annual Festival of Trees | Melbourne
Nov 20 | Merry and Bright Tree Lighting Celebration | Viera
Nov 25 | Cookie Crawl and Christmas Tree Lighting | Cocoa Beach
Dec 1-20 | Carols in the Park | Viera
Dec 6 | Light Up Rockledge & Festival of Trees | Rockledge
Dec 5/6 | Holiday Craft Bazaar | Cocoa Village
Dec 4 | Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony | Palm Bay
Dec 5 | City of Palm Bay Holiday Light Parade | Palm Bay
Festive Food and Drink Events
Nov 25 | Cookie Crawl and Tree Lighting | Cocoa Beach
Nov 28 | Krampus Crawl | Downtown Melbourne
Dec 5 | Space Coast Holiday Food Festival | Melbourne
Dec 12 | Santa Stumble | Cocoa Village
Dec 20 | Holiday Jolly Brunch at Brevard Zoo | Viera
Dec 24 | Surfin ’ Mingle Cocoa Beach | Cocoa Beach
Running Events
Thanksgiving Day
• Cocoa Beach Turkey Trot 5k
• Space Coast Turkey Trot 5k
• Wild Turkey Trot 3k