Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in DeLand for 2026, and here is what he found: 5 family events. The magic runs from November 23 (Santa's Visit) through December 30, with Mistletoe March (from November 30) along the way. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Florida Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in DeLand
- 5 Christmas events for kids in DeLand
- Meet Santa: Santa's Visit (November 23) and Not So Silent Night (December 8)
- Also on the list: 1 Christmas show and 1 craft workshop
- Season: November 23 (Santa's Visit) to December 30 (Mistletoe March)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
What are you looking for?
All 5 events
Nothing matches yet. Try another kind of event, or .
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 4 more DeLand events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in DeLand.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in DeLand before they fill up.
- Start your magical Christmas season now Every event appears the moment you enter your email.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Waiting inside
- 2 Santa
- 2 Zoos and museums
- 1 Shows
- 1 Crafts
Enter your email and all will appear instantly.
The Christmas magic awaits
Enter your email to get Christmas event notifications all season long and unlock the details on 4 Christmas events in DeLand.
- New events in DeLand every week
- Exclusive access to free events
- Your magical Christmas season starts now
- Christmas Eve Express and free advent calendar
- One-tap add to calendar
Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in DeLand
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Santa visit
Santa's Visit
- When: Monday, November 23, 2026, 11 am to 1 pm
- Where: DeLand Regional Library Auditorium, 130 E Howry Ave, DeLand, FL 32724 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed; no registration required
- Ages: Babies through tweens and families
Expand to see the parent tip
Santa poses for photos at the DeLand Regional Library in a calm, low-key setting that the library has planned to be sensory friendly. The pictures are taken against a green screen, and there are related activities for families to do while they wait their turn.
The visit is on Monday, November 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the library auditorium, 130 E Howry Ave. No registration is required, but you will need to give an email address to receive the finished photo. The page does not list a price.
Parent tip: Leave green outfits at home, because green clothing interferes with the backdrop software and can spoil the picture. The subdued setup makes this a good first Santa visit for children who find busy lines and noise overwhelming.
- Host
- Volusia County Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- DeLand Regional Library Auditorium, 130 E Howry Ave, DeLand, FL 32724 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New DeLand events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in DeLand daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in DeLand.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 4 more DeLand events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in DeLand.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in DeLand before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 2 Santa
- 2 Zoos and museums
- 1 Shows
- 1 Crafts
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in DeLand every week.
Holiday event
Butler Express Christmas on MainStreet
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026, 5 to 8 pm
- Where: Downtown DeLand (MainStreet DeLand Association), 100 N Woodland Blvd, Suite 4, DeLand, FL 32720 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Tickets required; price not yet posted
- Ages: Families
Expand to see the parent tip
The Butler Express comes to Downtown DeLand on the Friday after Thanksgiving to open MainStreet DeLand's Fridays Before Christmas celebration. The organizer bills it as a family evening to welcome the Christmas season downtown and had not yet posted a fuller rundown of the activities.
It takes place on Friday, November 27, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., listed at the MainStreet DeLand Association, 100 N Woodland Blvd, Suite 4. Tickets are needed, and the page says they will go on sale soon. No price has been posted.
Parent tip: Tickets were not yet on sale when this was written, so check MainStreet DeLand's event page before you promise the kids. It is the opening night of Fridays Before Christmas and falls on the day after Thanksgiving, so allow extra time to park downtown.
- Host
- MainStreet DeLand Association (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Downtown DeLand (MainStreet DeLand Association), 100 N Woodland Blvd, Suite 4, DeLand, FL 32720 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New DeLand events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in DeLand daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in DeLand.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday event
Mistletoe March
- When: Monday, November 30, 2026 to Wednesday, December 30, 2026 (Self-paced hunt running daily from November 30 to December 30 at participating downtown shops. The prize drawing is at 6:00 p.m. on January 7 at The Muse Book Shop.)
- Where: Downtown DeLand (participating shops), 100 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed; pick up a passport at participating shops
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Toy soldiers hide inside shops around Downtown DeLand, and families hunt for them with a passport, collecting a stamp or signature at each participating business where they spot one. A passport with at least 25 different stamps can be dropped off at The Muse Book Shop for a prize drawing, and one stamped by every participating store also earns $2 in MainStreet Bucks to spend with those merchants.
The hunt runs from November 30 to December 30, 2026. Passports can be picked up at participating locations, and a printable version is promised on the organizer's page. Winners are announced at the Soldier Salute celebration at The Muse Book Shop at 6:00 p.m. on January 7, and anyone who is not there is called the next day.
Parent tip: Twenty-five stamps is a lot for small legs in one outing, so spread the hunt over several downtown trips during the month. Print your name and phone number clearly on the passport, because winners who miss the drawing are contacted by phone.
- Host
- MainStreet DeLand Association (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Downtown DeLand (participating shops), 100 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New DeLand events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in DeLand daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in DeLand.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday event
Not So Silent Night
- When: Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 4 to 6 pm
- Where: DeLand Regional Library Auditorium, 130 E Howry Ave, DeLand, FL 32724 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed; no registration required
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
The DeLand Regional Library fills its auditorium with two hours of holiday activities: visits with Santa, themed games, crafts, culinary demonstrations and green screen photos. It is cosponsored by the Friends of the DeLand Public Library.
The program is on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at 130 E Howry Ave. It is open to all ages and no registration is required. The page does not list a price.
Parent tip: It starts at 4:00 p.m. on a school day, so it works well as an after-school stop. With Santa, crafts, games and photos packed into one two-hour program, you can cover a lot of holiday ground in a single visit.
- Host
- Volusia County Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- DeLand Regional Library Auditorium, 130 E Howry Ave, DeLand, FL 32724 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New DeLand events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in DeLand daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in DeLand.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday show
Christmas Music: Salty Grass Band Concert
- When: Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 1 to 2 pm
- Where: DeLand Regional Library Auditorium, 130 E Howry Ave, DeLand, FL 32724 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed; no registration required
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
The Salty Grass Band plays a live set of popular Christmas songs in the library auditorium as part of the library's Music Showcase series. The concert is cosponsored by the Friends of the DeLand Public Library.
The concert is on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the DeLand Regional Library, 130 E Howry Ave. No registration is required, and the page does not list a price.
Parent tip: It is at 1:00 p.m. on a Wednesday and the audience tags include adults and 55+, so expect a mostly grown-up crowd. It fits best for preschoolers, homeschoolers or kids out with grandparents who can sit through an hour of music.
- Host
- Volusia County Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- DeLand Regional Library Auditorium, 130 E Howry Ave, DeLand, FL 32724 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New DeLand events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in DeLand daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in DeLand.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Florida Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each DeLand Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Santa's Visit in DeLand on November 23; the last runs to December 30. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Santa's VisitDeLand · Nov 23
- Butler Express Christmas on MainStreetDeLand · Nov 27
- Mistletoe MarchDeLand · Nov 30 to Dec 30
- Not So Silent NightDeLand · Dec 8
- Christmas Music: Salty Grass Band ConcertDeLand · Dec 9
Looking further afield? Our Florida Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Daytona Beach, Casselberry, Maitland and Palm Coast. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in DeLand
Each December, toy soldiers stand guard on the street corners of Downtown DeLand while a Christmas parade more than 70 years old rolls down Woodland Boulevard. In 2025, the 77th parade was led by the Budweiser Clydesdales.
How DeLand celebrates
DeLand's longest-running tradition is its Christmas Parade on Woodland Boulevard, held on the first Saturday of December. It was run for decades by the DeLand Jaycees and is now presented by the Rotary Clubs of DeLand with the city; the 70th parade was held in 2018. On the Friday before, the city lights its Christmas tree outside City Hall and the MainStreet DeLand Association lights a holiday wreath in Pioneer Park, with Santa at both. Since 2021 those lightings have opened Winter Wonder DeLand, a month of downtown lights, oversized ornaments and toy soldiers created by the city and MainStreet. Santa also rides an antique fire truck through neighborhoods on select December evenings.
Christmas last year in DeLand
The 77th DeLand Christmas Parade took place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, with the theme 'A Winter Wonderland Down Mainstreet.' The Budweiser Clydesdales led the procession, which was set to start at 6 p.m. and travel south on Woodland Boulevard from Michigan Avenue to Hubbard Avenue. The Rotary Clubs of DeLand presented it in partnership with the City of DeLand.
Fun facts about Christmas in DeLand
The 2018 parade had more than 120 entries, and 1,461 people voted in the West Volusia Beacon's online poll to pick their favorites. In 2022 the city added more than 10,000 lights to the poles along Woodland Boulevard and held its first home decorating contest, with entered homes plotted on a public map. A Walk Through Christmas at Earl Brown Park, a European-style Christmas market run by DeLand Parks and Recreation, began in 2021.
Traditions today
- DeLand Christmas Parade: More than 100 entries travel down Woodland Boulevard on the first Saturday evening of December, presented by the Rotary Clubs of DeLand.
- City Hall tree lighting: The city lights its Christmas tree outside DeLand City Hall on the Friday before the parade, with Santa on hand.
- Pioneer Park wreath lighting: The MainStreet DeLand Association lights its holiday wreath in Pioneer Park on the same evening as the tree.
- Winter Wonder DeLand: Launched in 2021, this month-long celebration fills downtown with lights, oversized ornaments and toy soldiers that stay up until early January.
- Santa on the antique fire truck: On select December evenings Santa rides an antique fire truck through DeLand neighborhoods, covering a different route each night.
- A Walk Through Christmas at Earl Brown Park: DeLand Parks and Recreation turns Earl Brown Park into a European-style Christmas market with holiday scenes and festive treats.
A fact for kids
Santa tours DeLand neighborhoods on an antique fire truck on some December evenings. In 2022 he set off from Fire Station 81 and took a different route every night.
Questions about Christmas in DeLand
How old is the DeLand Christmas Parade?
The parade has run for more than 70 years. The West Volusia Beacon covered the 70th annual parade on December 1, 2018, and the 77th was held on December 6, 2025. It began under the DeLand Jaycees and is now presented by the Rotary Clubs of DeLand.
When is the DeLand Christmas Parade held?
It is held on the first Saturday of December. In 2025 that was December 6, with line-up at 4 p.m. and the parade starting at 6 p.m. Earlier parades were on December 1, 2018, December 4, 2021, and December 3, 2022. Check the organizers for this year's details.
What route does the DeLand Christmas Parade follow?
The parade runs along Woodland Boulevard through Downtown DeLand. For the 77th parade in 2025, the published route went south on Woodland Boulevard from Michigan Avenue to Hubbard Avenue, and spectators were told that side streets would close early.
Who organizes the DeLand Christmas Parade?
For decades the DeLand Jaycees ran the parade. It is now presented by the Rotary Clubs of DeLand, working with the City of DeLand. In 2018 the West Volusia Beacon described it as a joint effort of the city's three Rotary clubs.
What was special about the 2025 DeLand Christmas Parade?
The 77th parade, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, was led by the Budweiser Clydesdales. Its theme was 'A Winter Wonderland Down Mainstreet.' A preview of the event said the parade draws tens of thousands of spectators and more than 100 festive entries each year.
What is Winter Wonder DeLand?
Winter Wonder DeLand is a month-long holiday celebration in Downtown DeLand, launched in 2021 by the City of DeLand and the MainStreet DeLand Association. It brings thousands of lights, oversized ornaments and toy soldiers to places such as Chess Park, Pioneer Park and Indiana Avenue, and the lights stay up until early January.
Where is the DeLand Christmas tree lighting?
The city lights its Christmas tree outside DeLand City Hall at 120 S. Florida Ave. In 2022 the lighting was at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2, followed at 6 p.m. by the MainStreet DeLand Association's holiday wreath lighting in Pioneer Park, 100 E. Rich Ave. Santa attended both.
What are the toy soldiers in Downtown DeLand at Christmas?
Toy soldiers have been posted at downtown intersections as part of Winter Wonder DeLand since it launched in 2021, and the city described them as returning to guard the street corners in 2022. MainStreet DeLand's Mistletoe March hunt builds on the idea by hiding toy soldiers inside downtown shops.
Does Santa visit neighborhoods in DeLand?
Yes. The city has sent Santa through neighborhoods on an antique fire truck on select December evenings. In 2022 the rides ran from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on several nights, starting at Fire Station 81 on West Howry Avenue, with a different route each night and maps on the city's website.
What is A Walk Through Christmas at Earl Brown Park?
It is an event organized by DeLand Parks and Recreation that turns Earl Brown Park into a European-style Christmas market with holiday scenes and festive treats. It began in December 2021 as part of the first Winter Wonder DeLand, and the second annual edition was held on December 16, 2022.
Sources
- The votes are in for DeLand's 70th Christmas Parade, The West Volusia Beacon
- The Budweiser Clydesdales will be leading the 77th DeLand Christmas Parade on December 6, Gotta Go Orlando
- City of DeLand: Winter Wonder DeLand launching in December, The West Volusia Beacon
- Winter Wonder DeLand city news release, November 22, 2022, City of DeLand
- Here's where you can see Santa in DeLand this holiday season, The West Volusia Beacon
- Winter Wonder DeLand, Spectrum News 13
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Florida city.
DeLand Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in DeLand to start with?
For a relaxed start, try Santa's Visit at the DeLand Regional Library on Monday, November 23, 2026, a sensory-friendly photo session. Downtown, Butler Express Christmas on MainStreet opens the season on Friday, November 27, and the Mistletoe March toy soldier hunt runs from November 30 to December 30.
Which DeLand Christmas events can families join without tickets or sign-up?
The three DeLand Regional Library programs need no registration: Santa's Visit on November 23, Not So Silent Night on December 8 and the Salty Grass Band Christmas concert on December 9, 2026. Mistletoe March only needs a passport, which you pick up at participating downtown shops.
Where can kids meet Santa in DeLand?
Santa is at the DeLand Regional Library, 130 E Howry Ave, twice this season. Santa's Visit on Monday, November 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., offers green screen photos in a quiet setting, and Not So Silent Night on Tuesday, December 8, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., includes visits with Santa.
Is there Christmas music or a holiday show for families in DeLand?
The Salty Grass Band plays popular Christmas songs at the DeLand Regional Library on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. No registration is required. It is an all-ages concert, though the weekday afternoon slot suits preschoolers and homeschool families best.
Which DeLand Christmas events need tickets?
Butler Express Christmas on MainStreet on Friday, November 27, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., is the ticketed one. MainStreet DeLand's page said tickets would go on sale soon and had not posted a price. The library programs on this page do not require registration.
What is the Mistletoe March in Downtown DeLand?
It is a toy soldier hunt through downtown shops from November 30 to December 30, 2026. Families collect a stamp or signature wherever they spot a soldier. At least 25 stamps earns an entry in a prize drawing, held at The Muse Book Shop at 6:00 p.m. on January 7.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near DeLand?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Florida Christmas train rides guide. This DeLand guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.