Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Deltona
In Deltona, the Christmas parade rolls down Deltona Boulevard after dark, and the debate over where it should run shows how much neighbors care about it. Santa has a workshop here too, set up at The Center at Deltona.
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The story of Christmas in Deltona
How Deltona celebrates
Deltona's signature holiday moment is its Christmas parade, held on a Saturday evening in December. In recent years the parade has traveled Deltona Boulevard, with live music at City Hall earlier in the afternoon. The route has been a topic of real discussion: the parade was once held on Providence Boulevard, where residents complained, and in 2025 city commissioners voted 4 to 3 to move it back to Deltona Boulevard. Supporters liked that the boulevard has sidewalks on both sides and plenty of parking near shopping centers, which makes it easier for families to watch.
Christmas last year in Deltona
The 2025 Deltona Christmas Parade stepped off at 6 pm on Saturday, December 13, and ran along Deltona Boulevard from Balsam Street to Diamond Street. Watching was free. Earlier that afternoon, starting at 3 pm, the band United Groove played on the back patio of City Hall. A week later, on December 20, The Center at Deltona hosted Selfies with Santa from 9 to 11 am, with photos in Santa's workshop, a continental breakfast and crafts. It was free, though each child needed a ticket reserved through Eventbrite.
Fun facts about Christmas in Deltona
The 2025 parade covered a stretch of Deltona Boulevard between two cross streets, Balsam and Diamond, so families could pick any spot along the way. Santa's workshop at The Center at Deltona is at 1640 Dr. MLK Blvd. Deltona is also within driving distance of some big Christmas light displays in the Orlando area. A listing for nearby Orlando describes a Lake Eola tree that stands 64 feet tall with 2,000 ornaments, and a garden light walk with more than a million lights and a 70-foot light tunnel.
Traditions today
- Deltona Christmas Parade: An evening parade along Deltona Boulevard, held on a Saturday in December and free to watch.
- Live music before the parade: In 2025, a band played on the City Hall back patio starting at 3 pm, hours before the parade began.
- Selfies with Santa: Families visit Santa's workshop at The Center at Deltona for photos, breakfast and crafts.
- Watching from the sidewalk: Deltona Boulevard has sidewalks on both sides, so families spread out along the route to watch.
- Trips to the Orlando lights: Families can make a drive to big light displays and tree lightings in the Orlando area.
A fact for kids
In Deltona, the Christmas parade mattered so much to neighbors that city commissioners voted 4 to 3 to bring it back to Deltona Boulevard, where families can watch from sidewalks on both sides.
Questions about Christmas in Deltona
What is the best-known Christmas tradition in Deltona?
The Deltona Christmas Parade is the city's best-known holiday tradition. It rolls down Deltona Boulevard on a Saturday evening in December, and watching is free. Families can watch from the sidewalks, and the route was important enough to residents that city commissioners debated it in 2025.
When was the Deltona Christmas Parade last year?
The parade was held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, and started at 6 pm. Live music began earlier at 3 pm on the City Hall back patio, so families could come early and enjoy the afternoon before the parade stepped off along Deltona Boulevard.
Where does the Deltona Christmas Parade travel?
In 2025 the parade ran along Deltona Boulevard, from Balsam Street to Diamond Street. Families can pick any spot along that stretch to watch. Deltona Boulevard has sidewalks on both sides of the road, which helps when you are bringing strollers or small children.
Why did the Deltona parade route change?
The parade was once held on Providence Boulevard, where residents complained. In 2025, the city commission voted 4 to 3 to return the route to Deltona Boulevard. Supporters pointed out that the boulevard has sidewalks on both sides and parking near shopping centers, which makes it easier for families to watch.
Is the Deltona Christmas Parade free?
Yes, watching the 2025 parade was free. Families could simply find a spot along Deltona Boulevard and enjoy the show. No ticket was needed to watch the parade go by, and the listing shows no admission fee. Check the current year's details before you go.
Can my child meet Santa in Deltona?
Yes, in 2025 children could meet Santa at Selfies with Santa at The Center at Deltona. The morning event offered photos in Santa's workshop, a continental breakfast and crafts. It is held indoors at The Center, which can be a calmer setting for little ones than a parade crowd.
What happened at Selfies with Santa in 2025?
The event took place on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 9 to 11 am, with ticket slots at 9 and 10 am. Kids had time with Santa, photos in his workshop, a continental breakfast and crafts. Adults did not need a ticket, but each child did.
Did Selfies with Santa cost anything?
It was free, but each child attending needed a ticket reserved through Eventbrite. Adults did not need one. Tickets were tied to time slots at 9 and 10 am, so it helps to reserve early and pick the slot that fits your family's naps and meals.
Where is The Center at Deltona?
The Center at Deltona is at 1640 Dr. MLK Blvd. in Deltona, Florida 32725. It hosted the 2025 Selfies with Santa event, and the phone number listed for it was (386) 878-8875. Check the current year's details before you go, since dates change.
Which big Christmas lights are near Deltona?
The Orlando area has several famous displays within driving distance. Listings mention the Lake Eola tree, which is 64 feet tall with 2,000 ornaments, and Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens, which has over a million lights and a 70-foot light tunnel. Check each site for current dates.
How far is Deltona from other Florida cities?
A local listing shows 26 nearby cities, with distances from Deltona running from Sanford at 7 miles to Kissimmee at 42 miles. That makes day trips to central Florida's bigger holiday displays realistic for families with kids who can handle a car ride.
What county is Deltona in?
Deltona is in Volusia County, Florida. The county includes Daytona Beach, so if you want to plan a December outing beyond Deltona itself, check holiday listings for nearby Volusia County towns, since each town sets its own dates. Always confirm details before you go.
Does it snow at Christmas in Deltona?
Snow is very unlikely, since Deltona is in central Florida, so families usually celebrate in mild weather. Kids who dream of a white Christmas can make paper snowflakes, watch holiday movies or read winter stories together, and a light jacket is usually enough for an evening parade.
How can I explain a Christmas parade to a toddler?
Tell your child that neighbors decorate floats and cars to say happy holidays, and that Santa often waves at the end. Practice waving and clapping at home first, and point out the sounds and colors. A short, calm preview helps little ones enjoy the evening instead of feeling startled.
What should I bring to an evening parade?
Bring folding chairs or a blanket, a light jacket, snacks, and ear protection for sensitive kids. Evening parades like Deltona's start at 6 pm, so arrive early to claim a spot near the sidewalk. Check our Deltona Christmas events guide on this page for this year's details.
How do I find this year's Deltona holiday dates?
Dates change every year, so check our Deltona Christmas events guide on this page for what we have confirmed for the 2026 season. For last year's pattern, the parade was on a Saturday in mid December and Santa photos followed the next weekend, but always confirm before you go.
Is the Deltona parade good for small children?
It can be. The route has sidewalks on both sides and parking near shopping centers, which helps with strollers and quick exits. Because the parade began at 6 pm in 2025, think about nap and bedtime. Our Deltona Christmas events guide on this page lists current options.
How can kids take part in Christmas traditions at home?
Kids can make paper chains, write letters to Santa, bake cookies or help hang lights. Choosing one small ritual a family repeats every year, like watching a parade together and having cocoa afterward, is an easy way to build a tradition your children will recognize year after year.
Why do we have Christmas parades?
Parades turn a whole street into a celebration, so neighbors can enjoy the season together. Kids see floats, bands and Santa in person, which makes the holiday feel big and shared. In Deltona, the parade is the town's best-known holiday tradition.
How can we remember a Deltona Christmas visit?
Take photos in Santa's workshop, save the ticket or program, and let your child draw a picture of the parade afterward. A simple scrapbook page with the date, the place and one thing your child said makes a simple keepsake to look back on.
Sources
- Deltona's Christmas Parade, Fun 4 Daytona Kids
- After debate, commission votes to move Deltona Christmas parade back to Deltona Boulevard, Citizen Portal
- Selfies with Santa at The Center at Deltona, Fun 4 Daytona Kids
- Deltona, FL Christmas listings, Christmas Sites