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Christmas with kids in Port Orange
In Port Orange, Florida, Christmas is a one-weekend tradition with hay rides and a hometown parade. A tree lighting at City Center is followed by a parade down Dunlawton Avenue that has run for more than 40 years.
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The story of Christmas in Port Orange
How Port Orange celebrates
Port Orange keeps its holiday celebration to one weekend run by Parks and Recreation. On Saturday evening, Christmas in the Park fills City Center with a concert, Santa, hay rides and the official tree lighting. On Sunday afternoon, the Holiday Parade rolls down Dunlawton Avenue with floats, bands and local businesses. The parade was the 41st annual one in 2018, which puts its start in the late 1970s, and each year it picks a theme.
Christmas last year in Port Orange
Christmas in the Park 2025 was held on Saturday, December 6, from 5:30 to 8 pm at the Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater, 2001 City Center Circle. It was free and sponsored by AdventHealth. Families enjoyed a festive concert, a chance to meet Santa, a craft station, hay rides and the annual tree lighting. We could not confirm details of the 2025 parade, so for parade numbers we use the most recent verified reports, which are from 2018 and 2023.
Fun facts about Christmas in Port Orange
The 2018 parade theme was Christmas movies, and one float built from papier-mache and duct tape took more than 75 hours to make. A man dressed as Snoopy rode on top of a dog house. In 2023 the theme was A Very Florida Christmas, with boats and floats along Dunlawton Avenue. Hay rides have been part of the holiday weekend, and Spruce Creek High School marching bands have joined the parade.
Traditions today
- Christmas in the Park: A free evening at City Center with a concert, Santa, crafts, hay rides and the tree lighting.
- Annual tree lighting: The official lighting ceremony at City Center, with local student performers and a full amphitheater.
- Port Orange Holiday Parade: A Sunday afternoon parade along Dunlawton Avenue with a new theme each year.
- Hay rides: Hay rides at City Center are part of the Christmas in the Park evening.
- Cops for Christmas Toy Drive: The police department collected unwrapped toys for local families in 2023.
A fact for kids
Port Orange has a Christmas parade with a theme every year, and in 2018 one float took more than 75 hours to build from papier-mache and duct tape.
Questions about Christmas in Port Orange
What is Christmas in the Park in Port Orange?
Christmas in the Park is Port Orange's free community holiday evening at City Center. On Saturday, December 6, 2025, it ran from 5:30 to 8 pm at the Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater with a concert, a chance to meet Santa, a craft station, hay rides and the annual tree lighting. AdventHealth was the sponsor.
Where is the Port Orange tree lighting held?
The tree lighting takes place at City Center, in front of the Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater at 2001 City Center Circle. In 2025 it was part of Christmas in the Park. At a past tree lighting the amphitheater was full for the concert and lighting, so arriving early helps families find a place to sit.
How old is the Port Orange Holiday Parade?
The parade was already the 41st annual one in December 2018, so it dates to around the late 1970s. A city newsletter in 2023 called it the 45th annual, so the exact count is unclear. Either way, it has been a Port Orange tradition for more than 40 years.
Where does the Port Orange Holiday Parade go?
The parade runs along Dunlawton Avenue, the town's main road. In 2018 it started on Dunlawton and headed east, ending on Spruce Creek Road, with the avenue closed between Nova Road and Powers Avenue. Routes and closures can change, so check our Port Orange Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
What themes has the Port Orange parade used?
The parade picks a theme each year. In 2018 it was Christmas movies, with a float based on A Charlie Brown Christmas, and in 2023 it was A Very Florida Christmas, with boats and floats. Themes give kids a fun way to spot what each float is about.
What was the Port Orange parade like in 2018?
Thousands of residents lined Dunlawton Avenue in 2018 to see floats, marching bands and small business groups. Spruce Creek High School bands marched, and one church float built from papier-mache and duct tape took over 75 hours to make. A man dressed as Snoopy rode atop a dog house.
Does Santa come to Port Orange?
Yes. Santa meets families at Christmas in the Park at City Center. The 2025 event on December 6 included a chance to meet Santa, and in 2018 his arrival was set for 7 pm. Check the city's event page for this year's schedule.
Are there hay rides at the Port Orange holiday event?
Yes. Hay rides were part of Christmas in the Park in 2025. In 2018 Cracker Creek provided carriage and hay rides, and a 2023 city newsletter also listed hayrides. Rides and weather can change, so check the city's event page for this year's rides and times.
Is Christmas in the Park free?
Yes. The city listed Christmas in the Park on December 6, 2025, as free. The concert, craft station, hay rides, meeting Santa and the tree lighting were all part of the evening. Check our Port Orange Christmas events guide on this page for this year's date and any changes before you go.
Who runs the holiday celebration in Port Orange?
The city's Parks and Recreation department organized the 2018 holiday weekend, which paired Christmas in the Park on Saturday with the parade on Sunday. The city's calendar lists the current Christmas in the Park event. That weekend format has been used for years, according to newsletters from 2018 and 2023.
What does the tree lighting ceremony mean for kids?
It marks the start of the holiday season at City Center. At a past tree lighting, Vice Mayor Bob Ford told the crowd, in words reported by a local paper, that it does not matter what is under the tree but who is around it. Kids can enjoy the music, then watch the tree light up.
Who performs at Port Orange Christmas in the Park?
Local groups often perform. At a past tree lighting Commonwealth Christian Academy performed, and in 2023 the program included a live choir. In 2018 a Christmas concert opened the evening at 6 pm. Check our Port Orange Christmas events guide on this page for this year's performers.
When is the Port Orange holiday weekend each year?
It falls on the first weekend of December. Christmas in the Park was Saturday, December 6, 2025, December 2, 2023, and December 1, 2018, and the parade was held the next day in 2018 and 2023. Exact dates move, so use our Port Orange Christmas events guide on this page.
Is there a toy drive in Port Orange at Christmas?
Yes. In 2023 the Police Department and Spouses Backing the Blue ran Cops for Christmas, collecting unwrapped toys through December 21 at the Police Department and City Hall for local families. Drives change each year, so check current city notices before you donate.
How do I explain a Florida Christmas parade to young children?
Tell them it is like a Christmas parade up north, but with sunshine. Floats can have movie characters, and bands march past while neighbors wave. In 2023 the theme was A Very Florida Christmas, with boats and floats along Dunlawton Avenue, so children could look for the boats.
What should families bring to the Port Orange parade?
Bring folding chairs, water and sunscreen, since December in Florida can be warm. The parade has traditionally started in the afternoon, at 2 pm in 2018 and 2023, and Dunlawton Avenue closes about an hour earlier. Plan to arrive early and keep a meeting spot in mind with children.
How big are the crowds in Port Orange?
In 2018 thousands of residents lined Dunlawton Avenue for the parade, and the amphitheater was full at a past tree lighting. No exact attendance counts were published in the sources we read. Arrive early, and consider parking a little farther away to avoid road closures.
Is there a Christmas lights display in Port Orange?
We did not find a verified Port Orange light show, but the City Center tree lighting is the town's official lighting ceremony. Nearby, Magic of Lights at Daytona International Speedway appeared on a 2024 regional list. Check our Port Orange Christmas events guide on this page for current displays.
When did Port Orange first celebrate Christmas this way?
We could not find a verified start year for Christmas in the Park. We know the parade was the 41st annual in 2018, so it began around the late 1970s. The park event has been paired with the parade for years, and our Port Orange Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's schedule.
Are there Florida railroad museums for Christmas train fans?
We did not find a verified Florida rail museum for this page, so we cannot name one with confidence. Our Port Orange Christmas events guide on this page lists current family events, including any train-related story times, and your local library is a good place to ask.
Sources
- Christmas in the Park, City of Port Orange
- Thousands of Port Orange residents make the 41st annual Christmas parade one to remember, Observer Local News
- Christmas weekend Dec. 1-2 in Port Orange: concert, parade, Santa, hayrides, Observer Local News
- Port Orange celebrates holidays with tree lighting ceremony, Observer Local News
- City newsletter, December 1, 2023, City of Port Orange
- Christmas Events 2024, Port Orange area, Christmas Sites