Make a Day of the Holidays at The Packing District

From football and family outings to an annual tree lighting and live music under the stars, there’s plenty to put on the calendar at The Packing District this holiday season.

Thanksgiving weekend brings football to Walter’s Tavern, located inside the historic Great Southern Box Co. Food Hall. Gather around the screens for the game, grab a drink, and let everyone choose something to eat from the food hall. It’s a laid-back way to keep the holiday weekend going with family and friends.

On Friday, December 4, The Packing District will host its Holiday Tree Lighting from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Great Southern Box Co. Food Hall. Families can enjoy food and beverage specials while gathering around the tree before heading over to the Grove Park for the annual Holiday Pops concert.

At 7 p.m., the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra takes the stage at the Della Phillips Pavilion for Holiday Pops. Bring blankets and lawn chairs and settle in for an evening of holiday classics in the park. Local vendors will be on hand, and free parking will be available at the Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA.

It’s the kind of evening that makes it easy to turn one stop into an entire night out. Grab dinner before the concert, meet friends at the tree lighting, or stay awhile after the music and enjoy everything happening in the community.

There are plenty of smaller ways to enjoy the season, too. Stop at Foxtail for a festive beverage, enjoy family fun for everyone at High Point Climbing & Fitness, bring the family dog to Dougie’s Dog Bar, or explore the 4Roots Farmers Market. With dining, recreation, and gathering places throughout The Packing District, there’s always another reason to stop by.

Then, on Sunday, December 13, the Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA will host the Jingle Jog 5K & Fun Run. Run it, walk it, or cheer from the sidelines, then make a morning of it with a stop somewhere else in the district.

For families, the holidays are often made up of these little outings: meeting friends after school, grabbing coffee on a Saturday morning, watching football together, finding a new place to eat, or spending an evening outside listening to music.

This season, The Packing District has plenty of opportunities to do all of it in one place.

So, bring the family, invite the grandparents, call the friends you’ve been meaning to see, and make some room on the calendar. There’s a lot to do, and even more reason to spend a little more time together.

Sponsored by The Packing District Orlando. Images courtesy of The Packing District Orlando. Originally published in the November/December 2026 issue of Orlando Parenting Magazine.