10 Easy Things to Do with Your Kids During Winter Break
Winter Break is here! Can you believe we are already at this time of year? The rush of the holidays is at its peak and another year is coming in just a matter of days! Before it’s too late, have some fun with your kids this Winter Break.
Speaking of winter, you can get cozy together and make some Christmas crafts or help out the community with these toy drives.
In Case You’re Interested:
>> Super Fun Family Restaurants
>> Cheap Family Fun
>> Orlando Hotels with Waterparks
And, make those NYE plans with our list of New Year’s Eve Events for Kids.
Family Fun During Winter Break
- Do something for FREE
- See Christmas lights and holiday decorations
- Classes and Workshops
- FREE Disney World Experiences
- See Santa and other characters
- Winter Wonderland Market and Magic Show
- Crayola Experience Colorful Christmas
- Asian Lantern Festival
- Holidays at the Historic Leu House Museum
- Painted Oaks Academy’s Christmas Wonderland
Keep reading for more info on each of these activities. There are ideas for every Orlando family, and visiting folks too!
Do Something for FREE
The holiday season can be an expensive time of year for families. Despite our best intentions to get creative with holiday gift ideas, many of us invariably overspend.
So make it easy on yourself and enjoy some of the many free kids’ activities in Orlando. Some of our favorite free ideas include Mead Botanical Garden, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Bonnet Springs Park, and much more.
Oh, What Fun! at Lake Nona
Final weekend! December 20, 21, 22
Enjoy nightly snowfall. Get a chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus in their whimsical winter cottage. Make holiday memories to last a lifetime with your loved ones along the Oh, What Fun! Photo Wall or in front of the signature 24-foot-tall Christmas tree in the heart of it all.
Of course, local playgrounds like Winter Park Community and Phelps Park are always free too.
Head to the Winter Park Library where the Masters of Storytellers of Central Florida will present Holiday Tales! Come listen as they show off their orating skills with stories perfect for the holidays.
Check out the Scavenger Hunt going on at Lukas Nursery & Butterfly Encounter through January 5. Get your Scavenger Hunt sheet from the Main Barn and then return the sheet when finished to receive a very special surprise for the kids!
Naturally, there are many free holiday events in Orlando too!
Christmas Lights and Displays
Orlando is simply dazzling this time of year. From special ticketed events to wonderous neighborhood displays there are beautiful Christmas lights and displays all around town.
Some of our favorite displays are free like at Lake Concord Park in Casselberry, Downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola Park, and Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs.
Classes and Workshops
With kids being out of school for winter break you may want some help keeping them entertained. There are many free classes and workshops for kids around town. You can enjoy hands-on activities for free.
And plenty of local businesses have some really cool classes for kids that are worth the money. From art and jewelry making to coding and cooking, Orlando kids have plenty of fun classes to enjoy.
FREE Disney World Experiences
Any parent in Orlando knows that the magic of Walt Disney World comes at a price. But there are quite a few free things you can do at Disney World, especially this time of year.
The best plan of action is to start at the free Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail. Then utilize Disney transportation to visit the resort hotels for either of DIY Monorail Tour or visit the gingerbread displays at Disney’s BoardWalk area.
See Santa and Other Characters
By now you may have gotten your fill of visiting Old St. Nick. But in case you haven’t seen the big man yet this year, or you can’t get enough, there are many places to get pictures with Santa Claus in Orlando.
And if you want to change things up, there are other fun characters around town like Santa Shark, The Grinch, and more. One of our favorite places to visit Santa is Wekiva Island which has an adorable new North Pole Workshop.
Winter Wonderland Market and Magic Show
Winter Wonderland Market
December 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 – 5-9pm
December 31, 7pm – midnight
JW Marriott, Grande Lakes (Located on the Valencia Lawn)
Discover the bliss of the holiday season at the Winter Wonderland Market. Stroll amongst European-inspired cottages featuring holiday delicacies, tasty beverages, and local artisan crafts.
There is no ticket required, and self parking can be validated when you make a purchase at one of the charming cottages.
Last year the cottages included the following treats and treasures:
- Hot Cocoa Bar – Bubble Waffles, Gingerbread Ornament Cookies, Hot Cocoa and more
- Cocktail Chalet – Mulled Wine, Tis’ The Season Sangria, Merry Mule, Burnt Baker Old Fashioned and more
- Elf Kitchen – Flatbreads, Chicken Fingers and Fries
- Raclette – Raclette Cheese and House-made Baguette Sandwich, Grilled Bratwurst, Soft Pretzels & Cheddar Fondue
- Arctic Treasures -Artisan Retail Shop
- Signature Shop – Retail from The Ritz-Carlton Orlando’s Luxury Lifestyle Boutique
- Montage – Retail from JW Marriott Orlando’s Bespoke Retail Store
- Spa -Skincare, candles, gift sets, and more
The Hot Cocoa Bar has some of the best hot cocoa you’ll ever taste plus tons of toppings to choose from, which also go great atop a bubble waffle with ice cream.
You can play a variety of yard games together and there are some small craft tables for kids too.
A free train ride goes around the perimeter of the festive lawn! And there is snowfall at 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
The Winter Wonderland Market at Grande Lakes is free and open to the public. You do not have to be a hotel guest to visit.
The Magic Show at Grande Lakes
Presented by acclaimed magician and America’s Got Talent finalist, Drew Thomas and his award-winning colleagues. This luxury VIP experience puts you right at the heart of breathtaking illusions, bringing the impossible to life just inches away.
General Admission: $49.99, Premier 2nd Row Seating: $69.99, VIP Front Row with Meet & Greet: $89.99
7PM AND 9PM
- Friday, December 20, 2024
- Friday, December 27, 2024
- Saturday, December 28, 2024
- Friday, January 10, 2025
- Saturday, January 11, 2025
- Friday, January 17, 2025
- Saturday, January 18, 2025
Crayola Experience Colorful Christmas
November 23, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Deck the halls with tons of COLOR and enjoy holiday fun the Crayola way! Meet our animatronic Christmas characters and listen to them tell stories as you solve their riddles. Pose with a life-sized snowglobe, watch a light show starring Scarlet and her singing reindeer friends, complete a seasonal scavenger hunt, craft handmade gifts from the heart, enjoy live entertainment, holiday treats and more. Activities included with general admission.
Plus, new this year, A Magical Circus Adventure is coming to Crayola Experience Orlando for a special visit on December 14 & 15. Inspired by the popular POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance book series, television special, and live show by Broadway Director and award-winning author Neil Goldberg.
Asian Lantern Festival
November 15, 2024 – January 19, 2025
One of the most beautiful events of the year is the Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo. The lanterns are stunning and there are multiple photo opportunities for kids! Wear comfortable walking shoes and plan to spend about an hour and a half strolling around the one-way path through the entire zoo.
Family packs with tickets and snacks are available. Take your time and try not to rush through. A note of caution, the playground is not open during this nighttime event, so prepare kids accordingly.
Holidays at the Historic Leu House Museum
November 29, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Tour the Historic Leu House Museum adorned with traditional designs that glimmer and glow. Guided tours allow you to enjoy the beauty of the decorations and uncover the rich history that makes the Gardens so special. Come for the charm and stay for the stories, and let the magic of the season fill your heart. Guided tours are offered Tuesday – Sundays every 30 minutes from 10:00 am with the last tour at 12:30 pm.
Painted Oaks Academy’s Christmas Wonderland
December 22, 2024, 1- 6pm
Head to Painted Oaks Academy for their annual Christmas Wonderland! Enjoy pony rides, hay rides, train rides, a petting zoo, Christmas lights, snow, and more. Of course, there will be a visit from Santa himself.
Admission is free with $5 parking.
Local Idea: Winter Break Activities at Kehlor Recreation Center
The City of Clermont will be offering FREE activities for kids during Winter Break. All activities are from 2-4pm. Class space is limited – RSVP to awright@clermontfl.org
- December 22: Winter Bingo
- December 27: STEM: Codding Unplugged
- December 28: STEM: Become a Crime Scene Investigator
- December 29: Paint a Snowman
Bonus Idea / Day Trip – 2024 Holidays in Space
DEC 15, 2024 – DEC 30, 2024
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX
Starflake’s Holiday Voyage returns this year for Holidays in Space! From December 15th – 30th, 2024, watch a nightly projected show on the massive exterior of Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex®. Embark on a breathtaking journey with Starflake as she travels through the stars, Earth, and beyond.
Festive holiday décor takes over the visitor complex throughout the entire month of December. The new favorite 50-foot tree with more than 61,000 pixels of light returns this year, the all-new Rocket Tree Trail Sponsored by L3Harris®, six-foot-tall astronaut nutcrackers, and more!
Wishing you a great Winter Break! By the way, if you’re heading to Tampa, check out these holiday things to do with kids in Tampa Bay from our sibling site!
