Wekiva Island celebrates 10 years of holiday magic with Winter Wonderland from Nov. 30 to Dec. 25

Alastair Mac
Sep 17
4 min read

The popular Central Florida Christmas tradition includes more family-friendly events than ever.

Wekiva Island celebrates holiday magic with Winter Wonderland

Florida might be known for sunshine and palm trees, but when guests step onto Wekiva Island this season, they’re bound to feel a wintery chill and a blast of holiday spirit.

The Seminole County sustainable attraction will celebrate a decade of its Winter Wonderland tradition from Nov. 30 to Christmas Day. The Island will sparkle with thousands of twinkling lights and festive holiday décor accented by nightly “snow” flurries that almost feel like the real thing.

“We started Winter Wonderland to give Florida kids a taste of the holiday magic the Weinaug family had growing up in western New York,” said Carrie Vanderhoef, manager. “It’s incredible to see it hit 10 years and know what a tradition this event has become for our community.”

Check out the latest Christmas and Holiday News from throughout Central Florida. From the theme parks, to the attractions, shopping malls and resort hotels, you will be dazzled with holiday cheer, including the most spectacular events at the theme parks and attractions, glittering community events and parades, plus, magical parties, eats and treats, and so much more!

A Christmas Tree Forest will light up, anchored by a 30-foot tree, and upstairs, Santa’s Workshop will overflow with cheer, featuring Santa’s office, Mrs. Claus’ bakery, tons of photos ops and more. Santa will sit on his throne in the workshop, meeting children of all ages, every weekend through Dec. 21.

This year’s celebration will include all of Islanders’ favorite events, plus some new chances for fun.

Holiday Market—NEW THIS YEAR! Wander a unique wonderland of local vendors and find something for everyone on your list. 1-5 p.m. Nov. 30.
Tree Lighting—Stick around after the festive market for the official kick off for Winter Wonderland as we light up the Christmas Tree Forest. 7 p.m. Nov. 30.
Donuts with Santa—NEW THIS YEAR! Make the holiday season even sweeter with donuts and a hot chocolate bar while visiting Santa. 9-11 a.m. Dec. 7, $12 per person.
Breakfast with Santa—Enjoy one of the most unique venues for this popular event. There are two weekends for Breakfast with Santa at Wekiva Island. 9-11 a.m. Dec. 14 and 21, $29.95 for adults, $19.95 for those 10 and younger.
Ornament Decorating with Elves—Bring the kids to make a Christmas keepsake and enjoy a cookie and cup of cocoa with Santa’s helpers. 6-7 p.m. Dec. 1, 15 and 22, $10 per child.
Stories with Mrs. Claus—Let the kids enjoy some special time with Mrs. Claus as she reads beloved holiday tales. Children will also receive a cup of cocoa and a cookie. 6-7 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17, $10 per child.
Reindeer Feed Making with Mrs. Claus—Santa’s reindeer deserve a treat too! Let the kids prep for the big night with Mrs. Claus while they enjoy a cup of cocoa and a cookie. 6-7 p.m. Dec. 8 and 18, $10 per child.
Visit from The Grinch and Whoville Elves—Meet The Grinch himself on one of the biggest weekends of Winter Wonderland. 2-6 p.m. Dec. 13.
Visit from Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie—Christmas Vacation fans can meet two legends as they inspect Wekiva Island’s holiday décor. 6-9 p.m. Dec. 20.
Outdoor Movies—Enjoy a holiday classic, riverside. Bring blankets/lawn chairs. Hot cocoa and popcorn for purchase. 7-9 p.m. Dec. 7, 14 and 21.

Wekiva Island’s General Store will also feature a variety of unique gifts. Guests are invited to sip and shop from 6-7 p.m. Dec. 11. Additionally, the Island elves will provide free gift wrapping for ANY gifts on Dec. 16 and 22, so guests can grab a drink and relax while the elves make holiday magic.

In the spirit of the season, Island-goers can also give back. Wekiva Island will be accepting new, unwrapped toys for Kids House of Seminole from Nov. 28 to Dec. 15. Those who bring a gift to the sip and shop will receive a free ornament.

Wekiva Wild River Tours will also be offering special holiday boat tours of the Wekiva River, including fun and funky themed décor. More information will be available at www.wekivawild.com.

Additionally, Wekiva Island will have a special cabana pop up during the holiday season. The popular VIP Cabana will be an explosion of holiday cheer, making renters feel like they’ve entered the North Pole. They can enjoy a hot cocoa bar and s’mores on the firepit in addition to typical cabana fun. Rentals are available at https://wekivaisland.com/reservations/.

Wekiva Island will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 25. Admission to Winter Wonderland is $5, and some events require an additional ticket.

For the full schedule, visit https://wekivaisland.com/winter-wonderland-2025/.

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