Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Lakeland: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

LAKELAND, FL — There are plenty of things going on around Lakeland to celebrate the 2023 winter holidays.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, starts at sundown on Dec. 7, and ends at nightfall on Dec. 15. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the season.

Hanukkah events around Lakeland include:

Hanukkah Dinner

Temple Beth Shalom, 1029 Bradbury Road, Winter Haven, invites the community to a Hanukkah Dinner on Friday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. The cost for congregation members is $18 and the cost for nonmembers is $20. Children under age 10 eat for free. RSVP to Lorraine Mixter at 863-409-8509 or lorrainemixter@aol.com by Dec. 6.

The following holiday performances will be offered:

Winter Dance Concert

A Winter Dance Concert will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Harrison School for the Arts' main theater, 750 Hollingsworth Road. Lakeland. From the waltzes of Tchaikovsky’s "Swan Lake" to the drama of Beethoven’s "Coriolan" and the enigmatic voice of Olafur Arnalds, the dance performances will reflect the spirit of the season.

Guest artist Jessica Taitz will present her new work performed by the juniors and seniors and premiered at the RISE program in Orlando. The diverse program includes upbeat jazz to classical ballet. Click here for tickets.

Nutcracker Experience

The Florida Dance Theatre and Polk County Schools have joined together in a collaborative effort called "The Nutcracker Education Experience," an immersive dance program centered around "The Nutcracker" ballet that aims to enhance students' dance skills, provide mentorships and promote dance. The fruits of the professional dance company's labors will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 3 and 7:30 p.m. when the Florida Dance Theatre celebrates its 30th year of performances in a presentation of the iconic holiday ballet with students from the Rochelle School of the Arts and Crystal Lake Elementary School at the Rochelle School of the Arts, 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland. Tickets are $8 and free to anyone with a valid Polk County Schools ID.

Then the Florida Dance Theatre will return on Friday, Dec. 15 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. with the full-length "Nutcracker" ballet at Florida Southern College's Branscomb Auditorium, 1100 Johnson Ave., Lakeland. Get tickets here.

Christmas Concert

Southeastern University School of Music will present a Christmas Concert on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at Bushel Chapel at Southeastern University, 1000 Longfellow Blvd., Lakeland. The SEU orchestra, choir, jazz ensemble and contemporary band will perform holiday music. Click herefor tickets.

Toast To The Holidays

The Lakeland Symphony Orchestra will perform holiday classics and a Christmas sing-along in Toast to the Holidays on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Polk Theatre, 139 S Florida Ave., Lakeland. Click here for tickets.

Key West Christmas

Swan Brewing, 115 W Pine St., Lakeland, will host a Key West Christmason Sunday, Dec. 17 from 2 to 5 p.m. featuring John Frinzi and Roger Bartlett of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, and surprise guests performing tropical holiday music. Bring a lawn chair. Seats fill up quickly. Click here.

Holiday lights abound at events throughout Lakeland:

Light Up Bonnet Springs Park

Experience love at first light at Bonnet Spring Park’s Light Up Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, happening nightly from Friday, Dec.15 to Sunday, Dec. 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Enjoy lights, holiday concerts, visits with Santa, seasonal food and drinks, snow and family-friendly activities during specially themed weekends:

Dec. 15-17

• Friday: All is Bright
• Saturday: Snowflake Soiree
• Sunday: Holiday Honky Tonk

Dec. 22-23

• Friday: Timeless Tidings
• Saturday: Jingle Bell Rock

Dec. 29-31

• Friday: Elves Night Off
• Saturday: Winter Wonderland
• Sunday: Glow in the Park

In addition, there will be sensory-friendly activities on Dec. 21 and 26.

Click here.

Don't miss the opportunity to celebrate the holidays at parades and other events in Lakeland:

Lakeland Christmas Parade

The 42nd annual Lakeland Christmas Parade with the theme "Christmas in Candy Land" will take place Thursday, Dec. 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. in downtown Lakeland. See floats, bands, decorated vehicles and Santa and Mrs. Claus as Lakeland celebrates the holiday season.

Hosted by the Junior League of Greater Lakeland and the Ccty of Lakeland, the Lakeland Christmas Parade, one of the city's largest events, steps off from the RP Funding Center at 7 p.m. for the 1.25-mile parade that winds through the city's streets, around Lake Mirror and back down Lemon Street.