Glowing Gardens at the Arboretum Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, Deck the Chairs at the beach, Symphony Holiday Pops and Nutcracker, Santa and Hanukkah dates.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page: the Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Jacksonville Beach Deck the Chairs, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the Jacksonville Symphony, the city’s Office of Special Events, Orange Park Mall and Hebcal for the Hanukkah dates.

Jacksonville’s holiday season opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving with the city’s tree lighting, boat parade and fireworks downtown, and runs into January with light displays at the Arboretum and the beach. The tree lighting and Light Boat Parade have their own page: Christmas parade and tree lighting in Jacksonville.

At a glance

  • Tree lighting, Light Boat Parade, fireworks: Saturday, Nov. 28, downtown, free
  • Glowing Gardens, Arboretum: Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
  • Deck the Chairs, Jacksonville Beach: Nov. 25 to Jan. 1, free
  • Holiday Pops: Dec. 3-6; Nutcracker: Dec. 18-20; Messiah: Dec. 19-20
  • Hanukkah: begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4
  • Christmas trash: Friday customers are picked up Saturday, Dec. 26

Light displays

  • Glowing Gardens, Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 1445 Millcoe Road, Arlington. The Arboretum’s holiday light show returns for its third year Friday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Jan. 3, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are sold on the Arboretum’s events page.
  • Jacksonville Beach Deck the Chairs, Nov. 25, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2027. Five weeks of free holiday arts and entertainment around decorated lifeguard chairs at the Seawalk Pavilion and Latham Plaza in Jacksonville Beach, run by the Students in the Arts Alliance since 2013. Weekly schedule.
  • Colors of the Wild, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The Zoo’s Asian lantern festival ran on select nights from November to February last season. The Zoo had not announced a 2026-27 season when we checked. Zoo page.

Neighborhood displays change from year to year. If your street puts on a public display, send the address and dates through our contact page.

Downtown on Nov. 28

The city’s free Holiday River Fest starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. The city Christmas tree is lit at Riverfront Plaza, 2 W. Independent Drive, at 6:25 p.m., the Light Boat Parade sets off at 6:30 p.m., winners are announced at 8:15 p.m. and fireworks, including the waterfall from the Main Street and Acosta bridges, follow at about 8:30 p.m. There is hot cocoa, food trucks and family activities on the plaza. Details: city event page.

Santa visits

  • Orange Park Mall, Saturday, Nov. 14. Santa’s Grand Arrival at the mall’s free Heroes and Holidays day, 1910 Wells Road, Orange Park, about 12 miles southwest, with a family fun run, vendors and activities until 1 p.m. Event page.

We could not confirm 2026 Santa dates at St. Johns Town Center or The Avenues when we checked; we will add them once the centers post them. Churches, libraries and community groups hosting a public Santa visit can send details through our contact page.

Holiday concerts

From the Jacksonville Symphony’s holiday calendar, at Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 Water St., unless noted:

Concert Dates and times
Home Alone in Concert Friday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21, 2 and 7 p.m.
Holiday Big Band, Jacksonville Jazz Collective Sunday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m.
Holiday Pops Thursday, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5, 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.
Holiday brass, organ and percussion with organist Greg Zelek Saturday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra holiday concert Monday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m.
First Coast Nutcracker Friday, Dec. 18, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 19, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m.
Handel’s Messiah Saturday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 20, 3 p.m.

The Friday 11 a.m. Holiday Pops is a one-hour show without the chorus and dancers. The box office is 904-354-5547.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, Dec. 12, according to Hebcal. Jacksonville’s Chabad centers have held public menorah lightings in past years, including at St. Johns Town Center and in San Marco; none had posted 2026 plans when we checked. We will add each public lighting here once the host announces it.

Holiday markets and skating

The RAM Holiday Market at the Riverside Arts Market, 715 Riverside Ave., and the Artist Walk Ice Rink next to it are covered on our holiday shopping page.

What this means for you

  • Glowing Gardens sells tickets on the Arboretum’s events page; book before you go.
  • Downtown on Nov. 28, arrive early for a spot on the Riverwalk.
  • Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25: Friday trash is picked up Saturday, Dec. 26, per the city’s holiday schedule.

Related: New Year’s Eve in Jacksonville, Thanksgiving and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Christmas lights in Jacksonville in 2026?

Glowing Gardens at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens runs Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Deck the Chairs lights the lifeguard chairs in Jacksonville Beach from Nov. 25 to Jan. 1.

When is the Jacksonville Christmas tree lighting in 2026?

At 6:25 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Riverfront Plaza, during the city’s free Holiday River Fest, followed by the Light Boat Parade at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks at about 8:30 p.m.

When is Holiday Pops with the Jacksonville Symphony?

Dec. 3-6, 2026, at Jacoby Symphony Hall, with evening and matinee shows. The First Coast Nutcracker is Dec. 18-20 and Handel’s Messiah Dec. 19-20.

When is Hanukkah 2026?

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, Dec. 12. Jacksonville congregations had not posted 2026 public menorah lightings when we checked.