Christmas Lights in Ocala 2026
Dates, hours and prices for this year's holiday light events in Ocala and Marion County, from the downtown tree lighting to World Equestrian Center's Winter Wonderland.
How We Checked This Guide
Dates, times and prices come from each organizer: the City of Ocala, World Equestrian Center, the Ocala Christmas Parade, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Sholom Park, the City of Belleview, the Dunnellon Chamber & Business Association, Grandview Clydesdale Farm and the USDA Forest Service. Where an organizer has not yet posted 2026 details, we say so rather than guess.
Last verified: October 3, 2026 | Updated October 21, 2026 | Confirm with the organizer before you go
2026 Holiday Light Events
The City of Ocala's 42nd annual kickoff to the season: 100+ vendors, a kids' zone, the Junior Sunshine Parade with Santa, and the lighting of downtown at 6 p.m.
World Equestrian Center's paid holiday light walk through the Grand Plaza, with Santa visits and the Grinch inside the indoor arenas.
The parade, themed "A Red, White, and Blue Christmas," rolls through southeast Ocala after dark with lighted floats. Our parade guide also covers the Dunnellon and Belleview parades.
The Dunnellon Chamber & Business Association's evening parade, themed "A Patriotic Christmas" for the nation's 250th anniversary.
A two-hour holiday tour of the Clydesdale farm among Christmas lights, decorations and themed trees, with the horses dressed in their show attire. Reservations online.
The City of Belleview lights the trees around its Lake Lillian, with craft and cottage-industry vendors (the 2026 vendor rules exclude food trucks). This is Belleview's event, not the Lake Lillian in northwest Ocala.
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra's 23rd annual outdoor holiday concert.
A crystal singing bowl sound bath and guided meditation, ending with floating luminaries released on the pond.
Ocala Christmas Light Spectacular: New Venue
The Ocala Christmas Light Spectacular is no longer held at Florida Horse Park. It moved to St. John Lutheran Church and School in Ocala. St. John had not announced its 2026 dates as of October 3, 2026. We will add them to the events calendar once they are posted.
Cut-Your-Own Christmas Trees
A cut-your-own Christmas tree farm north of Ocala that opens for the season on the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27, 2026).
Call (352) 239-2979 for hours and prices.
The USDA Forest Service sells permits on Recreation.gov to cut up to five trees in designated, signed areas of Ocala National Forest. The 2026 season runs Nov. 21 to Dec. 25, permits go on sale Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. Eastern, and each tree is $10. Trees may be up to 25 feet tall, and the printed permit must be carried in the forest.
More Holiday Shows
For indoor holiday entertainment, the Reilly Arts Center has Pops! Goes the Holidays (Dec. 5-6) and the Nutcracker with the OSO and Dance Alive (Dec. 11-12), and the Appleton Museum's A Dickens Christmas exhibition opens Nov. 7. See the full list on our Christmas events in Ocala guide, and for a meal after the lights on December 25, our list of restaurants open on Christmas Day in Ocala.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Light Up Ocala 2026?
When does WEC Winter Wonderland open in 2026?
Is Light Up Lake Lillian in Ocala?
Are there free Christmas lights in Ocala?
When is the 2026 Ocala Christmas Parade?
Is the Ocala Christmas Light Spectacular still at Florida Horse Park?
Where can I cut my own Christmas tree near Ocala?
Holiday Light Visiting Tips
- Buy WEC Winter Wonderland tickets in advance; day-of prices are higher
- Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday are the cheapest Winter Wonderland nights
- Arrive early for Light Up Ocala to find downtown parking before the 6 p.m. lighting
- Check the organizer's page on the day for weather changes
Plan Your Holiday Light Night
Start downtown at Light Up Ocala on Nov. 21, then add Winter Wonderland, the Christmas Parade and Belleview's Light Up Lake Lillian through December.
View Holiday EventsLuces de Navidad en Ocala 2026
La temporada de luces en Ocala comienza con Light Up Ocala, un evento gratis en el centro de Ocala el sábado 21 de noviembre de 2026, de 3 a 8 p.m., con el encendido de luces a las 6 p.m. WEC Winter Wonderland en el World Equestrian Center abre del 27 de noviembre al 23 de diciembre, de miércoles a domingo de 5 a 9 p.m., con boletos de $8 a $16 y entrada gratis para niños de 4 años o menos. El Desfile de Navidad de Ocala es el sábado 12 de diciembre a las 5:30 p.m. y es gratis. Light Up Lake Lillian es un evento de la ciudad de Belleview, no de Ocala.
Plan Ahead — Other Ocala Holidays
Bookmark these year-round Ocala holiday and seasonal guides for parades, fireworks, kid-friendly events, and family traditions in Marion County.