Plantation's holiday season: a November parade to City Hall, Light Up City Hall in early December and Santa's Christmas Eve rides through neighborhoods. 2026 dates TBA.

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. This page is updated each year. The City of Plantation has not yet posted its 2026 holiday events, so the details below come from its 2025 calendar listings for the Holiday Parade, Light Up City Hall, Movies in the Park: “Elf” and Santa’s Visit, and from the city’s history timeline. Questions: Parks and Recreation, 954-452-2510.

Plantation’s holiday season has four city traditions: the “It’s a Wonderful Life in Plantation” Holiday Parade in late November, Light Up City Hall in early December, a holiday movie night with a boat parade, and Santa’s Visit, when Santa rides through the neighborhoods on Christmas Eve. The city has held a Christmas parade since Nov. 29, 1969, when the local Jaycees organized the first, according to its history timeline.

Who to call

  • Parks and Recreation (all city holiday events): 954-452-2510
  • Santa’s Visit routes and live tracker: the city’s Santa’s Visit page
  • Plantation Historical Museum (Winter Wonderland exhibit): 954-797-2722

Holiday Parade

In 2025 the parade was Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 to 11 a.m. The route, from the city’s listing:

  • Starts at Broward Boulevard and NW 46th Avenue
  • Turns north on NW 69th Avenue
  • Turns west on NW 4th Street to City Hall, 400 NW 73rd Ave.

Groups, organizations and businesses can apply to march; in 2025 applications were due Nov. 7, through Parks and Recreation at 954-452-2510.

Light Up City Hall

The city’s holiday lighting celebration was Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, from 5 to 9 p.m. at City Hall, 400 NW 73rd Ave. The city listed selfies with Santa, ice skating, snow, vocal groups, food trucks and crafts, plus the winner of its “There’s Snow Place Like Plantation” contest.

Movie night and boat parade

On Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, the city showed “Elf” free at Pop Travers Field, 6250 SW 16th St., with gates at 5:30 p.m. and the movie at dark. The night also featured the Plantation Boat Parade, in which residents decorate their boats, the city said. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.

Santa’s Visit on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Santa and his elves ride Plantation’s streets with sirens announcing their arrival and hand out candy canes, the city says. Children should listen for the sirens and wait at the curb with a parent. In 2025 the visits ran from 5 to 10 p.m. The city’s Santa’s Visit page has a map to find your route among 17, and on Christmas Eve it shows each route’s live position, refreshed every 10 minutes.

Winter Wonderland at the museum

The Plantation Historical Museum, 511 N. Fig Tree Lane, puts on a Winter Wonderland holiday exhibit in December. The city’s timeline records the 30th edition drawing 3,000 visitors and the 35th shown virtually in 2020. Call 954-797-2722 for this year’s dates; the museum is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Trash pickup over the holidays

There is no garbage or recycling collection on Christmas Day, the city says. Trees under 6 feet can go out with your blue bags; cut taller trees in half, or drop them at Public Works, 750 NW 91st Ave., for mulching. See our trash and recycling guide.

What this means for you

  • Watch for the 2026 parade date in November; we will update this page when the city posts it.
  • On Christmas Eve, check the route map so the kids are outside when Santa’s siren comes by.
  • Drop your tree at Public Works after the holidays and pick up free mulch later.

Related: things to do this month, history and landmarks and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Plantation Christmas parade?

The 2026 date has not been announced. In 2025 the city’s “It’s a Wonderful Life in Plantation” Holiday Parade was Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 to 11 a.m., ending at City Hall.

What is the Plantation holiday parade route?

In 2025 it began at Broward Boulevard and NW 46th Avenue, turned north on NW 69th Avenue and west on NW 4th Street to City Hall, 400 NW 73rd Ave.

Does Plantation have a tree lighting?

The city’s holiday lighting event is Light Up City Hall. In 2025 it was Saturday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 9 p.m., with selfies with Santa, ice skating, snow, singers, food trucks and crafts.

Does Santa come through Plantation neighborhoods on Christmas Eve?

Yes. On Christmas Eve the city’s Santa’s Visit sends Santa and his elves down Plantation streets with sirens, handing out candy canes; in 2025 it ran from 5 to 10 p.m. The city posts route maps and live tracking on its Santa’s Visit page.