ILUMINA: A Tropical Garden Lantern Festival at Mounts Botanical Garden
2025-11-28 17:30 - 22:30, 2025-11-29 17:30 - 22:30, 2025-11-30 17:30 - 22:30, 2025-12-03 17:30 - 22:30, 2025-12-04 17:30 - 22:30, 2025-12-05 17:30 - 22:30, 2025-12-06 17:30 - 22:30, 2025-12-07 17:30 - 22:30 UTC and 12 more dates | Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 N Military Trl, West Palm Beach, 33415
Mounts Botanical Garden’s popular holiday light spectacular is back – bigger, brighter, and more dazzling than ever – with ILUMINA: A Tropical Garden Lantern Festival. Step into a world of light, color, and wonder with ILUMINA: A Tropical Garden Lantern Festival – where nature, art, and imagination come alive in a radiant celebration of light.
As night falls, ILUMINA transforms Mounts Botanical Garden’s lush landscape into a glowing paradise filled with more than 500 handcrafted glowing silk lanterns, inspired by the plants, animals, and vibrant spirit of the tropics. As you stroll through illuminated pathways, you’ll encounter towering chameleons, radiant flamingos, shimmering butterflies, luminous orchids, and the festival’s breathtaking centerpiece – a 195-foot dragon rising from the Garden’s lake, a masterpiece of color and light that leaves you in awe. ILUMINA is family-friendly and walkable, making it an ideal evening outing for couples and friends.
ILUMINA is more than an exhibition – it’s a celebration of art, culture, and community spirit you don’t want to miss!
What: ILUMINA: A Tropical Garden Lantern Festival
When: Nov.12, 2025 – Jan. 11, 2026
Where: Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415 (between Southern Blvd. and Belvedere Rd.)
Hours: Wednesdays to Sundays; 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
Tickets: https://www.mounts.org/ilumina/ (Mounts Members $16 adults/$2 age 2-17; Non-Members $26 adults/$10 age 2-17).
Groups (12 or more) & Private Events: tickets@mounts.org; 561-233-1757
Parking: Complimentary on-site parking

Half price for Heroes
2025-11-29 | Cox Science Center, 4801 Dreher Trail North, Weest Palm Beach, FL, 33405

Swamp Serving Alligator Feeding
2025-12-01 16:00 - 16:30, 2025-12-08 16:00 - 16:30, 2025-12-15 16:00 - 16:30, 2025-12-22 16:00 - 16:30 | Busch Wildlife, 17855 Rocky Pines Road, Jupiter, FL, 33478
Stop by our Sanctuary on Mondays at 4 PM for our weekly Alligator presentation and feeding! Come see the mighty Florida Alligator and learn all about why they are such an important keystone species, how they help the environment and much more!

Lights 4 Hope Family Fun Night Lights
2025-12-06 - 2025-12-27 | Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL, 33413
Kick off your holidays at the 1st ever Family Fun Night & Stroll thru the lights at Okeeheelee Park.
Stroll thru the 2.5 mile light show, enjoy food trucks, vendors, bounce houses, train rides, holiday movie, and more!
Tickets may be purchased at www.lights4hope.org

Breakfast with Santa at Galleria Fort Lauderdale
2025-12-06 09:00 - 11:00 | Galleria Fort Lauderdale, 2414 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, 33304
Galleria Fort Lauderdale will welcome families for Breakfast with Santa, its cherished holiday tradition, on Saturday, December 6, at 9 a.m., at Seasons 52. This festive event invites guests to enjoy a morning filled with holiday cheer, interactive fun, and magical moments with Santa Claus.
Guests will be treated to a family meal, arts and crafts, entertainment, and a photo opportunity with Santa. This annual event also marks the launch of Santa’s stay at Galleria Fort Lauderdale, where families can take keepsake portraits for a nominal fee throughout the season.
Tickets are $30 per person; children under 2 are free. Reservations are required by calling (954) 564-1015.
For more information about Galleria Fort Lauderdale or for a complete list of retailers, call (954) 564-1015 or visit www.galleriamall-fl.com.

Future Wavemakers Challenge | Open for Kids ages 4 - 18! Due 1/28/26
2025-12-08 08:00 - 2026-01-28 17:00
Calling ALL Parents & Teachers!
The Future Wavemakers Challenge is now open! Kids ages 4–18 can submit a short video or written idea about how they would protect Florida’s nature — and they could win scholarships up to $5,000. The Top School will win a $10,000 STEM Grant!
✨ Easy to enter
🌱 Big impact
🏆 Real opportunities
Deadline: January 28. https://futurewavemakers.org/challenge/

Photos with Santa
2025-12-18 16:30 - 19:30 | Hilton West Palm Beach, 600 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
On Thursday, December 18, the public can enjoy a heartwarming evening filled with festive activities at Hilton West Palm Beach. From 4:30-7:30PM, meet Santa Claus and take home a printed keepsake. Sip hot cocoa and nibble on cookies while crafting holiday-themed creations at the craft station, then gather for interactive games at Jingle & Mingle to bring out the festive spirit. As the evening winds down, cozy up under the stars for an outdoor screening of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch at 7:00PM.
Please bring one unwrapped toy for our annual toy drive with West Palm Beach Police Department.
More Information
– Reservations encouraged.
– Standard valet parking rates apply. Additional parking available at the public garages across the street at CityPlace.
– Photos will be printed and also emailed to you for download. Please allow 3 days for photo processing.

Winter Lights & Bites
2025-12-19 18:00 - 21:00 | Cox Science Center and Aquarium, 4801 Dreher Trail N, West Palm Beach, FL, 33405-3017, United States
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is bringing back Winter Lights & Bites, a family holiday event that will light up your season!
Get ready to sing, dance, and shine during our new sing-along holiday light show, where holiday favorites come to life in dazzling color. Stroll through our glowing outdoor exhibits, enjoy hands-on science fun, and cozy up with s’mores under the stars. Plus, feast on bites from local food trucks and be wowed by our shows on our science trail and outdoor amphitheater.
– Musical entertainment featuring Elsa and the Palm Beach Symphony
– Take your holiday photos and meet the one and only, Santa!
– Variety of Winter Themed Crafts and Hands-on Activities
– Free Face Painting
– DIY S’mores Station
– Enjoy dazzling holiday lights throughout our Science Trail
