How do the Palm Beaches Celebrate the Holidays?

The Fuchs Group offers a quick guide to seasonal cheer!

While the sun and surf are often what lure home buyers to the Palm Beaches, it is the closeness of the community that encourages them to stay year-over-year. Even with all the challenges and chaos 2020 has brought, many community traditions will remain intact, and The Fuchs Group would like to take this opportunity to highlight just a few of the reasons why there’s no place like South Florida to call home for the holidays!

Delray Beach Decorates Downtown with a 100-ft Christmas Tree

Downtown Delray Beach has a tremendous dedication to the holiday spirit, exemplified early with their “Shop Small” Saturday event on November 28^th(encouraging folks to support small businesses this holiday season), and maintained through New Year’s Day with festive holiday décor and the lighting of their 100-ft Christmas Tree.

The tree has been a staple of Delray for 26 years, and it was named “Best Tree in Florida” by Travel & Leisure. If you can’t visit Rockefeller Center or the White House, then the Delray Christmas Tree is the one you want to see this year. In addition, every Monday is “Very Merry Monday,” whereby guests are encouraged to bring a toy for the Delray Beach Toy drive and, in exchange, receive Secret Santa tickets for a chance to win prizes from the local merchants. They are also hosting a Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Contest from Dec 1 to Dec 24. You can judge for yourself as you stroll downtown and then vote for your favorite merchant by sighing up here.

Sandi the Holiday Sand Tree returns!

Not to be outdone, the City of West Palm Beach has announced the return of Sandi, the world’s only 35-ft, 700-ton holiday sand tree, debuting for her 9^th season on the waterfront Saturday, Dec 5^th.

Unfortunately, in order to comply with national, statewide, and local safety mandates, there will not be a tree-lighting ceremony, and a few activities that don’t lend themselves well to social distancing have been omitted for this season, but there are several activities planned that make it a fun, safe place to visit, including:

Santa! – Safely distanced in his lifeguard chair, families will be able to have a grand photo opportunity with Santa in paradise!

Sing-along and/or Storytime – Families are welcome to gather in spaces safely determined, while Sandi the tree sings along or read aloud! Reservations will be required for this free event to ensure the utmost safety.

Surprise “Pop-Up” Entertainment – Stop by frequently to catch some of the unexpected entertainment that will be popping up throughout Sandi’s display!

Sandi will be on the Great Lawn, at the east end of Clematis Street, just west of Flagler Drive. Parking is available in City of West Palm Beaches garages, or if you would like to arrive by boat, you can take advantage of the City’s free public docks.

Zoo Lights in Palm Beach

Presented by FPL Solar Now, Zoo Lights will have more than 1 million eco-friendly LED lights this holiday season. You can enjoy a socially distanced outdoor stroll thru nature, dance to the DJ playing family-friendly holiday fare, take a picture with Santa, make s’mores and more! Check for which nights are available for this *wild* holiday celebration here.

WRTS – Boca Raton Hanukkah Celebration!

The Director of Friendship House, Rabbi Sholom Kessler, will be there December 13^th for the celebration and the lighting of the Menorah! Call 561-218-0128 to book ahead.

Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Tradewinds Park

Just a little south and west of Palm Beach County is an experience worth the drive, before and during. For 25 years, the Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Coconut Creek’s Tradewinds Park has been the drive-thru seasonal destination of South Florida. With three miles of huge, animated displays and illuminated trees, it is truly a throwback to simpler times and perfect for the era of social distancing. There are literally millions of lights taking on the form of houses, reindeer, carousels, penguins, Santa and more! Open nightly from November 25^th to January 2^nd, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission is $20 per car and $40 per bus. Call 954-357-8870 or click here.