Miami, Florida's Holiday Lights: Winterfest Boat Parade and More

Christmas in my family is all about lights, presents and lots of good food, so to help you out I have put together some of the best places in Miami, Florida, to see some of the most spectacular holiday lights you will ever see.

One of the most memorable places my kids remember and looked forward to every year was Santa's Enchanted Forest located at 7900 SW 40th Street (bird road). Each year this amazing show of over 3,000,000 lights and 100 different carnival rides is surely a place you need to see before the holiday season ends. With every step you take after buying the tickets ($23.50 adults, $15.50 children) is a mind boggling experience that you will never forget. Beautiful Christmas lights light up the entire walkway to the carnival rides, which is about 5 miles. Before you hit the rides, you will be amazed by the 92 foot Christmas tree decorated with candy canes, Christmas balls, and millions of pieces of garland. This tree is one of the most spectacular trees I have ever seen in my entire life. You and your family cannot go wrong with this traditional holiday event in Miami, Florida. Santa's Enchanted Forest runs from November 8th - January 6th and is open from 5pm to midnight. If you do not go to anything else, do not miss Santa's Enchanted Forest !

The City of Miami will be lighting up their spectacular 20 foot Christmas tree this coming December 1st. Located at 3500 Pan American Drive, this annual event will will give away 100 presents to the first 100 children to arrive at this festive festivity that starts at 6:00 pm. Along with the lighting of the Christmas tree there will be a tropical theme that includes sand, beach balls and steel drums that will perform everyone's favorite holiday songs. Performing at the City of Miami Tree Ceremony will be the Miami PAN Symphony, New World School of the Arts and an amazing performance by the Optimist Cheerleaders from Williams Park. So bring your family or bring yourself, but do not miss this beautiful array of holiday lights.

Last but not least we have the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade that will be starting at 6:30 pm. on December 15th. Being a Florida resident for so long, I have to encourage all of you who have not seen this spectacular parade, to go and see it. Starting out on the New River, the boat parade of lights travels east to the intracoastal waterway as it goes north to Lake Santa Barbara. As with every year, each Winterfest has its own theme, this years theme is "Magical Move Moments". This parade of extravagant boats lit up for all to gaze upon is one of the most beautiful array of holiday lights that Floridians and tourists who visit Florida will ever see. Although watching the Winterfest Boat Parade is free, some would rather have the perfect seats, such as grandstand seat, if your interested in buying tickets for the grandstand seats, prices are $20.00 for adults, and $15.00 for children under 10. Further information is located at Winterfest.com. Again if you happen to be in the Miami area on Dec.15th, try and make this event. The kids will love it, you will love it, all I can say is that it is like Disney World on the water, amazing.