Looking for some Christmas spirit? Try these Miami-area holiday attractions 

The holiday season in Miami pretty much kicks off once Home Goods sells out of Halloween decorations. Santa’s Enchanted Forest has been open in its new home in Hialeah since early November. Zoo Lights are up. NightGarden kicked off at Fairchild. It’s safe to say things are in full swing.

Here are some of the best places in South Florida to get in the holiday spirit.

Nightgarden

The lights illuminate the sky, the trees, the guests, even a glass Chihuly sculpture. Snow shimmers and falls amid brightly lit palm trees. Shy fairies reveal themselves in a tropical rain forest.

And Miami shines just a little brighter as the holiday season begins, because the NightGarden is back.

The spectacular outdoor lights display at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables came back after a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic with around 125,000 lights, food vendors, interactive adventures — and a genuine sense of happiness at returning to South Florida.

Zoo lights

The annual Zoo Lights exhibit lights up the night with a million bright lights, glowing zoo animals (not real ones) and a 26-foot holiday tree illuminated by LED lights.

Santa Claus will put in an appearance, obviously, but there will also be animal encounters, boat rides, music, arts and crafts and hot chocolate and cookies, plus a talking tree.

Throughout the holiday season families can enjoy special nights, including PJ Night, Superhero Night and Galaxy Night, where you can dress up like a character from “Star Wars,” “Star Trek” or “Guardians of the Galaxy.” And be sure you drag your ugliest holiday sweater out of the closet, because there are a few nights you can show that off, too.

Santa’s Enchanted Forest

Santa’s Enchanted Forest reopened at its new location at Hialeah Park with rides, food vendors, games, a giant Christmas tree and enough lights to get you in a holiday frame of mind once the sun goes down and the holiday-themed amusement park lights up. (Santa’s, like most of us, looks best in the dark.)

The new home feels familiar, right down to the iconic entrance and the new trail of lighted trees leaning above the park’s main path. They’re Florida pines, just like the originals back at Tropical Park.

Miracle in Miami

Miami’s over-the-top Christmas bar is back — and this time, the holiday Miracle is popping up in two different locations.

The pop-up holiday bar Miracle in Miami from DRINK Miami returns for a month to serve up holiday-themed cocktails, along with a healthy serving of Christmas music, events, snowfall and so much holiday decor you’ll think you’re at The Christmas Palace.

The bar will set up shop in the hidden bar at Gramps in Wynwood and also take over The Hub at The Doral Yard. Both locations will host holiday karaoke, cocktail workshops and onesie parties (hence the need for holiday cocktails).

Miami City Ballet’s The Nutcracker

For some people, the holiday season isn’t complete until they have witnessed the intrepid young Marie vanquish a giant rat with a ballet slipper. Miami City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is always a crowd pleaser. A live orchestra plays Tchaikovsky’s iconic melodies, and more than 100 dancers bring the story to life with a set and costumes created by Cuban-American artists Ruben and Isabel Toledo and breathtaking stage effects by Wendall K. Harrington. This year’s shows run Dec. 10-30 at the Broward Center, Arsht Center and the Kravis Center.

More info here.

Tell us which holiday attraction is your favorite. This poll is not scientific and will close on Dec. 3. We will announce the winner on social media.

This story was originally published November 26, 2021 at 10:13 AM.