Miami’s biggest Christmas attraction just opened. Take a look
Baby, it’s cool (ish) outside, and you know what that means. Christmas Wonderland is back in action as of Thursday night.
For the third year, Tropical Park has turned into the most magical place in Miami, hosting the immersive, 14-acre holiday attraction. Divided into six festive sections — one more Instagrammable than the next — Christmas Wonderland is ground zero for holiday cheer and photo ops.
The fun starts as you walk through the Wonder Portal, an LED archway that leads you to Tinsel Trail — a half-mile-long stretch filled with gingerbread houses, a Santa meet-and-greet, a singing trio of reindeer, dancing elves, Christmas trees and holiday tunes galore, from Bing Crosby to Mariah Carey.
The HoliDade area is a must-stop, with life-size dioramas of 305 ‘hoods, including Wynwood, with graffiti-filled walls by local artist Rigo Leon; Miami Beach and its lifeguard station; and Westchester’s “Snow Bowl,” a flurry flecked bowling alley inspired by 1950s landmark Bird Bowl. Bars selling Merry Margaritas, coquito and Cervecería La Tropical hometown beer as well as food stations with upscale carnival fare (try the Dubai-chocolate-covered strawberries, trust) are interspersed throughout.
“People spend hours here, there are so many photo ops. I mean, A LOT,” says Tony Albelo, whose Loud And Live event company mounts this massive feat. Loud And Live took over the space in 2023, picking up where dearly departed Santa’s Enchanted Forest left off (another story altogether).
“I see a family in the beginning, run and do something, come back and they’re still there taking pictures. I say, ‘You haven’t moved?’ And they tell me they want to see every little thing to make a memory.”
The trail meanders down to the Magnificent Midway, where you can finally put your phone down. Experience 50-plus rides, including the 150-foot-high Eye in the Sky Ferris wheel with a kaleidoscope of colors that can be seen from the Palmetto Expressway. This is where you get your carnie fix on, with old-school ring toss games, a fun house and sugar-powdered funnel cakes.
When you run out of gas you can head to the IG’loo 360-Dome, a planetarium-style theater with plush couches. The roughly 20-minute movie “What Santa Sees” plays on a loop, following the main man’s sleigh adventures from the North Pole all across the world.
Final insider tip: For the first time ever, Christmas Wonderland has two entrances. The original, North Pole (at Bird Road), is where you start with the light shows and walking trail. The South Pole entrance on Miller Drive is where you can head straight to the Midway’s carnival ride area. Complimentary trolley transportation is available to and from.
IF YOU GO
What: Christmas Wonderland
Where: Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami
When: 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday; 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Open through Jan. 4, 2026, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Tickets: All admissions include unlimited rides, live shows, fireworks display, general attractions and parking. Adults (13 plus): from $39; children (3-12): from $29; kids under 2: free. https://miamiwonderland.com
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 1:20 PM.
