From holiday spectaculars and concerts to the golden anniversary of one of the largest car shows and swap meets in the United States¸ winter travelers spending their holidays in the Daytona Beach area and locals alike will discover plenty of festive happenings to enjoy. Here’s a look at some of the events taking place in the destination.
Daytona International Speedway – Magic of Lights and Daytona Turkey Run
Daytona International Speedway will be the location of two holiday traditions in the Daytona Beach area – the Magic of Lights and the Turkey Run.
From November 17 through December 31, Magic of Lights will transform the storied race track into a drive-through holiday-theme light spectacular featuring dozens of displays, festive favorites, and digital animation, all constructed with millions of individual LED lights to create a memorable holiday experience for the whole family.
Inside the comfort of their own vehicles, guests will enjoy Magic of Lights’ classic holiday favorites including Winter Wonderland, the 12 Days of Christmas, Toyland, festive Elves and Reindeer Road. In addition to the 200-foot long Enchanting Tunnel of Lights, there will also be other illuminated displays including the 32-foot-tall, animated Mattel’s Waving Christmas Barbie®, Prehistoric Christmas featuring life sized dinosaurs celebrating the season, and the legendary BIGFOOT® Monster Truck. Created with over two million sparkling lights, Magic of Lights is a nostalgic and festive event everyone will enjoy.
Another popular event at the Speedway, the 50th Annual Daytona Turkey Run on November 23-26 will feature thousands of unique automobiles and swap meet vendors in the infield of the “World Center of Racing.” Considered to be largest combined car show and swap meet in the United States, this family-friendly four-day event attracts close to 200,000 attendees every Thanksgiving holiday week to the Daytona Beach area.
Peabody Auditorium
Daytona Beach’s storied Peabody Auditorium will host several Christmas-themed shows during the holiday season.
- Mannheim Steamroller, the longest running concert tour in the entertainment industry at 35 years, is bringing its Christmas tour to Peabody Auditorium on Wednesday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. This year’s Mannheim Steamroller Christmas tour is set to feature classic Christmas songs from the Mannheim Steamroller holiday albums along with multimedia effects in an intimate setting.
- The Volusia Civic Ballet will perform The Nutcracker on December 2-3. In addition to the full-length production, the group will offer a condensed narrated Family Series show.
- With 12 consecutive Billboard No. 1 hits, Celtic Woman, the most successful all-female group in Irish history, will perform A Christmas Symphony on Tuesday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to hear Celtic Woman’s angelic harmonies with the thrilling live sound of a full symphony orchestra.
Stetson Mansion Christmas Spectacular Holiday Home Tour
The Stetson Mansion “Christmas Spectacular!” Holiday Home Tour takes place at “The House That Hats Built,” the famed Victorian Gilded Age residence built in 1886. Its original, rich architectural details make the perfect backdrop for elaborate holiday decorations, which are different each year. Named “Top 10 Attractions in the USA” by Tripadvisor or “10 Best Historic Holiday Home Tours in the USA” by USA Today, this year’s theme is “Christmas . . . The Season For Believing.” Designer decorations from around the world will adorn the mansion and each of the 10 lavish themed rooms. Self-guided and guided tours are offered Nov. 1 through January 20. Reservations are required.
Rose Villa Southern Table & Bar
Located in Ormond Beach, Rose Villa Southern Table and Bar will transform into a Gingerbread Fantasy decorative light display that evokes classic storybook memories. From November 17 through January 5, 2024, visitors can stop to take a family photo or a selfie outside this historic Victorian jewel. During Gingerbread Fantasy, the restaurant will be decorated with larger-than-life Gingerbread men, towering lollipops, unique topiary snowmen, the “dogs of Rose Villa,” stained glass windows reflecting gingerbread men, gold bells, candy canes and candied fruit – along with hundreds of colorful lights reaching from the ground to the top of the two-and-a-half-story rooftop. For an extra special holiday activity (at an additional cost, reservations required,) Rose Villa also offers a hands-on experience of building your own gingerbread house.
Riverfront Esplanade
The recently completed mile-long Riverfront Esplanade, a thriving gathering space and botanical garden located along the scenic Halifax River, will have holiday activities planned throughout the entire month of December. Headlining events is a holiday lights display located throughout the Riverfront Esplanade each night beginning Saturday, Nov. 25 and running through Jan. 1. Other activities include photos with Santa Claus, a holiday pet parade, and holiday markets with vendors.
To view these and other events happening in the Daytona Beach area during the holiday season, including holiday parades and New Year’s Eve celebrations, visit www.DaytonaBeach.com
About the Daytona Beach Area | #LoveDaytonaBeach
Experience endless adventures in this eclectic destination that offers the perfect, beach base camp from which to explore the greater Daytona Beach area and all Central Florida. Choose thrilling activities or embrace the tranquility of days spent on 23 miles of world-famous white-sand beaches. With more than 12,000 rooms, and a variety of meeting hotels and unique spaces, the destination has accommodations for meetings and groups of all sizes and budgets. Learn more at www.DaytonaBeach.com.
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