Santa Sightings in Greater Fort Lauderdale

The annual Hollywood Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony with Santa is set for Friday, Nov. 20, from 5 to 9 p.m. at ArtsPark at Young Circle. Kick off the holiday season with family-friendly festivities, including bounce houses, snow activities, a snow slide, arts and crafts, children's entertainment and festive treats. The official tree lighting takes place at 7 p.m., followed by a special performance by the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble at 8 p.m.

If your kids are acting naughty, head to Holiday Nights at Plantation Walk this season, where Santa and his elves return to the Plaza Nov. 27-28 and on select dates in December: Dec. 4-6, 11-13, 18-20 and 23-24. Get into the holiday spirit with live music Thursday through Sunday and performances by local crooner Miss Tracy Sings on Nov. 15 and Dec. 20.

Santa Claus is coming to town, to Galleria Fort Lauderdale, to be exact. From Friday, Nov. 27, through Thursday, Dec. 24, pencil in your very own meet-and-greet and Photos with Santa. In addition to his opening-night arrival celebration, mark your calendar for designated pet photo Mondays (Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14) and the sensory-friendly Santa experience on Sunday, Dec. 6. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are highly recommended.

Deerfield Beach serves up a tropical celebration at Ocean Way Holiday on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. Enjoy the Santa Parade at 5 p.m., followed by the Big Holiday Light-Up at 7 p.m., along with holiday shopping at the local vendor marketplace, festive treats, holiday activities, photo opportunities and more.

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy Cookies with Santa at Stranahan House Museum. The one-day-only event invites families to pose for holiday portraits ($55 for a family of four, plus $5 per additional person) on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. While the event is open to all ages, you'll have to leave Fido at home. We wouldn’t want him knocking over any vintage treasures!

Trading in frigid North Pole snow for warm Intracoastal vibes, Santa is heading to Shooters Waterfront for brunch on the water. Taking place the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, the festivities invite the entire family to snap photos with good ol’ St. Nick from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a fully decked-out weekend brunch buffet.

Trade snowy sidewalks for sandy shores as Santa and his elves return for Santa on the Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 12:30 p.m. Starting at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, jolly old St. Nick and his elves will make their way north along the beach, handing out candy canes and spreading holiday cheer with a South Florida twist.

Save the date for Wednesday, Dec. 9, when Santa rolls in on his sleigh for the Coral Springs Holiday Parade from 7 to 9 p.m. The community comes together to celebrate the holiday season with festive displays showcasing the creativity of local schools and organizations. This year’s theme, America 250, brings a patriotic twist to Christmas traditions with red, white and blue, stars and stripes, and plenty of holiday cheer.

Get into the holiday spirit at the SantaCon Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl on Saturday, Dec. 12. Throw on your tackiest holiday sweater or favorite Santa costume and head to Las Olas Boulevard for an afternoon of festive cocktails, music and holiday cheer. Tickets include five complimentary drinks at five participating bars, no cover charges and access to a professional event photographer to capture the festivities.

Come one, come all to the Winter Night Market on the Civic Lawn at Huizenga Park on Friday, Dec. 18. The festivities kick off at 5:30 p.m., with opportunities for kids to pose for photos with Santa, enjoy face painting and collect surprises at a special giveaway. Don’t forget to support local businesses while checking off those last few gifts on your holiday shopping list.

Don’t get dressed on Sunday, Dec. 20. Instead, roll out of bed in your PJs and head to Santa’s Christmas Pajama Brunch at Galuppi’s in Pompano Beach. The outdoor, family-friendly event features meet-and-greets with Santa and Mrs. Claus, story time with Mrs. Claus, an all-you-can-eat buffet, a mini vendor market, arts and crafts, face painting, Christmas caroling and a holiday movie playing in the background. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., with brunch served from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.99 for adults, $19.99 for children ages 3-12 and free for children 2 and younger. Pay in full to skip the line or place a $50 deposit to reserve your spot.