South Florida holiday season continues with light displays, Santa visits and Kwanzaa events | UPDATED

Inflatable Santas and twinkling lights have popped up in neighbors’ front yards. And cities throughout South Florida have lit holiday trees in their downtown areas. (Delray Beach’s tree tops out at a whopping 100 feet, while West Palm Beach’s Sandi tree is made of 700 tons of sand!)

Now it’s time to celebrate the season with parades, festivals and dazzling displays of lights. We’ve rounded up festivities throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties where you and yours can create magical memories starting now.

(And speaking of holiday early birds … parents, here’s a tip: Now’s a good time to schedule your pictures with Santa. Old St. Nick has already made his way to several malls, and there are barely any lines now. If you don’t wait till the last minute, you can really save yourself some aggravation during this hectic time of year!)

BROWARD COUNTY

Fort Lauderdale

Take a trip back in time to the Victorian era at the Historic Stranahan House Museum, 335 SE Sixth Ave., during its Victorian Christmas Tours on Dec. 14, 15, 21, 22 and 23. Learn how many holiday traditions started and how the pioneers celebrated Christmas in the early days of Fort Lauderdale. Cost is $30. Visit stranahanhouse.org/victorian-christmas-tours for tickets.

Experience “A Soulful Christmas” by Hued Songs at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 1 p.m. Dec. 16 at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. The event will showcase music, storytelling and community engagement to honor Black Christmas traditions and memories. After the Dec. 16 show, there will be family activities including meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, a toy drive and hot chocolate. Free admission. Visit huedsongs.org to register.

Meet Santa on the Beach when his motorcade begins at noon and arrives at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, 1100 Seabreeze Blvd. Santa and his elves will be handing out candy canes. Free. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.

It may be near the ocean, but the third annual WONDERLAND is transforming Fort Lauderdale Beach into a winter paradise with a lineup of experiences through Jan. 1 at The LOOP, 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd. Anyone taking a seaside stroll or scenic drive along Fort Lauderdale Beach will find the area aglow with 50,000 lights, plus Olas, the 20-foot beach snowman at State Road A1A and Las Olas Boulevard.There’s also an ice-skating rink, holiday market, strolling characters, live music, dance performances, visits with Santa and holiday movie screenings. For the full schedule, visit theloopflb.com.

The Ninth Annual Holiday in Sistrunk hosted by the YMCA of South Florida will include a toy giveaway, vendors, food trucks, a stage/DJ, health screenings and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 16 at Provident Park, 1412 NW Sixth St. Free admission. Visit tinyurl.com/mvapxe5w.

Bass Park, 2750 NW 19th St., will have its Kwanzaa Ujamaa event with cultural, family fun from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 19. Pay homage to the fourth day of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa Ujamaa, which means cooperative economics, the fourth principle of Kwanzaa. Afrocentric entertainment and festivities will be celebrated through a variety of cultural activities. Free. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.

Davie

Thousands of lights and holiday decor fill the Arboretum and Wray Lawn at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S Flamingo Road. Garden of Lights, presented by FPL, is an annual holiday event featuring an after-hours, self-guided walk through the botanical gardens Dec. 15-23 and 26-30. Visit with Santa and enjoy nightly live musical performances from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly on the Wray Lawn and some evenings in the Arboretum. Stop by the Flamingo Pond Snack for holiday treats and beverages available for purchase. Evening Garden of Lights only admission is $20 for age 12 and up and $15 for ages 3-11. Flamingo Gardens members and children 2 or younger are admitted free. Daytime visitors may return in the evening, with their same-day receipt for admission to Garden of Lights. Animal exhibits, tram tour, museum, gallery exhibits and wildlife encounters are all closed during the event. Visit flamingogardens.org/events-calendar/garden-of-lights to purchase tickets.

Margate

The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency will have its Winter Festival from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 19 at Margate Boulevard and State Road 7. There will be food and craft vendors, entertainment, children’s activities, rides, pictures with Santa and snow. Free admission. Visit facebook.com/CityofMargateFL.

Hallandale Beach

Gulfstream Park Village’s Symphony in Lights Holiday Celebration display features illumination from more than 250,000 LED lights, all set to the sounds of holiday music. A 10-minute light show will begin at the top of every hour from 6 to 11 p.m. daily, through Dec. 31. Santa will be making visits to Gulfstream Park Village, 901 S. Federal Highway, on select dates through Dec. 24 (available on a first-come, first-served basis from 6 to 9 p.m. in the ground-level Village Center). Visit gulfstreampark.com.

Hollywood

Take a free pet photo with Santa from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 16 at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, 2864 Hollywood Blvd. A photographer will take the photos and print them out while you wait. Visit fb.me/e/3eZBTP27Q.

Coral Springs

Where is Santa? Good question! He will be available until Christmas Eve for photos at Coral Square Mall, 9469 W. Atlantic Blvd., Coral Springs. Visit whereissanta.com.

Holiday Fantasy of Lights returns for another season through Jan. 1 at Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road. Drive through from 6 to 10 p.m. nightly, including holidays. Early bird admission is $20 per car. Go to holidaylightsdrivethru.com.

Plantation

The Plantation Historical Museum, 511 N. Fig Tree Lane, has its Winter Wonderland holiday exhibit on display from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays until Dec. 30, with more than 40 themed Christmas trees and a holiday gift shop. Free admission. Visit plantation.org/museum.

Dania Beach

Dania Pointe is bringing back Let It Snow and The Snowman Experience on The Lawn, 150 Sunset Drive. Enjoy Let It Snow 15 minutes of flurries at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 7 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 24. The Snowman Experience features real snowmen assembled before you take photos alongside them. The snowmen are made every Saturday and Sunday from 2-7 p.m. through Dec. 24. Free. Visit daniapointe.com/events.

Wilton Manors

Santa and his friends will highlight Wilton Wonderland from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 16 at Hagen Park, 2020 Wilton Drive. Family activities also are planned. Free admission. Visit wiltonmanors.gov.

Sunrise

“The Grinch,” the 2018 animated film, will be shown from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 22 at Sunrise Civic Center Theatre, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Meet The Grinch and Santa after the movie. General admission seating is $7. Visit sunrisefl.gov to purchase tickets.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Delray Beach

The Spady Museum’s Kwanzaa Celebration will welcome families to celebrate the holidays by making their own gifts and enjoying live music, art activities, storytelling for children, and food from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 26 outside on the museum grounds, 170 NW Fifth Ave. Kwanzaa is a Pan-African holiday designed to strengthen and celebrate the best of African culture and heritage. According to the museum, “five community-minded organizations come together to infuse the Kwanzaa celebration with all of the seven principles.” Free admission. Visit spadymuseum.com/events-timeline.

The 100-Foot Christmas Tree is now lit at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave. Throughout the season, visitors can also check out a Gingerbread House, carousel, ice skating, Santa’s House and mini golf. Prices and times vary for activities. Visit delraybeachfl.gov/our-city/things-to-do.

West Palm Beach

The first (faux) snowfall of the season has fallen, the Wish Tree has been lit, and ALL-Idays At The Square, 700 S. Rosemary Ave., are in full effect until Dec. 31. Snow will fall nightly at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Meet Santa at his workshop from Fridays to Sundays, through Dec. 24. Free admission. Visit thesquarewestpalm.com/west-palm-beach-events.

The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, 1301 Summit Blvd., has flipped the switch on its annual Zoo Lights. New this year are animal sculptures highlighting the zoo’s efforts to save animals in the wild, a 24-foot animated Christmas tree and lights around Fountain Plaza choreographed to music, along with Florida “snow” and Santa’s Village with cookie decorating. The after-hours event lights up various nights until Jan. 7. Early admission is at 5:30 p.m. and regular admission starts at 7 p.m., with closing at 9 p.m. Admission is $20 to $26 for adults and $15 to $21 for children, based on dates and entry times. Food is available for purchase. Visit palmbeachzoo.org/zoolights.

Take a 2-mile drive through Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., to view animated and musical holiday light displays during the sixth annual Lights 4 Hope Drive Thru Light Show on select nights through Dec. 30. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit children and families facing life-altering diseases and diagnoses. Admission for standard cars or truck with up to eight passengers is $20. Visit lights4hope.org.

The Cox Science Center and Aquarium, 4801 Dreher Trail N, is organizing ‘Tis the Season for Science events throughout the rest of the year (and into January). Rock out to the holiday classics Laser Light Shows at the full-dome planetarium through Jan. 7 and winter-themed science demos and STEM activities. Visit coxsciencecenter.org/tis-season for a full schedule.

Sandi, the 700-ton holiday sand tree, is lit for the season on the Great Lawn, 100 N. Clematis St., in West Palm Beach. The Ferris wheel, sand sculptures, music and light shows are back along with a new Paradise Island, a 50-ton sandbox with holiday- and pirate-themed activities. Catch synchronized nightly music and light shows through Dec. 31 from 6 to 10 p.m. (shows will be extended on New Year’s Eve through midnight). Free admission. Ferris wheel rides are $5 per person, per ride, plus taxes and fees. Visit wpb.org/events.

Afrique Ngozi Dance & Drums is bringing an immersive cultural celebration of Kwanzaa at 5 p.m. Dec. 29 to The Square, 700 S. Rosemary Ave.. This family-friendly event will explore the seven principles that make up Kwanzaa and feature live West African dancing and drumming. Free. Visit thesquarewestpalm.com/kwanzaa.

Wellington

Santa has arrived at The Mall at Wellington Green, 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., to take photos with the kids. Visit shopwellingtongreen.com.

Boca Raton

Where is Santa? He’ll arrive at the Town Center at Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Road, on Dec. 16 and be available for photos and visits through Dec. 24. Families can have a personalized, 15-minute visit with Santa. Reserve a spot through Dec. 15 at signaturesanta.whereissanta.com.

Palm Beach Gardens

Santa has arrived at his Enchanted Garden in the Grand Court of The Gardens Mall, 3101 PGA Blvd. Give him your wish list and take Photos With Santa during all mall hours, through Dec. 24. Reservations are offered, but walk-ups are welcomed. Stilt-walkers will join Santa from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekends. Visit thegardensmall.com/news-style/events.

Greenacres

Hoffman’s Chocolates Holiday Extravaganza returns to its headquarters at 5190 Lake Worth Road through Dec. 30, featuring a 40-foot holiday tree with 15,000 lights, over 800 ornaments and a 5-foot 3D tree topper. Photos with Santa will be available from 6-9 p.m. on select Fridays and Saturdays in December. Free admission. Visit facebook.com/hoffmanschocolate.

Palm Beach

Royal Poinciana Plaza, 340 Royal Poinciana Way, has unveiled its annual Holiday Tree created by fashion designer Thom Browne. The tree is made of bespoke surfboards featuring Browne’s signature red, white and blue stripes. It will be on display through Jan. 3 along with other holiday decorations in the plaza. Visit theroyalpoincianaplaza.com/events/holiday-reveal.

The Flagler Museum, 1 Whitehall Way, is offering after-hours holiday tours at 6, 6:15, 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. Dec. 19-23. The tours begin with a docent-led holiday tour of Whitehall, followed by a reception featuring carol singers, refreshments, and holiday-themed activities. Guests can experience Whitehall by the glow of the 1902 light fixtures. Every visitor receives a traditional Flagler Museum Christmas Cracker following the tour. Cost is $50 for adults and $30 for children under 18. Visit flaglermuseum.us to purchase tickets.