Holiday lights in Coral Gables: NightGarden and A Very Merry Garden at Fairchild from Nov. 13, Holiday Park at City Hall, Santa on a fire truck and menorahs.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. The City of Coral Gables had not posted its 2026 holiday events when we checked, so dates below are from 2025 unless marked otherwise. Sources: the city’s events calendar, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the organizers linked below. City special events: specialevents@coralgables.com or 305-460-5600.

Coral Gables does the holidays mostly in three places: Holiday Park in front of City Hall, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on Old Cutler Road and the streets of downtown. The city’s tree lighting and the Junior Orange Bowl’s Miracle on the Mile parade have their own page: see Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Updated Oct. 14: Fairchild has confirmed A Very Merry Garden, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Nov. 13 to Dec. 24, 2026, with Santa visits on select dates.

What this means for you

  • NightGarden at Fairchild is the big light display; its page lists Nov. 7 to Jan. 11.
  • Fairchild’s daytime A Very Merry Garden, with Santa on select dates, runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 24, 2026.
  • Holiday Park, Santa photos and Santa on a fire truck all happen in early to mid-December.
  • Hot Chocolate with Santa is for Coral Gables residents only and needs advance tickets.
  • We will update every date here as the city and organizers publish 2026 details.

Light displays

NightGarden at Fairchild. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, lists NightGarden for Nov. 7 to Jan. 11 on select evenings, without a year, on its NightGarden page. In the 2025-26 season, its seventh, it ran 6 to 11 p.m. across the garden’s 83 acres with illuminated paths, laser and light shows, food trucks and cocktails, and was closed on Thanksgiving Day (city listing). The garden says new members get four free NightGarden tickets.

A Very Merry Garden at Fairchild. By day, Fairchild decks the garden for the holidays from Friday, Nov. 13, to Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to its ticket page. Garden admission covers the decor and activities, with visits with Santa and storytime with Mrs. Claus on select dates. Tickets start at $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors 65 and older and $11.95 for children 3 to 11; children under 3 and members get in free.

Holiday Park at City Hall. The city turns Merrick Park, in front of City Hall at 405 Biltmore Way, into Holiday Park, a seasonal playground with holiday backdrops. In 2025 it opened with the tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 5, and stayed open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. into January, except two mornings when it opened at noon for Hot Chocolate with Santa (city listing).

Twinkle and Toast on the Lawn. The Coral Gables Golf and Country Club, 997 N. Greenway Drive, lights its historic clubhouse with children’s crafts, sparklers and hot chocolate. In 2025 it was 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 (city listing).

Santa visits

Event 2025 date and time Where Notes
Santa Claus on a Fire Truck Sat.-Sun., Dec. 6-7, from 8:30 a.m. Three routes through city neighborhoods Free; candy canes for children; live Santa tracker
Merrick House Holiday Open House Sun., Dec. 7, 2 to 5 p.m. Merrick House, 907 Coral Way Free; Santa, carolers, gifts and games
Photos with Santa Set days, Dec. 6-23 Holiday Park, 405 Biltmore Way $10 a photo with a framed postcard
Hot Chocolate with Santa Sun., Dec. 7, and Sat., Dec. 20 Holiday Park Residents only; advance tickets for a group of four
Pancakes and Pajamas Sat., Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to noon Coral Gables Golf and Country Club Breakfast with Santa and cookie decorating
A Night with Santa Paws Sat., Dec. 13, 6 to 9 p.m. Giralda Plaza Pet photos with Santa Paws, vendors and dog adoptions

Santa on a Fire Truck sticks to main roads in each neighborhood and the city says all times are estimates; it posts a live map so you can see when he is close.

In 2025 the Photos with Santa schedule was noon to 10 p.m. on Dec. 6-7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 20-23, and 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 18-19. The city may close the line early on busy nights.

Hanukkah

  • City Hall menorah lighting: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, with hot drinks, jelly doughnuts, crafts and gelt. Free (city listing).
  • Festival of Lights Chanukah Celebration: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Ponce Circle Park, 2810 Ponce de Leon Blvd. A menorah lighting, a fire truck parade and a chocolate gelt drop from a city ladder truck at 4 p.m., plus a climbing wall, crafts, latkes and doughnuts. Free; RSVP through Chabad of Coral Gables (city listing).

Holiday concerts

  • Greater Miami Symphonic Band, “A Celebration of Hanukkah and Christmas”: 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive (city listing).
  • “A Holiday Celebration Through the Americas”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, Sanctuary of the Arts, 410 Andalusia Ave. (city listing).

Holiday markets and carolers

Carolers from area high school choirs strolled Miracle Mile and Giralda Plaza from 7 to 9 p.m. on set Thursdays to Saturdays in December 2025. Shopping events, Small Business Saturday and the Shops at Merrick Park tree lighting are on our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.

Christmas closures

City offices close Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25, 2026, according to the city’s holiday calendar. The free trolley does not run on Christmas. The city’s Granada Golf Course, 2001 Granada Blvd., is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (city golf page). Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ winter recess runs Dec. 21, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2027, on the district calendar (PDF).

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Christmas lights in Coral Gables? NightGarden at Fairchild and Holiday Park in front of City Hall.

When does Santa ride the fire truck? Dec. 6-7 in 2025; 2026 dates are not out yet.

Where can I get photos with Santa? Holiday Park at City Hall, on set days in December.

Is there a menorah lighting? Yes, at City Hall and at Ponce Circle Park; both free in 2025.

What this means for you

  • NightGarden tickets are sold for a specific night; buy ahead.
  • Residents: watch for Hot Chocolate with Santa tickets as soon as the city posts them.
  • Check back in November for 2026 dates.

Related: Christmas parade and tree lighting, New Year’s Eve in Coral Gables, things to do this month and kids’ activities.