The holiday season has its own coastal charm in the New Smyrna Beach Area. Picture palm trees glowing with holiday lights, sunny days by the ocean, and festive celebrations filled with local traditions. Visitors can browse holiday markets, stroll through beachside shopping districts, enjoy seasonal events, and soak up the festive atmosphere with a refreshing ocean breeze.
Celebrations begin in November and continue throughout December, bringing holiday art shows, local shopping, parades, and family festivities to the area's communities. With mild temperatures, coastal scenery, and plenty of holiday cheer, the New Smyrna Beach Area offers a refreshing way to celebrate the season.
Holiday shopping begins with a distinctly local feel during the 36th Annual Flamingo Follies Holiday Art Show on November 14 and 15.
Flagler Avenue becomes an open-air showcase of art, handmade pieces and one-of-a-kind finds, making it an easy place to start checking names off a holiday shopping list. Between browsing booths, visitors can stop for lunch, explore the surrounding boutiques, or walk a few blocks to the beach.
Later in the month, Canal Street welcomes the season with Spark the Spirit on November 27. Holiday entertainment, children’s activities, a tree lighting and Santa’s arrival bring a festive atmosphere to the historic downtown district.
Thanksgiving weekend continues with the Coastal Christmas Market on November 28. Visitors can spend the day shopping for seasonal gifts before exploring Canal Street’s restaurants, galleries and local businesses.
Flagler Avenue becomes especially festive during Light Up Flagler, when the beachside district fills with holiday lights, seasonal entertainment and family activities. The celebration is a chance to enjoy one of New Smyrna Beach’s most recognizable districts in a completely different way, with decorated storefronts and holiday energy stretching along the Avenue.
The Great Homemade Christmas Cookie Challenge adds something sweet to the evening, while the Holiday Cocktail Tour, running December 1 through 26, gives adults another way to enjoy the season at participating Flagler Avenue locations.
Visitors staying for more than a day can experience the district at their own pace, pairing holiday activities with beach time, dinner or an evening stroll near the ocean.
Parades are part of what makes the season feel special, and communities throughout the New Smyrna Beach Area keep those traditions going.
The annual New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade fills the community with festive floats and holiday displays, while the Holiday Boat Parade brings the celebration to the water with illuminated boats cruising through local waterways.
That mix of classic holiday traditions and coastal scenery is part of what makes celebrating the season here feel distinctive. Visitors can watch a parade one evening and spend the next morning walking the beach or exploring local shops.
Nearby, Edgewater joins the celebrations with Light Up the Night on November 28 and the 2026 City of Edgewater EDGEfest Christmas Parade on December 12.
Port Orange adds even more holiday fun with Christmas in the Park 2026 on December 5, followed by the 2026 47th Annual Holiday Parade on December 6.
A visit to the New Smyrna Beach Area during the holiday season can be as festive or as relaxed as the day allows. Spend the morning by the ocean, pick up locally made gifts in the afternoon and end the evening beneath holiday lights or watching a parade.
With seasonal events taking place throughout November and December, there are plenty of opportunities for visitors of all ages to enjoy the holiday spirit. Beyond the festivities, the area's beaches, restaurants, shopping districts and outdoor spaces offer even more reasons to plan a coastal getaway this time of year.
Explore the New Smyrna Beach Area events calendar to find holiday events and start planning a festive visit to the coast.