BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — Downtown Delray Beach and Boca Raton are flipping the switch on the holiday season with back-to-back events and a full calendar of family activities over the next two weeks.

In Delray Beach, the city will light its 100-foot Christmas tree tonight at Old School Square as part of a street festival running from 6 to 9 p.m. along East North Swinton Avenue. The City of Delray Beach says the event marks 32 years of the landmark tree, which has become one of the city’s signature holiday attractions.

The lighting is scheduled for 7 p.m. sharp, with streets closed to vehicles so families can walk, shop, and listen to carolers moving through the area. The city is promoting food trucks along Swinton Avenue, more than 60 vendors, live musical performances, crafts, and a silent disco that runs through the evening. Attractions include ice skating, a carousel, mini golf, and a visit with Santa inside his house as part of the Old School Square setup, according to the city’s event announcement.

On Wednesday night, attention shifts south to Boca Raton’s 53rd Holiday Street Parade along Federal Highway in downtown. The city says the parade will run along Federal Highway, with Federal closed from Glades Road south to Camino Real from about 5 p.m. to about 11 p.m. Drivers are being urged to plan ahead and expect congestion in and around downtown while the closure is in place.

To help with parking, Boca Raton is offering free parking at several city lots: City Hall at 201 W. Palmetto Park Road, the Building Administration lot at 200 NW 2nd Avenue, the Downtown Library at 400 NW 2nd Avenue, and the city parking lot at 300 NW 2nd Avenue between the library and the administration building, according to the city’s parade guidance. Officials say arriving early will make it easier to find a spot and get settled along the route.

Delray Beach has another major event on deck next week. On Saturday, Dec. 13, the city’s Holiday Parade — themed “Festival of Lights” — will roll along Atlantic Avenue from the Intracoastal Bridge to NW 5th Avenue starting at 6 p.m. The city says more than 70 entries are expected, including floats, marching bands, dance teams, and community groups, with awards for categories such as Best Float, Best Dance/Cheer Group, Best Non-Profit, Best Business, and Best Marching Band.

Road closures for the Delray parade will run from A1A to NW 8th Avenue from 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., according to the city’s event information. Families are encouraged to grab a spot along Atlantic Avenue and watch for Santa, who will arrive on a Delray Beach Fire Department truck as the special guest from the North Pole. Residents with questions are being directed to contact the City of Delray Beach at 561-243-7250, option 3.

In Boca Raton, the city’s “Merry in Mizner” series brings smaller pop-up events to Mizner Park and nearby Sanborn Square across several dates in December. Under the holiday lights at Mizner Park, the city is promoting scattered entertainment and themed evenings aimed at families.

A Holiday Pops concert is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Mizner Park Amphitheater. The Symphonia, conducted by Jacomo Bairos, will perform holiday music with the Florida Atlantic University Chorus joining on stage. The city says tickets start at $15 per person, with doors opening at 6 p.m.

On Thursday, Dec. 11, “Merry in Mizner” moves to Sanborn Square for a Night Market that includes live music, vendors, drinks, and a meet-and-greet with the Grinch and his dog Max. The event is listed as free.

Families looking for hands-on activities can head back to Mizner Park on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. for a “Stuff-a-Plush” event at the south gazebo, where attendees can make their own plush winter animal. The city says the activity is free for the first 200 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.

On Thursday, Dec. 18, another “Merry in Mizner” event — “Cookies & Cocoa” — is planned for 6 p.m. at the south end of Mizner Park near The Studio at Mizner. The city will offer free cookies and cocoa while supplies last as a way to close out the series and keep the focus on simple holiday traditions.

Between the 100-foot tree in Delray, the long-running Boca parade, and the Atlantic Avenue and Mizner Park lineups, residents in both cities will have multiple chances over the next two weeks to find a spot along the street, listen to music, and ease into the holidays without leaving town.

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