Christmas
 

Family coming to TV for the week of Christmas. This will be our first one here. Are there any special events to go see during this week? Places to see?

Disney Springs free parking all decorated for the holidays no admission charge. Many resturantsabout 1hour drive.

And some neighborhoods go all-out on lights, blow-up Santa’s etc . . .

Just don't expect anything for New Year's Eve if they stay till then. Bands in the squares stop at 9:00 and everyone goes home. Most everyone is in bed by 11:00 pm.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ev...ours/holidays/

Would also recommend Disney. If this link remains it will give you a broad idea of what they are planning for this year.

Unfortunately, we have never found Christmas or New Years to be a great time in TV. Many people go back home to family for the holidays so that may be why there is so little happening in TV.

Don't forget they have the 6:00 PM Ball Drop.

I and many of my friends go to lake Sumter every year ,we go to Thai Ruby first , the square is a lot of fun on new years , and many people go to parties later . The mantra that everyone goes to bed here early is just that a mantra and for me it’s a very long night because I’m always catching a plane early the next day to go to Hawaii and Thailand for 3 months , I’m 85 I’ll sleep when I’m dead lol

Beautiful Christmas tour at Cottom Farm, Weirsdale, not too far. Google it for info.

This will likely be smaller than some of the other recommendations, but it's close and very pretty. Lady Lake does some great lighting at a park in the southern part of the town. You just park and walk around it.

No matter what you decide to do, remind them to bring some winter clothes. It can be cold enough to snow some years around Christmas!

T V doesn't do any coordinated holiday events other than villages/clubs doing their own golf cart parades or events or private club party events at rec centers. As you can see posted you will have to explore outside of T V for more than just lights and town square regular nightly music. Mount Dora has pretty lights exhibit usually. It would be nice if holidays were celebrated more in T V for the elderly may not be able travel beyond T V bubble.

Typical Villages holiday treatment. Put up a Christmas tree, play Christmas music and sing Christmas songs, but close everything up by 9pm. We don't even get a visit from Santa Claus. Plenty of 'liquid' holiday cheer in the squares and elsewhere.

RCJ61...my first Christmas here it was 85. Very weird. Don't forget to visit the trees at the squares. The tree lightings start around the end of November.

Lalamy.. Snow??? NOT HERE babe

Stetson Mansion in Deland is beautiful and offers tours during the holidays, if you want to go that far.

Christmas
 

A time to celebrate with friends and families in a most wonderful place called The Villages. Another period of time with snowbirds gone for a few weeks. Yeah!!

The display of lights is very impressive!

I see TV like any town, if there's nothing going on "in your town", there are plenty of towns around that will. Same when it comes to the Squares, it's not like we're locked in and cannot go outside the bubble. No curfew for getting in and out.

Yes sir on the porch with a cocktail and show them what it’s like to not shovel snow and be cold.

Definitely Disney, run through the resort hotels also (monorail crawl). You can always do the tree lighting in the squares but that's fairly blah compared to what is outside the bubble.

Mt Dora
 

I second the Christmas lights display in the park and around Mt Dora. Quite Spectacular.

We have been there during the holidays. It is gorgeous!

Mount Dora does a beautiful Christmas event. They decorate the store windowsthat remind me of the Christmases of yesteryear. They have a parade. The PD and FD get involved in the parade. It's fun. Maybe contact the Chamber of Commerce in Mt. Dora for more info on this, if it is something you and your family would be interested in. Oh, they have nice restaurants too.

Where is the local Festivis celebration?

Christmas Tree LIghtings
 

Tree lighting at the Squares seem to be very popular. You have to get there VERY early. It's crowded, folks try to save seating, then go to dinner and then expect to come to their seating.

Plan accordingly, maybe bring your own chairs, but you might be out on the sidewalks.

I second that (or is it third). As far as Christmas week in TV, it's a little dead. I agree in that a lot of snowbirds going back to see their family might be the reason.

Samta may not make it this year

All Mount Dora events.

All the holiday events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis - MOUNT DORA BUZZ

Grandview Clydesdale Farm does a nice evening tour during the holidays.

Great event, but be prepared for a LONG hike to get there if you drive and try to park. You will very likely have a mile or more walk from where you end up parking.

Go to all the regional recreation centers, they are beautifully decorated. The trees are lovely.

We've had 28 degrees often in winter, snow happens at 32 degrees, so why not "babe"?

Free Christmas Train Show at Colony Regional Rec. Center
 

:a040::a040:Hi, I am not sure of your families exact dates of visit but if they are here December 7th through the 10th, they can visit the FREE Villages Model Train club's show at the Colony Reg. Rec. Center. Lots of fun for "kids" of all ages and totally FREE!! Trains of all gauges (sizes) will be running. A great time to kick off your Christmas.

Christmas
 

For New Years Eve we do have a party at La Hacienda with a Spanish band and it last until midnight with dinner.

I forgot about this. We used to live in Mt. Dora and were a 10 minute walk to down town. Parking for their events is a challenge. Sometimes homeowners will rent out a parking spot in their driveway but these fill up quickly too.

We hit 29 degrees last Christmas (2022). Certainly cold enough for snow.

Why has no one mentioned, the one consistent Christmas Tradition in TV?


FREE Golf on all the Championship courses.

Free Golf? On Christmas Day?

Get there early……….or much later.