Last checked: October 29, 2026 · every row links the city or organizer page it came from
The holiday season in Lake County starts on Saturday, Nov 21 in Clermont and runs through Saturday, Dec 12, when Leesburg, Groveland and Mount Dora all have something going on. The busiest day is Saturday, Dec 5: Mount Dora and Clermont hold their parades at 10 AM, Tavares starts at 5 PM, and the Lighted Boat Parade on Lake Dora starts at 6:30 PM. A couple of dates going around online are off, so we checked each one against the city or the group running it. Light Up Eustis is Friday, Nov 27, and Leesburg's parade is Saturday, Dec 12 at 6 PM.
2026 Christmas events in Lake County, by date
| Date | Town | Event | Time | Where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 21 | Clermont | Hometown Holidays Holiday festival Run by Clermont Main Street. | Time not posted yet | Downtown Clermont | City of Clermont 2026 events list |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Clermont | Enchanted Forest of Trees, opening day Light display Run by Clermont Parks and Recreation. | Time not posted yet | Downtown Clermont | City of Clermont 2026 events list |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Eustis | 39th Light Up Eustis Tree lighting · Free Food and craft vendors, free photos with Santa. | 5 to 9 PM | Ferran Park 250 Ferran Park Dr. | City of Eustis |
| Fri, Dec 4 | Clermont | Light Up Clermont Tree lighting 1980s "Christmas Rewind" theme, live music, food trucks, Santa at the Historic Village. | 5:30 to 9 PM | City Hall Park and downtown 685 W. Montrose St. | City of Clermont |
| Fri, Dec 4 | Mount Dora | 34th Mount Dora Christmas Walk Street party · Free Shops open until 9 PM, free photos with Santa by the tree. | 6 to 9 PM | Sunset Park and downtown | Mount Dora Area Chamber |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Mount Dora | Mount Dora Christmas Parade Parade · Free Floats, bands, dancers and Santa. Run by the Mount Dora Lions Club. | 10 AM | Donnelly Street | Mount Dora Area Chamber |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Clermont | Clermont Christmas Parade Parade Theme: "Christmas Rewind: Holiday Mixtape." | 10 AM | From Waterfront Park through Historic Downtown | City of Clermont |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Tavares | Tavares Christmas Parade and Festival Parade · Free Route: Main St. to Ruby St., St. Clair Abrams Ave. and back. Bring chairs and come early. | 5 PM | Historic Downtown Tavares Main St. at Sinclair Ave. | City of Tavares |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Mount Dora | 34th Christmas Lighted Boat Parade Boat parade · Free Best seen from the lakefront parks. | 6:30 PM | Lake Dora, starting at the Grantham Pointe lighthouse Tremain St. and Liberty Ave. | Mount Dora Area Chamber |
| Sun, Dec 6 | Leesburg | Light Up Venetian Gardens and Christmas Boat Parade Tree lighting and boat parade Santa leads the 6 PM countdown, then the Leesburg Boating Club's boat parade on Lake Harris. | 5 to 8 PM, lights at 6 PM | Ski Beach Park, Venetian Gardens | City of Leesburg |
| Fri, Dec 11 | Groveland | 2nd Friday Block Party and Tree Lighting Tree lighting | 5 to 9 PM | Lake David Park 450 S. Lake Ave. | City of Groveland |
| Fri, Dec 11 | Fruitland Park | Hometown Christmas Holiday festival · Free kids' activities Mr. and Mrs. Claus usually arrive by fire truck. | 5:30 PM | Fruitland Park City Hall 506 W. Berckman St. | City of Fruitland Park |
| Sat, Dec 12 | Groveland | Groveland Christmas Parade Parade · Free | 10 AM to noon | Lake David Park 450 S. Lake Ave. | City of Groveland |
| Sat, Dec 12 | Mount Dora | Children's Christmas Snow in the Park Holiday festival Snow hills, Santa and holiday entertainment. | 3 to 9 PM | Elizabeth Evans Park 100 N. Donnelly St. | Mount Dora Area Chamber |
| Sat, Dec 12 | Leesburg | Christmas Festival and 59th Christmas Parade Parade · Free Ice rink, snow slide and The 789's at the festival. Parade theme: "Let It Snow." | Festival 1 PM, parade 6 PM | Towne Square and Main Street | City of Leesburg |
A blank cost means the official page doesn't list one. Parades on public streets and lakes are free to watch. Times can change for weather, so tap the source link the day you go.
Not confirmed yet
- Mount Dora: Light Up Mount Dora. Date not yet confirmed by the city. The Mount Dora Area Chamber lists Saturday, Nov 21, from 5 PM, but the city's own event page still shows last year's date (Nov 22, 2025). We'll update this as soon as the city posts 2026. City of Mount Dora event page
- Lady Lake: Lady Lake Christmas Parade. Not yet confirmed by the town. News reports say the parade is back on for Saturday, Dec 5 after a sponsor stepped in, but the town hasn't posted a time or route yet. Villages-News report
- Minneola: Minneola Moonlight Parade. Not yet confirmed. The city's event page wasn't viewable when we checked on Oct 29. Search listings show Saturday, Dec 12, 6 to 9 PM, starting at Disston Ave. and Silverton St. City of Minneola event page
We haven't found 2026 holiday events posted yet for Umatilla, Howey-in-the-Hills, Mascotte, Montverde or Astatula. They go in the table as soon as the town posts them.
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Quick answers
When is Light Up Eustis 2026?
Friday, Nov 27, 2026, from 5 to 9 PM in Ferran Park (250 Ferran Park Dr.), per the City of Eustis. It is free.
When is the Leesburg Christmas parade in 2026?
Saturday, Dec 12, 2026. The Christmas Festival starts at 1 PM in Towne Square and the 59th Annual Christmas Parade steps off at 6 PM on Main Street, per the City of Leesburg.
Which day has the most Christmas parades in Lake County?
Saturday, Dec 5. Mount Dora and Clermont both hold their parades at 10 AM, Tavares starts at 5 PM, and the Lighted Boat Parade on Lake Dora starts at 6:30 PM.
When is Light Up Mount Dora 2026?
The Mount Dora Area Chamber lists Saturday, Nov 21, starting at 5 PM, but the City of Mount Dora has not posted its 2026 date yet. Check the city's event page before you go.
Are there Christmas boat parades in Lake County?
Yes, two. Mount Dora's Christmas Lighted Boat Parade is Saturday, Dec 5 at 6:30 PM on Lake Dora, and Leesburg's Christmas Boat Parade follows Light Up Venetian Gardens on Sunday, Dec 6 on Lake Harris.
Plan the rest of the day
Town guides for parking, food and what else is nearby: Clermont · Eustis · Mount Dora · Tavares · Leesburg · Groveland · Fruitland Park · Lady Lake · Minneola. For everything else on the calendar this week, see Lake County events this week and things to do this weekend.
How we built this list
We read each city's event page and the organizers' own pages on October 29, 2026 and kept only what they confirm. Where a city hasn't posted its 2026 date, we say so instead of guessing. Spot a change? Reply to any issue of the newsletter or use the event submission form.