Downtown Boca holiday events 2026: tree lighting, parade, Holiday Pops and more

6 downtown dates make up the City of Boca Raton’s 2026 holiday season, spread over 25 days from Nov. 21 to Dec. 15, 2026. Four are in Mizner Park or at its Amphitheater, one is in Sanborn Square, and the City has not posted the 2026 parade route. We read each City event page on Oct. 20, 2026 and worked out the weekdays from the dates. Where the City has not posted something, such as the parade route, we say so. This guide is not the City of Boca Raton, Downtown Boca (the Boca Raton CRA) or Mizner Park.

Holiday Tree Lighting: Saturday, Nov. 21

The City’s Holiday Tree Lighting page lists the event at Mizner Park Amphitheater from 6 PM to 10 PM. It is free. The Mayor lights the City’s tree at 7:30 PM along with Mizner Park’s light display, which the City puts at 50,000 LED lights on 75 palms. The evening has live music, a holiday market, food for purchase and photos with Santa at the Museum of Art. The City sponsors it with WPBF 25 and Mizner Park.

It is 32 days after the date we checked. Three practical points from the City’s page:

• Plaza Real East and West close to cars from 5 PM, 1 hour before the 6 PM start. Arrive and park before then if you plan to drive along Plaza Real.
• No outside chairs.
• One unopened water bottle per person.

• Mizner Park Amphitheater is a City of Boca Raton venue at 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432, phone 561-393-7890. City of Boca Raton: Mizner Park Amphitheater

Holiday Street Parade: Wednesday, Dec. 2

The 54th Annual Holiday Street Parade runs Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, from 7:30 PM to 9 PM, 11 days after the tree lighting. The 2026 theme is Boca by the Beach, with decorated floats and community groups, music and lights. The City also plans a 1-mile Boca Holiday Mile Run with the Police Athletic League before the parade, with details to come.

The route is the open question. The City’s parade page says route changes are anticipated this year because of FDOT road work on Federal Hwy, with details coming soon. Road closure times are not posted. Older route descriptions and past closure times circulate online; we do not repeat them, because the City has said this year will be different. Check the City page in the week before the parade, and expect downtown streets to close in the evening.

• The City says route changes are anticipated for the December 2, 2026 Holiday Street Parade because of FDOT road work on Federal Hwy, with details coming soon. A search summary described the usual route as Federal Highway from SE 5th Street north to Mizner Park Amphitheater, and 2025 closures of Federal Highway from Camino Real to Glades Road 5-11 p.m. (WFLX/WPTV); neither is confirmed for 2026. City of Boca Raton: Holiday Street Parade (route detail from search snippet only)

Holiday Pops: Saturday, Dec. 5

The City’s Mizner Park Amphitheater page lists the 3rd Annual Holiday Pops Concert on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, from 6 PM to 8 PM. The page we read does not give ticket or admission details, so check the Amphitheater page before you go.

Dec. 5 is also a first Saturday, which makes it a Free Fun Saturday at The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum. The Historical Society lists free admission from 10 AM to 4 PM that day at Historic Town Hall, 71 North Federal Highway. A museum visit in the afternoon and the concert in the evening fit the same day. Our south and old downtown guide covers Town Hall and Sanborn Square.

• The History Museum is free on the first Saturday of each month (Free Fun Saturdays), 10 AM to 4 PM. Listed upcoming dates include November 7 and December 5. Boca Raton Historical Society: Free Fun Saturdays

Merry in Mizner: Dec. 8 and Dec. 15

Merry in Mizner is pop-up holiday entertainment in Mizner Park, offered by the City with Downtown Boca. The City’s Merry in Mizner page lists two dates as Tues, Dec 8 and Tues, Dec 15, without printing a year. Both dates fall on a Tuesday in 2026, 7 days apart, and the page sits beside the City’s other 2026 holiday events, so we read them as 2026.

• Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 PM to 8 PM: Surf’s Up Santa meet and greet, a Florida-style Santa at the giant Adirondack chair.
• Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 6 PM: Stuff-a-Plush at the South Gazebo, a free make-your-own plush event for the first 200.

With a limit of 200 at Stuff-a-Plush, arrive early if a child in your group has their heart set on it.

Night Market: Thursday, Dec. 10

The City’s monthly Night Market in Sanborn Square runs Thursdays from 6 PM to 9 PM, with local makers, artists, snacks and treats. Dec. 10, 2026 is the last 2026 date the City lists, after Oct. 1 and Nov. 5. January to May 2027 dates are not posted. The City says it offers free BocaConnect rides to the market.

• The City's monthly Night Market in Sanborn Square runs Thursdays 6:00PM to 9:00PM; the City lists 2026 dates of October 1, November 5 and December 10. City of Boca Raton: Night Market
• Sanborn Square Park is at 72 North Federal Highway. The City lists it open 8am to 11pm, with decorative fountains, public art, a bike repair station and 53 metered parking spaces. City of Boca Raton: Sanborn Square Park

One more December date to know about: Hot Works lists a Boca Raton Fine Art Show on Dec. 12 and 13, 2026, but the venue for that show is not confirmed on a primary page we read. Do not plan on it being in Sanborn Square until Hot Works says so.

• Hot Works lists Boca Raton Fine Art Shows on November 7-8, 2026, December 12-13, 2026 and January 30-31, 2027. Only the November show is placed in Sanborn Square on a primary page read (Downtown Boca's calendar). The December and January venues are unconfirmed. Hot Works (organizer home page)

Parking and getting there on holiday nights

Mizner Park says parking in its four garages, A, B, C and D, is free. For events at Mizner Park Amphitheater and Sanborn Square, Downtown Boca recommends free City lots: City Hall (201 W. Palmetto Park Road), the Downtown Library (400 NW 2nd Avenue), Building Administration (200 NW 2nd Avenue) and the Library Annex (350 NW 4th Street). For Amphitheater concerts, the City also lists paid preferred parking next to the Amphitheater and at the church behind it (cash only) and paid valet in Mizner Park.

• Mizner Park says parking is free, in garages A, B, C and D. Valet is offered at three spots: beside the main fountain, at IPIC Theater and at Eddie V's. Mizner Park: Visit / FAQs
• For events at Mizner Park Amphitheater, The Studio at Mizner Park and Sanborn Square, Downtown Boca recommends free City lots: City Hall (201 W. Palmetto Park Road), Downtown Library (400 NW 2nd Avenue), Building Administration (200 NW 2nd Avenue) and Library Annex (350 NW 4th Street). Brightline parking is not allowed in the library lots. Downtown Boca (Boca Raton CRA): Easy Parking

The City lots carry overnight rules: no parking 12am to 8am at the library lots and 11pm to 6am at Building Administration. A 10 PM finish at the tree lighting leaves time to get back to the car. Our parking guide lists every lot, and the BocaConnect guide covers the free downtown shuttle, which runs to 11pm on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Coming by train? Our Brightline station guide explains why train riders should not leave cars in the library lots.

• BocaConnect hours: Monday to Thursday 7:00am to 11:00pm, Friday 7:00am to 2:00am, Saturday 9:00am to 2:00am, Sunday 9:00am to 11:00pm. City of Boca Raton: BocaConnect – Circuit Shuttle

Planning a holiday visit

• Pick the night first: two Saturdays, one Wednesday, two Tuesdays and a Thursday.
• For the tree lighting, be parked before Plaza Real closes at 5 PM, and leave the chairs at home.
• For the parade, check the City page in the week before for the 2026 route.
• Pair Holiday Pops with the free History Museum day on the same Saturday.

The full season, from the November concerts to Festival of the Arts BOCA in March, is on our downtown Boca events page. For dinner before or after, see downtown restaurants.

Holiday questions

Written by the Downtown Boca Raton Guide Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact before it publishes.

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Boca Raton (official site)