Christmas in Naples: the 2026 holiday events guide

Tree lightings, falling snow on Third Street, the downtown parade, the garden lights and the New Year's fireworks, with 2026 dates and drive times from north Naples.

Updated October 20266 min readBy the Naples Retreat hosts

The Naples Retreat, a private pool home in north Naples — The Naples Retreat, our private pool home in north Naples.

Naples does the holidays in shirt sleeves. The season starts the Monday of Thanksgiving week on Third Street South and runs to a fireworks show on the beach in early January. Most of it happens downtown, about 25 minutes from north Naples. Dates below were checked in October 2026. Where a 2026 date isn't announced yet, we say so and give last year's.

The 2026 calendar at a glance

Date	Event	Where	Drive*
Mon, Nov 23	Third Street South tree lighting	Third Street South	~25 min
Nov 24–28	Thanksgiving week snowfall & music	Third Street South	~25 min
Nov 27–Jan 3	Night Lights in the Garden	Naples Botanical Garden	~25 min
Dec 4–5	Christmas Walk & tree lighting	Fifth Avenue South	~25 min
Tue, Dec 8	Naples Christmas Parade	Downtown Naples	~25 min
Sat, Dec 19 (listed)	Christmas Boat Parade	Naples Bay	~25 min
Sat, Jan 2, 2027	New Year's fireworks	City of Naples beaches	~25 min

*Drive times are estimates from north Naples (Pine Ridge Rd & Logan Blvd). Allow more on event nights, when downtown streets close and parking fills.

Thanksgiving week on Third Street South

Tree lighting Mon, Nov 23, 6–9 pmSnow at 7 pm, Tue–SatFreeAbout 25 min

Third Street South's 49th "Christmas on Third" opens with the Naples Tree Lighting on Monday, November 23. The street closes to traffic for the evening. Then, Tuesday through Saturday of Thanksgiving week, there's live music from 5 to 8 pm and a "snowfall" at 7 pm. There's no programming on Thanksgiving Day. Kids can pick up a Letter to Santa at participating shops from November 25 to December 23 and drop it in Santa's mailboxes on the street.

In December 2025, the music and snow carried on Thursday and Friday evenings, 5–8 pm, with snow at 7. The 2026 December schedule isn't posted yet.

Night Lights in the Garden

Nov 27, 2026–Jan 3, 20276–9 pmClosed Dec 24, 25 & 31Timed ticketsAbout 25 min

Naples Botanical Garden lights its paths for the season, with live music and food and drink. Non-member tickets go on sale November 2. Adults are $36 and children 4–17 are $18 through December 17. From December 18 they rise to $42 and $20. Late-night entry from 7:45 pm costs less, and a FLEX ticket lets you change your date once. No outside food or drink. Holiday-week nights sell out, so buy as soon as your dates are set.

Christmas Walk and tree lighting on Fifth Avenue South

Fri, Dec 4, 5 pm–Sat, Dec 5, 10 pmTree lighting in Sugden PlazaFree to walkAbout 25 min

The Avenue's two-day festival brings a living nativity, an ice-skating rink, live music, a Christmas market and Santa. The official tree lighting is in Sugden Plaza on the Friday. In 2025 it was at 6 pm; the 2026 time isn't posted yet. Restaurants along the Avenue stay busy all weekend, so book dinner early.

Naples Christmas Parade

Tue, Dec 8, 6:30 pmDowntown NaplesFreeAbout 25 min

The City of Naples parade runs through downtown and ends with Santa. The city hasn't posted the 2026 route. In 2025 it started on Third Street South, turned onto Fifth Avenue South and finished on Eighth Street South by City Hall. Bring chairs and come early for a curb spot.

Christmas Boat Parade on Naples Bay

Listed for Sat, Dec 19, 6:15 pmNaples BayFree from shore; City Dock ticketedAbout 25 min

The Marine Industries Association of Collier County runs this one. Its 37th parade is listed for December 19 with the theme "Blossoms & Bows". One events calendar projects December 12 instead, so confirm on MIACC.org. The 2025 parade was December 13. The City Dock is the judging spot and needs a ticket. Naples Landing, Bayview Park and the waterfront restaurants at Tin City are free or cost a meal.

New Year's: fireworks on January 2, not New Year's Eve

No city fireworks on December 31

Naples moved its show off New Year's Eve for police staffing and safety reasons. The 2026 show was Saturday, January 3, at 6:30 pm, launched from a barge and visible along the city shoreline. In March 2026, City Council voted to hold the next one on Saturday, January 2, 2027. The time and launch spot aren't posted yet, and pier construction may change where the barge sits.

What December weather is like

Mild and mostly dry. Average highs slip from about 78°F to 74°F over the month, and lows from about 62°F to 58°F. Only about one day in seven is wet. The Gulf cools from about 74°F to 70°F, which is brisk for most swimmers, so a heated pool earns its keep. The sun sets around 5:35–5:45 pm, so the light shows start early. A cold front can bring a few 50-degree nights. Pack a sweater.

Tips for the holidays in Naples

Downtown is busiest on event nights. Park once and walk between Third Street and Fifth Avenue; they're about four blocks apart.
Book Night Lights and Christmas Eve or Christmas Day restaurant tables weeks ahead.
Plan your New Year's Eve at home or at dinner, and catch the beach fireworks that Saturday.

July 4th fireworks in Naples

The city's Independence Day show usually launches by the Naples Pier. With the pier being rebuilt, the 2026 fireworks fired from a barge in the Gulf, listed off Fifth Avenue South. The show started around 9 pm, was free, and could be seen from any City of Naples beach. A morning parade began at Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South. The 2027 plan isn't announced. The pier isn't expected to reopen before mid-2027, so expect a barge again.

Stay at The Naples Retreat

Our pool home in north Naples sleeps 13 in 4 bedrooms, with an open kitchen, double ovens and seating for 8 for the holiday dinner. The private saltwater pool and spa can be heated, and the fire pit is the best seat on a cool December night.

Check dates & price

Quick answers

Is Naples, Florida good for Christmas?

Yes, if you like a warm Christmas. Highs are usually in the mid-70s, and downtown has two tree lightings, a parade, a boat parade, falling snow on Third Street South and the Night Lights in the Garden.

When is the Naples Christmas Parade in 2026?

Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 6:30 pm in downtown Naples, according to the City of Naples. It's free.

Does Naples have fireworks on New Year's Eve?

Not on December 31. The city holds its show on the first weekend of January. The next one is Saturday, January 2, 2027, visible from the city's beaches.

When does Night Lights in the Garden start in 2026?

November 27, 2026, running nightly 6–9 pm through January 3, 2027, except December 24, 25 and 31. Non-member tickets go on sale November 2.

More Naples guides

Sources (checked October 2026). Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.