Mount Dora
Christmas
Visit Mount Dora, Florida
Mount Dora, Florida is located in the heart of Central Florida just 30 miles north of Orlando. Whether you’re a resident or just a visitor for a day or a week, Come see why Mount Dora is the perfect backdrop for the holidays with our must see seasonal Events, Sites & Shows.
Discover Mount Dora this Holiday Season
Create Holiday Memories
ANNUAL EVENTS
Due to social distancing and safety concerns regarding Covid-19,
the pre celebration for Light Up Mount Dora is CANCELLED for 2020. The lights are ON now!
Light Up Mount Dora
CANCELLED for 2020!
There will be NO holiday pre-show in Donnelly Park in 2020. 100,000 lights in the park & the big tree in Sunset Park will be switched on at dark each night during the holiday season.
Mount Dora Xmas Walk
Fri Dec 4, 2020
A family friendly street party with music, entertainers, food vendors and kid activities. Shops stay open til 9PM!
Christmas Parade
Sat Dec 5, 2020
The 60th annual Mount Dora Christmas Parade makes its way through the middle of town on Donnelly St. Starts at 10am
Dinner at the Donnelly House
CANCELLED
The Ladies Mount Dora Chapter No 103 OES host a roast beef/pork dinner Nov 28 4:30-7pm & the Men of Mount Dora Masonic Lodge host hot dogs & burgers 6-9pm during Xmas Walk Dec 4
Lighted Boat Parade
Sat Dec 5, 2020
View boats lit up for the holidays at the 4th Ave docks at 7pm
Children's Snow in the Park
Sat Dec 12, 2020
Real snow is trucked into Donnelly park so kids can sled. The event is free. 5-9pm
TOURS and SHOWS
CatBoat TOURS
Start at MD Marina 148 Charles Ave
You're in FLORIDA! The weather outside is Delightful. Go see the 1000 yr old Dora Canal on a 2 seated gas powered catamaran. No boating experience needed. It's the perfect holiday gift for you, your friends & family. Make reservations at CatBoatTour.com
Evans Park
100 N. Donnelly St
Bring your own blanket or chair. Mount Dora Live is hosting a socially distancing holiday concert in Evans Park. Starting off at 4PM, enjoy Dueling Pianos and then get ready to rock and groove to the sounds of The Crew. The party continues with special musical guests including Santa Claus. Tickets are $10. A limited number will be sold. Food & drinks will be available in the park.
SEGWAY Tours
Start at MD Boating Center & Marina
Take a fun tour of Mount Dora on a SEGWAY! Glide along the waterfront boardwalk past the iconic lighthouse and hear some amazing facts about this town. The tour takes you through neighborhoods and downtown to pass shops and restaurants.
Icehouse Theater
1100 N Unser Street
Clara and her three grown kids have always known they were special, ever since that fateful Christmas Eve in 1942, when the vision appeared to Grandpa in his barbershop. As Ruth plans her one-woman show about the family miracle, a deathbed revelation causes the legend to unravel – a heartfelt and hilarious trip.
November 13 – December 13, 2020 IceHouseTheatre.com
FOOD TOURS
Start at MD Chamber of Commerce
Your host Jimberly takes you on a tour of 6-7 restaurants in the historic walking district to taste some culinary specialties and tell you a bit of Mount Dora history.
Mount Dora Ballet NUTCRACKER
MD Community Bldg
The Mount Dora School of Ballet returns to present Lake Ballet Theater’s Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s famous, full-length ballet. 2020 dates TBD MountDoraSchoolofBallet.com
MUST SEE SIGHTS
Donnelly Park
530 N Donnelly St
More than 2 million lights adorn our centrally located park from the last weekend in Nov til the first weekend in Feb
Tour of HOMES
Multiple Mt Dora houses!
Peek into fabulously decorated private residential homes in the area. You'll need to purchase tickets but the proceeds go toward scholarships for students interested in the Arts. The annual event is sponsored by the Mount Dora Women's Committee of Fine Arts
Donnelly House
535 N. Donnelly St
This historic home was built in 1893 and was the home of town pioneers John P. Donnelly and his wife Annie McDonald
Singing Christmas Tree
Sunset park
Make sure you swing by Sunset Park to check out the Giant Christmas tree with its synchronized lights and music.
Mt Dora Boating Center & Marina
148 Charles Ave
Located on the south end of town on Lake Dora, make sure you seek out this incredible display put on by the owners of the marina
Mount Dora Lighthouse
Sunset park
Although it is only 35ft tall, the Mount Dora lighthouse is the only registered working inland lighthouse in the state of Florida
Behind the Scenes
In 2018 Lisa McDonald our Public Information Officer with the City of Mount Dora gave us some insight into what it takes to get Mount Dora into the holiday spirit. Take a peek.