Palm Beach Gardens lights its holiday tree Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5:45 p.m. at District Park, with Santa on a fire truck and an ice rink. Free; 4 to 8 p.m.

Last checked Nov. 5, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the City of Palm Beach Gardens Tree Lighting, Trailblazer 5K and Santa’s Mailbox pages, and from the Village of North Palm Beach and the Town of Jupiter.

Palm Beach Gardens lights its holiday tree on Saturday, Dec. 5, at The Gardens North County District Park, 5101 117th Court North. The free event runs from 4 to 8 p.m., Santa arrives on a fire truck, and the tree goes up in lights at 5:45 p.m. The city’s holiday calendar lists no Christmas parade; the tree lighting is its main holiday celebration.

Updated Nov. 5: Jupiter’s tree lighting on Dec. 4 now starts at 5:30 p.m., not 5 p.m., the town says.

Who to call

  • Tree lighting, Santa’s Mailbox, city events: Palm Beach Gardens Recreation Department, 561-630-1100, 4404 Burns Road
  • Trailblazer 5K registration: Race Roster
  • Official page: Tree Lighting

The tree lighting, Saturday, Dec. 5

From the city’s Tree Lighting page:

Time What
4 p.m. Event opens: synthetic ice-skating rink, inflatables, music, food vendors
5:45 p.m. Santa arrives on a fire truck and the city’s tree is lit
6 to 7 p.m. Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus
8 p.m. Event ends

The city lists it as a free community event for all ages.

Before the lights: the Trailblazer 5K

The Gardens Trailblazer 5K runs the same afternoon at District Park. The 2K starts at 3:30 p.m. and the 5K at 4:15 p.m., and runners are invited to stay for the tree lighting, according to the city’s race announcement. Registration is on Race Roster; the city lists the promo code SLEIGHTHETRAIL10 for 10% off.

More holiday events in Palm Beach Gardens

  • Films on the Field: “Elf” (PG), 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, District Park Field 10. Free. The city offers a free holiday cookie while supplies last, according to its Films on the Field page.
  • Santa’s Mailbox, Dec. 1-18, in the lobby of the Burns Road Community Center, 4404 Burns Road. Drop off a letter with a legible return address and Santa writes back; no stamp needed, according to the Santa’s Mailbox page.
  • Gardens Harvest & Holiday Bazaar, Friday, Nov. 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Burns Road Community Center. Free admission, more than 70 local vendors.

Tree lightings nearby

Town When Where
North Palm Beach 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 Veterans Memorial Park, 303 Anchorage Drive
Jupiter 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 Town Green, Jupiter Municipal Campus, 210 Military Trail

North Palm Beach’s ceremony has music from the North Palm Youth Symphony and the mayor lighting the tree. Jupiter’s has school performances, a countdown and food vendors; the town asks visitors to leave pets at home. Jupiter also holds There’s Snow Place Like Jupiter, with 32 tons of real snow and visits with Santa, from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Abacoa Community Park, 1501 Frederick Small Road. It is free.

What this means for you

  • Dec. 5 is the date: run the 5K, then stay for the tree at 5:45 p.m.
  • Kids’ letters to Santa go in the Burns Road mailbox by Dec. 18.
  • Three tree lightings fall in four days: North Palm Beach Dec. 2, Jupiter Dec. 4 and Palm Beach Gardens Dec. 5.

More: holiday lights and Christmas events, things to do this month and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Palm Beach Gardens tree lighting in 2026?

Saturday, Dec. 5, at The Gardens North County District Park, 5101 117th Court North. The event runs 4 to 8 p.m., and the tree is lit at 5:45 p.m.

Is there a Christmas parade in Palm Beach Gardens?

The city’s holiday calendar lists no Christmas parade. Its main holiday event is the tree lighting, where Santa arrives on a fire truck.

Where can I see Santa in Palm Beach Gardens?

At the city’s tree lighting on Dec. 5, with photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 6 to 7 p.m. Santa’s Mailbox at the Burns Road Community Center takes letters Dec. 1-18.

Is the Palm Beach Gardens tree lighting free?

Yes. The city lists it as a free community event.