What Makes West Palm Beach an Exceptionally Festive Holiday Town

West Palm Beach | Image credit: Richard Sagredo

Many people head to West Palm Beach over the holidays to get away from the cold and unwind on palm tree-lined beaches. West Palm Beach is a gorgeous city with white sand beaches, deep blue waters, upscale shopping and dining, and many exciting outdoor recreation options. West Palm Beach’s year-round heat, festive atmosphere, and fun events make this city an excellent destination for the holiday season.

Let’s look at some seasonal celebrations in West Palm Beach that make it the ideal place to head to for a top-notch holiday experience.

Sandi the Christmas Tree

One of the iconic holiday experiences you’ll find in West Palm Beach is something you are not likely to find anywhere else in the world. Since West Palm Beach is known for its tropical climate and sandy beaches, it is only fitting that its Christmas celebrations are different from most. Enter the city’s most famous Christmas tree, Sandi, a 35-foot, 700-ton tree made of sand. Sandi has become a beloved holiday tradition here.

There is a Christmas tree lighting celebration, in which Sandi is covered in holiday lights on the Great Lawn at Centennial Park downtown. This spectacular event includes a Ferris wheel, other sand sculptures, holiday snacks, and more. Sandi is displayed throughout the holidays and is an absolute must-see for West Palm visitors.

Holidays at The Square

The Square is a large indoor-outdoor mall in West Palm Beach and one of the city’s commercial hubs. It is also one of the best places to celebrate the holidays, with a jam-packed month of events that make up Holidays at The Square to enhance the season’s joy. For starters, you can expect regular appearances from Santa, so bring your wish list. A weekly Sunday market provides artisanal goods and foods, live holiday concerts, and a light show. And it is the only place where you can experience snow in West Palm Beach, with artificial snowfalls giving residents their version of a white Christmas. 

Palm Beach Boat Parade

Holiday parades are a timeless seasonal tradition, and like many other festivities, Palm Beach does them a little differently.  The annual Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade has dozens of boats taking off from North Palm Beach and navigating up the Intracoastal Waterway to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. They are followed by a traveling firework display that creates an impressive backdrop for this wonderful holiday sight.

The boats in the parade are heavily decorated with Christmas colors and lights, and many of their passengers wear seasonal costumes. This parade can be watched from West Palm Beach or other nearby areas. Benefits from this parade go to Toys for Tots and Little Smiles, so it is a holiday tradition with a giving nature. There is also a toy drive that benefits these two charities, so bring some toys and get in the holiday spirit.