Forget going on a shopping frenzy, Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to slow down, unwind, and cherish time with your loved ones. While Thursday is all about connection and bonding over great food, the long weekend is another opportunity to explore and connect.
Get a head start on planning and check out our relaxing suggestions for maximizing your quality time together during Thanksgiving weekend in Orlando.
More ideas for Thanksgiving weekend fun:
Thanksgiving dinner in Orlando:
- Skip the Cooking! Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner
- Relax at Home – Thanksgiving Dinner To Go
- Local Bakeries in Orlando to Grab Your Thanksgiving Desserts
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel – Holiday Harbor Nights
Friday, November 28, from 6:30pm – 9pm
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando’s signature food and wine event will kick off the holiday season with enhanced experiences and more! Come experience an unforgettable and festive evening filled with Italian charm as you stroll beneath the twinkling lights of the stunning Harbor Piazza.
Featuring an array of wines, delectable Italian-inspired cuisine, live music performed by The Buzzcatz, opera singers and the grand illumination of Portofino’s glittering Christmas tree, Holiday Harbor Nights is the perfect date night or fun night out with friends to celebrate the season.
Ages | Adults (age 21+) only. Tickets start at $85.
More details coming soon!
Unwind
Yoga in the Garden
Every Saturday and Sunday in November
Saturdays 9-10am, Sundays 4-5pm
Mead Botanical Garden
Press reset on body and mind with an outdoor yoga session at Mead Botanical Garden. Classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays on the Grove Stage. Bring your own water bottle and yoga mat.
$15
Tai Chi in the Garden
Every Saturday in November, 10:30 – 11:30am
Mead Botanical Garden
Enjoy a unique experience to practice Tai Chi in the garden with certified Tai Chi Health Master Trainer, Tony Garcia. Classes are held on Saturdays on the Grove Stage.
$15
Other ways to relax:
- Book a rejuvenating spa day at one of these Orlando spas
- Purchase ResortPass day passes to an Orlando resort
- Check out the Orlando Beer Spa
Get Outdoors
Bok Tower Gardens
Thanksgiving weekend in Orlando usually marks the beginning of the Holidays in the Highlands at Bok Tower Gardens. Listen to concerts, see holiday foliage, and partake in special holiday events. Bok Tower Gardens is open daily from 8am-6pm with the last admission at 5pm. Tickets are $20 per adult.
Horseback Trail Rides
At Hidden Palms Ranch in Sanford, enjoy a leisurely guided trail ride through the Lake Jesup Conservation Area. You'll be guided through tree-canopied trails and scenic floodplains dotted with palm trees.
The cost is $250/couple for a private tour, and $85/person for a group tour (max 5 guests). Private tours must be booked over the phone at 407-620-7880.
Take a Hike
Fall is the perfect time to get out and try a new hiking spot together! A few of our favorite spots include Lake Lotus Park, Lake Louisa State Park (try glamping!), Washington Oaks Garden State Park, Flat Island Preserve (Lake County), Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, and these secluded hiking spots in Central Florida.
Hours and admission prices vary.
Escape to the Beach
Soak up those Florida holiday vibes with a mini beach getaway. Spend the afternoon unwinding, hiking, and exploring the coast with your love. A few of our favorite beach destinations are New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, and of course during this festive time of year, St. Augustine's Nights of Lights.
Bikes & Brews
Spend an afternoon coasting along the West Orange Trail in search of your next favorite brew. Bring your own bicycle or rent one from West Orange Trail Bikes and Blades. Rentals are available starting at $7 per hour or $30 for the day.
Continue the Feast
Thanksgiving Date Night at Truffles & Trifles
Friday, November 21 2025 6:30 pm
Truffles & Trifles
Have fun and pick up a few new culinary tricks at a holiday-themed cooking class from Trifles & Truffles.
$220 per couple
Related: Skip the Cooking! Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
November 28 to December 30
EPCOT
Epcot's annual holiday festival kicks off on Thanksgiving weekend. Sample dishes and take part in holiday traditions from around the world on this cultural tour of World Showcase. Get the full scoop in our Complete Guide to the Holidays at Walt Disney World.
1-Day, 1-Park Ticket from $149
DIY Thanksgiving Leftovers Picnic
Head to a local park, garden, or even your own backyard with your leftovers for an intimate lunch with your love. A few favorite picnic spots:
- Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Garden – $12/adult admission
- Kraft Azalea Garden
- Mead Botanical Garden
- Bok Tower Gardens – $20/adult admission
Scope out some of our favorite picnic destinations and ideas.
Gratitude: All Levels Yoga and Sound Bath
Saturday, November 29, 2025, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Alexander Discovery Center at Bok Tower Gardens
Open yourself to gratitude and thankfulness during this all-levels yoga flow paired with a soothing sound bath meditation. Class includes gentle warm-ups, breath techniques, full-body poses, and a 30-minute guided Savasana with singing bowls to leave you refreshed and relaxed.
Bring a mat, blanket, and pillow.
$30 members / $45 non-members. Registration required.
Go to a Farmer’s Market
Windermere – Fridays 9am-1:30pm
Winter Park – Saturdays 8am-1pm
Winter Garden – Saturdays 8am-1pm
Clermont – Sundays 9am-2pm
Orlando Farmer’s Market – Sundays 10am-3pm
Related: A Guide to Orlando Farmers Markets
Listen to Live Music
O-Town Brass
Wednesday, November 26, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Judson’s Live, Dr. Phillips Center
Celebrate Friendsgiving New Orleans–style with O-Town Brass, a powerhouse Central Florida ensemble blending funk, jazz, and rock into a brass-driven party. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for food and beverage service.
$35
Lindsey Stirling: The Snow Waltz Tour
Wednesday, November 26, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Walt Disney Theater, Dr. Phillips Center
Kick off the holiday season with platinum-selling violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling as she brings her Snow Waltz Tour to Orlando. This enchanting performance blends holiday classics and original songs with dazzling visuals and her signature electronic violin for a magical night of music and movement.
$75 – $150
Home for the Holidays: Holidays in Hollywood
Saturday, November 29, 2025, 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Steinmetz Hall, Dr. Phillips Center
Celebrate the season with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra as they perform holiday favorites alongside music from beloved films like White Christmas, The Polar Express, and Home Alone. This festive performance features singers, an audience sing-along, and family-friendly fun sure to put you in the holiday spirit.
$100
Cascanueces
Saturday & Sunday, November 29 & 30, 2025, 8:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Dr. Phillips Center
Join Clarita on an enchanting journey through Spain in this flamenco retelling of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Featuring vibrant costumes, dueling rats and soldiers, snapping fans, castanets, and powerful footwork, Flamenco del Sol Dance Company brings a colorful cultural twist to the beloved holiday classic.
$53
Runa: Hark! an Irish Christmas
Saturday, November 29, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Oval Lawn at Bok Tower Gardens
Celebrate the season with the award-winning Celtic group Runa as they bring their festive holiday show, Hark! An Irish Christmas, to the Gardens. Enjoy rich harmonies, dazzling instrumentals, and a joyful blend of Irish folk traditions with jazz, bluegrass, flamenco, and blues. Arrive early for a holiday carillon concert with Geert D’hollander, seasonal treats, and gift shopping at The Shop at Bok.
Free for members / $20 non-member adults / $10 non-member children (6–17) / free for ages 5 and under. No registration required.
Weekends at the Winery
November 29 – 30, 2025 12-4pm
Lakeridge Winery
Head to this Central Florida winery's expansive vineyard green each weekend for delicious food, live entertainment, complimentary wine tastings/tours, and Lakeridge wines by the glass at the outdoor bar.
FREE admission
Watch Classic Holiday Movies
Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit. Now's the time to watch all your favorite holiday flicks on the big screen! Check out the holiday movie lineup this year.
Attend a Thanksgiving Weekend Event
Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild
Select nights November 14, 2025 through January 18, 2026, 6-10 p.m.
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Celebrate the culture, art, and beauty of traditional lantern festivals at the Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo. This dazzling after-hours holiday spectacular features over 30 handmade illuminated sculptures along a 3/4 mile trail.
In addition to stunning LED lanterns depicting plants, animals, and traditional Chinese figures, enjoy live music, artisan crafts, and local food and beverage available for purchase.
$23 per person
Winter Wonderland
Fridays & Saturdays, November 29 – January 4
Westgate River Ranch
Celebrate the Holiday Season with the Annual Winter Wonderland Experience at Westgate River Ranch! Enjoy a festive Hayride with classic Christmas Carols and explore their Enchanted Forest adventure. Get lost in a delightful holiday maze, discover sweet surprises at the Candy Land playground, and jingle all the way through the Florida outdoors. Wrap up your journey at the festive tree farm, where unforgettable memories and delectable treats await, promising to delight your taste buds! Join them for a magical holiday celebration!
Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens
November 28, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Leu Gardens
1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando
- Fun, interactive lights
- A beautiful, bright, 70’ long light tunnel
- A walk of thousands of laser lights
- And snow all night long
$25 per person, plus $12 for parking on site, or free offsite parking
READ MORE: Where to Find Orlando’s Best Holiday Lights
FUSIONFEST
Saturday and Sunday, November 29 – 30, 2025
Seneff Arts Plaza (in front of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts)
Cultures from all across the world will fill the Seneff Arts Plaza in front of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Orlando City Hall Commons Plaza for the free, two-day festival, which draws people from more than 110 different cultures to experience music, dance, food, visual arts, spoken word, games and interactive activities and features over 1,000 local artists, who will perform and showcase their work on the stages, gallery and interactive installations at FusionFest.
FREE Admission
Leading up to the festival, join monthly Divertastic Dining experiences at restaurants around Orlando, including dinners highlighting cuisine from Peru and Yemen.
Related: 50+ Festive and Free Holiday Events in Orlando
Small Business Saturday Sidewalk Sale
2025 TBA
Downtown Winter Garden
The annual Downtown Winter Garden Small Business Saturday Sidewalk Sale is great for finding one-of-a-kind gifts, while enjoying special savings. Stroll and shop the outdoor sale racks in the festive-decorated historic district this Thanksgiving weekend in Orlando. Stick around for lunch or dinner with expanded outdoor patios for dining – many restaurants will also offer specials on this day — and for enjoying the fall weather.
FREE Admission
Small Business Saturday
2025 TBA
Thornton Park
Shop 70+ vendors, retail businesses, and restaurants lining 420 E. Church Street AND 431 E. Central Blvd!
FREE
Thanksgiving Silent Disco
2025 TBA
Orlando Science Center
Silent Discos In Amazing Spaces brings its surreal dance party to Orlando Science Center for a special Thanksgiving Throwback Party. Dance, sing, and capture the perfect selfie with your besties under the illuminated skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex! The main exhibition space of this popular attraction will be converted into a giant dancefloor with a bar, nightclub-quality lights, visual effects, and, of course, three amazing DJs simultaneously playing three uniquely themed DJ sets. Already an international phenomenon, this will be the craziest party of the year you don’t want to miss!
Bonus idea – Thanksgiving weekend in Orlando is a great time to give back and do some good. Check out our Volunteering Ideas.
