Disney Springs Christmas Tree Lighting Kicks Off the 2026 Holiday Season

Christmas has officially arrived at Disney Springs! We stopped by the venue Wednesday evening for the 2026 Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This was my first time attending the special celebration that marks the start of the holiday season at the popular shopping, dining, and entertainment district. While the ceremony itself was a one-night event, there’s plenty of Christmas cheer to enjoy between now and the first of the year. From the return of the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll to seasonal treats at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, visits with Santa, and even nightly snowfall after dark, the holiday season is officially in full swing.

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

While we visit Disney Springs fairly regularly throughout the year, I had never attended the official tree lighting ceremony. We arrived and found a spot a few minutes after 6:00 p.m., with the ceremony scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. A singing group, the Mistletones, performed a couple of Christmas tunes to get things started.

Then, several Disney Springs and AdventHealth executives, along with the Walt Disney World Ambassadors, attended the tree-lighting ceremony. Since it was held on Veterans Day, a veteran and his family were brought out to help light the tree. It was a fun event that lasted approximately 20 minutes.

Holiday Snow Falls Every Night After Dark at Disney Springs

After the tree-lighting, snow began to fall in the surrounding area. Well, faux snow. Snow will fall at the venue each evening this holiday season through January 3rd. It starts at 6:00 p.m. in Town Center near the flagship Christmas tree and happens approximately every 30 minutes.

The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll Has Returned

The Christmas Tree Stroll has returned to Disney Springs for the holiday season. When we arrived, we picked up a map and started looking for this year’s trees. My personal favorite? The Hallmark Christmas Tree, which is one of three new trees on this year’s stroll. This complimentary scavenger hunt comes with a free gift when you find all the trees. If you are interested in participating, see our guide to the 2026 Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll. It provides an overview of what you need to do to participate.

Santa Is Now Meeting Guests at Santa’s Marketplace

If you would like to meet Santa Claus, he has a special meet-and-greet at Santa’s Marketplace at Disney Springs. To meet Santa, you have to join a virtual queue. Fair warning: we joined the virtual queue when we arrived. When we were called to join the line, it was still over an hour wait. We have done this meet-and-greet a couple of times in recent years, so we decided not to wait. My best advice is to visit earlier rather than later if you want to meet Santa.

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar is Now Serving Its Holiday Menu

Another stop worth adding to a holiday visit is Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, which has brought back its seasonal decorations and introduced a new lineup of holiday food and drinks. We recently took a closer look at Jock Lindsey’s 2026 holiday menu. The venue will offer this special overlay and seasonal menu items through January 11, 2027.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony was a fun way to kick off the holiday season at Disney Springs. If it’s something you are interested in seeing in the future, I would recommend taking the time to see it. That said, I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to see it.

We invested about 30 minutes to get a good spot, and then the ceremony lasted approximately 20 minutes. So it was almost an hour of our evening. I felt like it’s something more for someone who has an off-day from the parks with plans to visit Disney Springs. Or it’s perfect for someone who feels like they’ve done most everything and are looking for something new.

While we touched on most of the major events this holiday season, you might also enjoy our list of Things to Do at Disney Springs This Christmas. For more on the holidays overall, see our Christmas Planning Guide for Disney World. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more details, and sign up for our newsletter for updates.

In the Comments

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