Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village Comes to Auburndale!

Located between Tampa and Orlando, Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village is a festive, holiday attraction featuring a mile-long, drive through Christmas light trail; live entertainment, animal encounters, carnival rides, and more. Last night, Orlando Decoded was invited to experience the light trail and a taste of Santa’s Village. It was such a fun evening with family and friends! Thank you, Wonderland of Lights, for having us out! Now, let’s take a closer look at the Wonderland of Lights drive through and Santa’s Village entertainment!

Wonderland of Lights

You’ll begin your journey at Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village with the drive through holiday trail. Don’t forget to tune your radio to 103.7 FM! It’s a custom playlist of holiday music, perfectly suited for your trip through the lights. Some of the displays will even dance to the beat!

There are several sections to the trail. In the first piece, you’ll see an assortment of Florida animals, dinosaurs, and other creature-based displays.

After this section, you’ll encounter a wall of dancing lights. My group liked to refer to this part as a “Light Waterfall.” Just past the waterfall, check out a giant snowman, decorated construction equipment, and a dancing light tunnel!

But don’t think they’ve forgotten the spiritual side of Christmas. Soon after exiting the light tunnel, you’ll find a nativity scene and menorah.

Almost done! We next entered the Enchanted Forest with a variety of woodland creatures. My favorites were the owls perched in real trees!

And for the grand finale – the 12 Days of Christmas!

What an adorable light trail! My kids loved seeing all the animals, and I really enjoyed the dancing lights and larger than life decorations! While Santa’s Village is open only select evenings (more about that in a bit), the Wonderland of Lights drive through is open nightly from now until January 2.

Santa’s Village

Thursday through Sunday evenings (and nightly beginning December 16th), your ticket also includes admission to Santa’s Village – a carnival type entertainment area with live shows, animal encounters, carnival rides, refreshments, and more. Some of the attraction’s offerings are included with your ticket, and others are available for a small fee. Let’s take a look!

Included Activities at Santa’s Village

Of course, no holiday activity is complete without a visit from Santa Claus! Visits and greetings with Santa are included in your ticket price with pictures available for an additional cost.

And don’t forget to check out the Anastasini Christmas Show – including a variety of acts such as aerialists, acrobats, and daredevils! Showtimes may vary each night. Check the calendar before your visit to plan accordingly.

Premium Activities at Santa’s Village

In addition to the included activities, there are plenty of exciting, premium offerings available at Santa’s Village. Inside you’ll find an assortment of carnival attractions and games as well as animal rides (ponies, camels, and elephants)! If you get hungry, there’s plenty of food and drink ready for purchase.

Pachyderm Picnic

If you’re looking for daytime entertainment, check out the FREE Pachyderm Picnic on Saturdays December 11 and 18 – starting at 1:00pm! The picnic will include an educational presentation by Santa and animal expert Joey Frisco. Bring a sack lunch, and get ready to learn about Asian elephants, camels, and horses! The gates open at 12:30pm.

Visiting Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village

Ready to plan your visit to Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village? Tickets are priced by carload and vary according to date. Drive through only tickets are $15 per passenger car and are valid on December 8th, 13th, 14th, and 15th. If you’re interested in purchasing one of these passes, do so quickly as they MUST be used by next week! You can buy your drive through only ticket on the website!

For all other dates (and nightly from December 16th – January 2), tickets include admission to both the Wonderland of Lights AND Santa’s Village. These tickets are $25 per passenger vehicle (up to 8 individuals), and are available now!

Pro Tip: You don’t need to specify a date when purchasing your vehicle’s admission. You can buy your ticket today and determine which day works for your group at a later time.

Know Before You Go

• Just like anywhere in Florida (and especially anywhere with animals), there might be bugs! Bring bug spray and apply generously!
• Santa’s Village is located on unpaved ground. I recommend wearing closed-toed shoes for maximum comfort.
• Unlike many local attractions, you don’t need to immediately pick a date when booking your ticket. Purchase your car’s pass now, and figure out the perfect timing later!
• Be sure to mind your speed through the lights! Cars may stop in front of you.