Broward brings the holiday spirit this December with exciting winter wonderland events, thought-provoking plays, and inspiring musical performances from local South Florida artists and musicians.
Music & Concerts
Soulful Christmas 2025 – A Sistrunk Community Celebration by Hued Songs at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center
Soulful Christmas 2025 – A Sistrunk Community Celebration brings Black Christmas traditions to life with free, music-based performances at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) on December 12 and 13. Performed by Hued Songs, the multidisciplinary arts group that combines dance, music, and spoken word into performances that celebrate Black joy and creativity, the concerts at AARLCC feature holiday music through the ages – from gospel to R&B – that shaped Black Christmas celebrations. Under the direction of Kunya C. Rowley and Musical Director King Friday, the performances feature Brittany Graham, Ja’Nia Harden, Erron Cooper, and Wilkie Ferguson III.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Soulful Christmas 2025 – A Sistrunk Community Celebration
WHERE: African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 7 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, December 12, and 12 to 1:30 p.m., December 13
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6282 or visit the event page (Dec. 12 performance, Dec. 13 performance)
BEST FOR: All ages
Holiday Music Concert by Broward Women’s Chorus at North Regional/Broward College Library
The Broward Women’s Chorus brings a free, holiday concert to the public on December 11 at North Regional/Broward College Library. This all-women chorus has been performing throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties since 1972. Their holiday concert at North Regional/Broward College Library includes contemporary holiday music as well as classic Christmas carols. Admission to the event is first-come, first served.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Holiday Music Concert
WHERE: North Regional/Broward College Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd, Coconut Creek
WHEN: 2 to 3 p.m., Thursday, December 11
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 201-2600 or visit the event page, or register on Eventbrite
BEST FOR: All ages
Honky Tonk Holiday Program by Kris Nicholson and Chai Latte at Deerfield Beach Percy White Branch Library
Local pianist Kris Nicholson and ukulele musician Chai Latte perform a special honky-tonk program of holiday music at the Deerfield Beach Percy White Branch. A subgenre of country music, honky-tonk emerged during WWII in boisterous barrooms and was related to ragtime music; the energetic sound of honky-tonk music however emphasized rhythm over melody.
Kris Nicholson is a Miami-based honky-tonk piano player performing throughout South Florida; Chai Latte performs ukulele concerts throughout Broward and teaches ukulele to adults and children.
The free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Percy White Library.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Honky Tonk Holiday Program
WHERE: Deerfield Beach Percy White Branch, 837 E Hillsboro Blvd, Deerfield Beach
WHEN: 2 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, December 20
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-7680 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Holiday Jazz Concerts by Emily Kennedy and Patrice Risi at Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center and Lauderhill Towne Centre Library
Emily Kennedy and Patrice Risi entertain the public with a Christmas jazz concert of holiday music at Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center on December 6. Composer and instrumentalist Emily Kennedy will lead on trumpet and Patrice Risi joins on piano. The event includes refreshments and a take-home craft for kids.
The duo’s second holiday jazz concert at Lauderhill Towne Centre Library on December. 22 gives the audience a chance to sing along and includes a holiday-themed craft. Both concerts are free and open to the public.
Kennedy and Risi have been performing free jazz concerts throughout the year as part of the Jazz Around the World concert and lecture series. Kennedy received Broward Cultural Division’s Artist Support Regional Grant in 2025 to bring Jazz Around the World to Broward libraries and other Broward venues. She also received the Emerging Artist Grant in 2024.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Christmas Jazz Concert and Holiday Jazz Concert
WHERE: Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center, 955 NW 129th Ave, Pembroke Pines, and Lauderhill Towne Centre Library, 6399 W Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderhill
WHEN: 2 to 3 p.m., Saturday, December 6 (Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center) and 2:30 to 4 p.m., Monday, December 22 (Lauderhill Towne Centre Library)
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6406 or visit the event page; for Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center, contact (954) 357-6750 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Handel’s Messiah & Holiday Pops by South Florida Symphony Chorus at Parker Playhouse
Experience the Christmas classic, Handel’s Messiah and other favorite Christmas songs performed by the South Florida Symphony Orchestra. Based in Fort Lauderdale, South Florida Symphony Orchestra performs modern and classic symphonic music throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. Their programs provide music training to children, introduce kids to live classical music, and give free community concerts, removing cost barriers so everyone can experience live symphony music.
Handel’s Messiah and Holiday Pops features the South Florida Symphony Chorus and special guest vocalists, Neil Nelson (bass-baritone), Katherine Henly (soprano), Christopher W. Waite (tenor), and Maggie Reneé (mezzo-soprano). Dr. Alan Mason, assistant director and pianist, will lead a pre-concert chat discussing the composers and works being performed. The pre-concert chat starts 30 minutes before the performance.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Handel’s Messiah & Holiday Pops
WHERE: Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker, 707 Northeast 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 6
COST: Tickets start at $41.30
INFORMATION: (954) 462-0222 or visit the event page or purchase tickets
BEST FOR: All ages
Silent Night by Florida Grand Opera at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Florida Grand Opera brings the Pulitzer Prize winning opera Silent Night to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Based on the 2005 film Joyeux Noël, the opera tells the true story of the spontaneous Christmas Truce of 1914 when German, Scottish, and French soldiers fighting in the trenches during WWI briefly paused their fighting to exchange stories, photos, small gifts, and a game of soccer during the Christmas holiday. The opera is sung in English, Latin, German, French, and Italian.
Silent Night plays at The Broward Center December 4 and 6.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Silent Night
WHERE: Au-Rene Theater at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Avenue, Ft Lauderdale
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 4 and Saturday, December 6
COST: Tickets start at $33.63
INFORMATION: (954) 462-0222 or visit the event page or purchase tickets
BEST FOR: Adults
50th Annual Holiday Concert by Florida Singing Sons at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale
The internationally-recognized youth choir Florida Singings Sons holds its 50th Annual Holiday Concert at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, December 6. The concert begins with a candlelit procession and singing of the 19th century Christmas hymn, Once in Royal David’s City, followed by a medley of classic carols and other festive favorites. It concludes with the Florida Singing Sons’ special rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Ticket proceeds support Florida Singing Sons’ educational and outreach programs and performances.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: 50th Annual Holiday Concert
WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, Downtown Ft. Lauderdale, 401 SE 15th Ave, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6
COST: $20, general admission, $10, student ticket, $10, alumni ticket, $15, senior ticket (aged 65+), $50, VIP admission
INFORMATION: (954) 563-2697 or visit the event page or purchase tickets
BEST FOR: All ages
Plays
Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity by Brévo Theatre at Pompano Beach Cultural Center and The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Brévo Theatre returns with its annual production of Black Nativity at Pompano Beach Cultural Center and The Broward Center. This gospel song-play created by Harlem Renaissance poet, playwright, and social activist, Langston Hughes, retells the Nativity story from an African American perspective and is set to gospel music. Hughes’ original script was first performed in 1961 in New York and went on to a successful run in Europe, Australia, and the United States.
Black Nativity is a holiday tradition for the South Florida-based Brévo Theatre, which elevates underrepresented voices and aims to spark cultural dialogue through its productions. Brévo Theatre’s co-founder and managing director, Zaylin Yates, directs the performance, and artistic director, Terrence “TM” Pride, choreographs the show. A concert version of Black Nativity takes place at Pompano Beach Culture Center on December 6; the play runs at The Broward Center from December 18 through 21.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Black Nativity
WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach, and Abdo New River Room at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Southwest 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 6 (concert version at Pompano Beach Cultural Center), 7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 18, and Friday, December 19, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, December 20, 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.
COST: $25, concert version at Pompano Beach Cultural Center, tickets start at $53.10 for The Broward Center performance
INFORMATION: (954) 462-0222 or visit the event page; visit the Broward Center event page or the Pompano Beach Cultural Center event page for tickets
BEST FOR: All ages
William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline by Thinking Cap Theatre at Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center
South Florida’s Thinking Cap Theatre brings William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline to the stage as part of its 15th anniversary season. The plot combines romance, comedy, and tragedy in the story of an ancient king of Britain, King Cymbeline, and his three children, Guiderius, Arviragus, and Imogen. The play includes betrayal, kidnapped royalty, secret identities, jealousy, and love, all concluding with a fairytale ending.
Opening night includes live vocals, appetizers and refreshments before the show, dessert during intermission, and a champagne toast with the cast after the show. Closing night of the production includes a post-show talk. Thinking Cap Theatre reimagines classical plays for a modern audience and brings innovative and experimental productions to the stage.
Cymbeline runs December. 5 through 14 at Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Cymbeline
WHERE: Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, 1770 Monroe Street, Hollywood
WHEN: Friday, December 5, 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 6, 6 p.m., Sunday, December 7, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 pm; and Sunday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m.
COST: $45, general admission, $50, opening night tickets
INFORMATION: (310) 500-6448 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Adults
Outdoor Events
Oakland Park Holiday Village at Jaco Pastorius Park
Oakland Park Holiday Village returns to Jaco Pastorius Park on December 5 and 6. The free, family-friendly event includes live music and performances from local musicians and artists including the Girl Choir of South Florida—a singing ensemble of girls ages 6 through 18, and Dangerfun Entertainment, a group of South Florida magicians, jugglers, and other circus performers. A tree lighting ceremony takes place Friday, December 5, and all weekend, kids can visit with the Grinch and other holiday characters. There’s a Christmas Tree decorating competition and an Ugly T-Shirt and Ugly Sweater contest on Saturday, December 6. Attractions include a carousel, snow slide, and artificial ice-skating rink. Handmade artisan crafts are available for purchase at the Artisans & Crafters Market; visitors can also buy food and drinks at the food court and bar. Kids can drop off their letters to Santa at Santa’s Mailbox, make crafts, and also visit Santa.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Oakland Park Holiday Village
WHERE: Jaco Pastorius Park, 4000 N Dixie Hwy, Oakland Park
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dec. 6
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 630-4500 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Hoffman’s Chocolates Winter Wonderland at Flamingo Gardens
Flamingo Gardens transforms into a winter wonderland this December. Enjoy holiday lights and themed displays throughout Flamingo Gardens, as well as a giant Christmas tree and Santa’s Village. Kids can meet Santa during select evenings in December. Holiday story time with Mrs. Claus or Grandma Bubby takes place 6 to 7 p.m. on select evenings in the Bayan Pavilion. Nightly live musical performances take place at the Wray Porch and in other sections of the park. Performances feature live bands and musicians performing on piano, guitar, violin, and saxophone, as well as local music groups such as the Broward College Jazz Ensemble and the Florida Youth Orchestra Flute Choir.
Winter Wonderland is a nightly walk-through event; animal exhibits are not open during the event. Holiday food and drinks are available for purchase.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Hoffman’s Chocolates Winter Wonderland
WHERE: Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S Flamingo Rd, Davie
WHEN: 5:30 to 9 p.m., through Tuesday, December 30 (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day)
COST: $24, kids and adults 12 and up, $17, kids ages 3 to 11, free for children 2 and under, $12, Flamingo Gardens members, free for Flamingo Gardens members on free member nights (Sunday, December 7, and Friday, December 12)
INFORMATION: (954) 473-2955 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
