Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah at these Miami events
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Don't look now, Thanksgiving purists, but the winter holidays are calling.
Case in point: The cities of Miami and Miami Beach have already hosted Christmas tree lighting events and the evergreen trees are already popping up along roadside tents.
- Most of all, since we're off the rest of the week for Thanksgiving we wanted to give you a jump on the winter celebrations kicking off this weekend.
What's happening: Local cities and religious groups are hosting tree and menorah lighting events and Miami will be home to many festive pop-up bars.
🎄 Christmas celebrations
City of Miami: The annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Domino Park Plaza in Little Havana takes place this Friday at 6:15pm.
- The Little Haiti Cultural Complex will host a tree lighting on Monday at 6pm.
- The lighting of the Coconut Grove Christmas tree will take place this Sunday at
🎶 Coral Gables is celebrating with a caroling competition featuring middle and high school students Dec. 4-8 and a holiday tree lighting at Merrick "Holiday" Park on Dec. 6.
- The park will transform into a winter wonderland through Jan. 8 with children's rides and more.
- The First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables will host its Nativity Festival Dec. 6 with food, music, arts and crafts and a petting zoo.
- Local high-schoolers will sing Christmas carols downtown from 7pm-9pm on Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 and 19.
- On Dec. 7 and 8, Coral Gables firefighters will continue a 14-year tradition of transporting Santa Claus and his helpers through several routes around the city, handing out candy canes to kids waiting for him.
🦌 A Very Merry Garden at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden returns Dec. 2 with kid-friendly activities like searching for missing reindeer, photos with Santa and storytime with Mrs. Claus.
- Tickets for non-members: $25 for adults, $12 for kids 6-17.
🎭 The World of Nutcracker at Downtown Doral markets itself as the "first fully immersive and interactive Nutcracker experience in the U.S."
- The 45-minute guided tour includes theatrical performances, light projections and sweet treats.
- Nov. 30-Jan. 3 at Downtown Doral Pocket Park. Tickets $18-$60.
🧊 Miami has its own artificial ice-skating rink outside Julia & Henry's downtown on Flagler Street.
- The Delta Air Lines Ice Rink will be open Thursdays-Sundays through the holidays. $15 for skate rental and rink access.
- A holiday village will feature festive bars serving seasonal drinks and a Santa's workshop photo opp.
- Flagler Street is also home to a 32-foot Christmas tree and 12-foot menorah.
🕎 Hanukkah Celebrations
The first day of Hanukkah falls on Christmas Day this year
🐚 Artist Roger Abramson's iconic seashell menorah returns to Lincoln Road for its 25th year this Hannukah.
- The oversized menorah – created using thousands of seashells – will be lit beginning Dec. 25 on Euclid Circle and anchor a big celebration Dec. 29, Abramson tells Axios. (The Lincoln Road Christmas tree is already lit)
🌸 The Miami Beach Chanukah Festival at the Bass Museum in Collins Park will feature an oversized floral menorah, musical performances by the Hebrew School of the Arts, a toddler zone and more.
- Early bird tickets $15 for adults, $10 for kids until Dec. 1.
🕎 Coral Gables is hosting a Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 29 at Ponce Circle Park.
- There will be a menorah lighting, fire truck parade and chocolate gelt drop.