December Best Bets: Holiday Festivities and More Local Events

Downtown Holiday Festivities

Junior Orange Bowl Parade: Keep the tradition alive as you watch the 75th annual Miracle on the Mile Parade presented by the Junior Orange Bowl on December 10 at 5 pm. Join the fun as floats, marching bands, and performers parade down Miracle Mile.

Caroling: During this holiday season, enjoy carolers’ angelic voices as you walk, shop, and dine in downtown Coral Gables. Carolers from local high school choirs will stroll through the streets of Miracle Mile and Giralda Plaza from 7 pm to 9 pm Thurs.- Sat., Dec. 7 to 16.

Holiday Sip & Shop: Enjoy wines from across Uruguay while shopping for unique holiday gifts during this year’s Holiday Sip & Shop on Dec. 14 at 5 pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to find the perfect presents for your loved ones. Check in at McBride Plaza to receive an event map, complimentary wine-tasting tumbler, and reusable tote bag with special promotional offers. Attendees will vote on the best holiday window display in Coral Gables! Tickets are $55.

McBride Plaza
150 Miracle Mile
coralgables.com

Meeting Santa: Warm up for the holidays while sipping hot chocolate with Santa at Holiday Park across from City Hall. Event includes a photo opp with Santa, hot beverages, and a children’s activity. Cost is $30 for a group of four. Dec. 16 and 17, exclusively for Coral Gables residents. Advanced tickets required.

Holiday Park
405 Biltmore Way
coralgables.com

“The Thanksgiving Play”

Larissa FastHorse is the first indigenous American woman to have a play on Broadway. Experience the regional premiere of her shocking satire, “The Thanksgiving Play,” that “flips the bird” on one of America’s most prolific myths — the original Thanksgiving meal. The show runs through Dec. 10, Wed. at 2 pm and 7 pm, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 pm, and Sun. at 2 pm. Tickets $40-$65, with streaming options available. Read the review.

GableStage
1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel).
gablestage.org

A Seraphic Fire Christmas

Let the gentle glow of candlelight and angelic tones of Seraphic Fire a cappella voices usher you into the holiday season on Friday Dec. 8, 7:30 pm at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. Enjoy festive carols from varied traditions alongside newer takes on classics from contemporary composers. The concert marks the release of Seraphic Fire’s newest Christmas album. Tickets $62 for general admission.

St. Philip’s Episcopal
1121 Andalusia Ave.
seraphicfire.org

“Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”

Based on The Chronicles of Narnia, this musical follows four mischievous children through a magical wardrobe into a mystical land of beauty and danger. The White Witch has frozen the land of Narnia, once ruled by the great and majestic lion, Aslan. With the help of mythical creatures, the children discover valuable lessons of courage, unselfishness, and wisdom.

Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, with performances Saturdays at 2 pm. A sensory inclusive performance is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 pm. Tickets $25.

Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
280 Miracle Mile
actorsplayhouse.org

Villagers’ Holiday House Tour

“100 Years of History” will showcase a selection of curated Coral Gables homes built in 1923 during their 38th Annual Holiday House Tour Dec. 9, 10 am to 3 pm. Members of The Villagers will be on hand to explain each private home’s distinctive history and features. The tour will make a notable stop at the Merrick House, beautifully decorated for Christmas.

A gift boutique, featuring unique artisans, vintage jewelry, hand-made Angels, and a quilt raffle, will be available from 10 am to 4 pm at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club (tour ticket not necessary for entry). Tickets $65. Visit thevillagersinc.org.

Literary Coral Gables Bike Tour

It’s no fiction: The literary history of Coral Gables includes bookshops, libraries, and even a few writers. Mitch Kaplan, the owner of Books & Books, will lead the first edition of this novel tour of the written word in Coral Gables. The bike tour starts at 10 am on Dec. 17 from the Coral Gables Museum and includes museum admission. Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for museum members and children under 12.

Coral Gables Museum
285 Aragon Ave.
coralgablesmuseum.org

Fairchild’s Enchanting Nightgarden

Immerse yourself in the magical fairyland of NightGarden, the beloved winter light show at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. This illuminated activation combines lighting effects, holograms, motion sensing technology, projection mapping, and music to create a truly enchanting experience. The NightGarden has various interactive opportunities, including joining a Fairy Quest, as well as food and drinks from some of Miami’s most popular food trucks. Visit the garden at night now through the first week of January, Thurs. to Sun. 6 to 10 pm. Tickets $20-40, depending on the day of visit and membership status. Watch our recap reel.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Rd.
TheNightGarden.com

Wine And Dine: Butcher Block Party

Who knows how to roast meat better than Graziano’s? Join the Gables mainstay for a block party on Dec. 21, from 5 pm to 9 pm, where they’ll be grilling Argentine classics on open flames and baking fresh Neapolitan pizza in wood fire ovens. Plus, you can sip on beers from local breweries and sample wines from vineyards around the world. Live music by the Lemon City Trio, Grupo Solis, and Miles a Million. Watch our recap reel.

Graziano’s Mercado
2301 Galiano St.
Tickets $75 at eventbrite.com

Sanctuary For The Arts: Ernesto Lecuona

Legendary Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona is credited with raising Cuban music to classical status, composing 600 pieces for piano and orchestras. A graduate of the National Conservatory of Music in Havana, Lecuona composed Latin, jazz, and classical pieces that have become standards — including the “Malagueña.”

To honor his heritage, the Sanctuary of the Arts is producing a reprise of 22 of his songs, with musicians, singers, and dancers on Dec 7-9, starting at 7:30 pm. Headlining the event will be acclaimed Cuban pianist Aldo López-Gavilán. Tickets $55-$75.

Sanctuary of the Arts
410 Andalusia Ave.
sanctuaryofthearts.org