What to do with kids in Miami and Fort Lauderdale over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus two dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Nothing posted for Christmas Eve yet. Places post their plans in December, and we add them as they do.
Zoo Miami · 12400 SW 152 Street, Miami, FL 33177
Good to know: Over a million lights and a 26-foot LED tree. Open Nov 27–28 and Dec 4–5, 11–12, 18–23 and 26–30; the tree lighting is opening night at 7pm.
Tropical Park · Tropical Park, Miami, FL
Good to know: Rides, shows and light displays, with a Santa’s Enchanted Forest: Memory Lane section of original displays. Santa photos cost extra.
Museum of Discovery and Science · 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Good to know: Music, dance-offs, hands-on science experiments, party gear to make and a bubble-wrap dance floor. Kids can add a New Year’s resolution to the gallery wall before the noon countdown.
Westchester Regional Library (Miami-Dade Public Library System) · Westchester
Good to know: An all-ages program that starts with New Year stories about wishes, then moves on to themed crafts and music before a mini countdown.
Plantation Walk Plaza, 321 N. University Dr. · Plantation
Good to know: A DJ, sing-alongs, bubbles and party favors on the plaza, with a confetti blast when the clock hits noon.
Tropical Park · Tropical Park, Miami, FL
Good to know: Rides, shows and light displays, with a Santa’s Enchanted Forest: Memory Lane section of original displays. Santa photos cost extra.
Open on New Year’s Day: Zoo Miami, Miami Children’s Museum, Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS), Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in MiamiEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in MiamiEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in MiamiFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in MiamiIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in MiamiBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in MiamiHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in MiamiParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in MiamiKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in MiamiParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
The Nutcracker in MiamiBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedBirthday party places in MiamiStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in MiamiDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Zoo Miami (Dec 24: open, closing at 4pm for Zoo Lights; Dec 25: noon–5pm), Miami Children’s Museum (Dec 24: closes at 4pm; Dec 25: closed), Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) (Dec 24 and Dec 25: open), Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Dec 24: open; Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
Zoo Miami (Open 10am–5pm), Miami Children’s Museum (Opens at 1pm), Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) (Open), Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Open 10am–5pm).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Zoo Lights Miami and Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Miami, through the holidays.
