The Clematis by Night Tree Lighting Ceremony will kick off the holiday season on Thursday, December 1st, 2022. There, you can see Sandi Tree’s first synchronized light show, take a Ferris wheel ride, listen to live music, hop at the holiday boutiques, and more.
It’s happening from 6 pm-10 pm at 100 N. Clematis Street.
If you haven’t met Sandi yet, it is the world’s only 35-foot-tall, 700-ton holiday sand tree. Yes, it’s made out of sand! This year marks Sandi’s 11th season.
The Ferris, powered by Land Rover Palm Beach, is a 65-foot Ferris wheel that will give you amazing views of downtown and the intercoastal.
How to Spend the Holiday in Downtown West Palm Beach
The event will also include additional family-friendly activities to spread holiday cheer, including:
- A live performance by Remix, South Florida’s premiere party band, on the NewDay USA Stage
- A holiday shopping boutique with festive handmade in the Lake Pavilion
- An appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus
- City of West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James and local leaders
The public is encouraged to vote for Holiday In Paradise, or HIP, and Sandi Tree in USA TODAY 10Best poll for the “Best Public Holiday Lights Display.”
HIP was selected as the 2021 winner of the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice poll. To secure the top spot for the second consecutive year, the public can vote by clicking here. Individual votes can be made once a day until Monday, December 5 at 11:59 a.m. EST.
8 More Things to do With Your Family in Downtown West Palm Beach
Can’t make the event? No problem! You can enjoy Sandi’s light show and ride the Ferris wheel all month long! There is a lot more to enjoy, like:
1. Sand Sculptures
- These sand sculptures will put what you build at the beach to shame!
- Daily
- Great Lawn & Flagler Drive
- It’s FREE!
2. WPB Tiki
- Enjoy cold beverages and snacks
- Daily from 6 pm-10 pm (but open until midnight on New Year’s Eve)
- Great Lawn
3. Clematis by Night
- Live entertainment on the NewDay USA stage like Remix (dance, top 40, Latin, and rock) on December 1st, Fin & Tonics (80s and 90s rock) on December 8th, Valerie Tyson (R&B, top 40) on December 22nd, Bobby Rodriguez (jazz orchestra) on December 22nd
- Every Thursday from 6 pm-10 pm (but not December 29th)
- Great Lawn
- It’s FREE!
4. Green Market
- The #1 farmers market in America and the two-year consecutive winner of USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice poll
- Every Saturday from 9 am- 1 pm
- Waterfront Commons
- It’s FREE!
5. Screen on the Green
- A holiday triple feature of Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice, and Christmas Story 2
- Friday, December 9th at 7 pm
- Great Lawn
- It’s FREE!
Bring a blanket to get cozy for this fun movie night!
6. Sandi and Santa’s Annual Pancake Breakfast
- Saturday, December 17th from 9 am-noon
- Lake Pavilion near the Great Lawn
- $15 per person
- Tickets must be purchased in advance here.
If you want to attend, buy your tickets NOW. This event is a consistent sellout. Plus, n addition to a pancake breakfast, guests will have private access to Santa and Mrs. Claus. A portion of the proceeds will benefit charity.
7. Sunday on the Waterfront featuring Aloha Islanders
- Sunday, December 18th from 4 pm – 7 pm
- Great Lawn
- It’s FREE!
Dancers from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand will perform high-energy routines, giving residents and visitors an authentic Polynesian performance – without needing to book an international flight.
A true West Palm Beach tradition, the holiday-inspired tropical island spectacular is complete with beautiful hula dancers and daring fire performers. The show is interactive and appropriate for all ages.
8. Sandi’s Last Night
- Saturday, December 31st, New Year’s Eve from 6 pm-midnight
- It’s FREE!
Save the date for Sandi’s final swan song. Sandi’s nightly music and light shows are extended until midnight in celebration of New Year’s Eve.
Mark your calendar for all of these fun events! For information about parking, just click here.
Holiday in Paradise is presented by Florida Power and Light.
Other sponsors and partners include:
- Land Rover Palm Beach
- Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center
- Dunkin’
- Discover The Palm Beaches
- NewDay USA
- 97.9 WRMF
- SUNNY 107.9
- New Country 103.1
- X 102.3
- PARTY 96.3
- News Talk 850 WFTL
- FOX Sports 640 AM
- WPBF 25 News
- West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority
- Best Western Palm Beach Lakes
- Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham West Palm Beach
- WPB Magazine
- West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency
- The Palm Beach Post
- West Palm Beach Marriott
- Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
- Historic Northwest Neighborhood
- Northwood Village, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach
- Burkhardt Construction
Fun fact: When I was visiting, I ran into a woman from the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and she was holding Aladdin’s lamp. I mentioned to her that I will be seeing that show right before Christmas because my cousin is an actor in the traveling performance. So of course, we snapped a pic and I sent it to him.
