What’s happening this weekend—tree lightings, a park clean up and holiday shopping events

Wear your Frozen character costume to the City of Oviedo’s Frozen Tree Lighting event from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 at Center Lake Park, 299 Center Lake Lane, Oviedo. There will be photos with Santa, live reindeer, carolers and food trucks. The tree lighting is at 6:30 p.m. and there will be a “special show” at 7 p.m. Get more information.

Shop locally-owned shops while enjoying a wine slushie at The Oviedo Mall Holiday Market, 3-8 p.m. Friday. Dec. 4 at Oviedo Mall, 1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd., Oviedo. Get more information.

More than 60 vendors offering fresh fruit and vegetables, plants, honey, grass-fed beef, locally roasted coffee, breads, sweets, sauces, spices, crafts, art and ready-to-eat food will be the at the Oviedo Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Lawton House, 200 W. Broadway Street in Oviedo. Get more information.

The City of Winter Springs’ Winter Wonderland Parade is returning this year, starting at Keeth Elementary at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, heading north on Tuskawilla Road to the Winter Springs Town Center. At the Town Center the event will continue, featuring the 16th annual tree lighting, vendors, a kids play land, entertainment and pictures with Santa Claus. The event runs until 8:30 p.m. It’s at 434 Tuskawilla Rd, Winter Springs. Get more information.

Donate much-needed blood at the Light the World with Love Blood Drive, happening from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 850 Artesia Street in Oviedo. Get more information.

Get into the holiday spirit by watching Santa light the Christmas tree at the Oviedo Historical Society’s annual tree lighting event, happening from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday. Dec. 4 at 200 W. Broadway Street, Oviedo. There will be hot dogs, drinks and cookies as well as holiday songs performed by local youth and caroling groups. Get more information.

See Santa, shop for the holidays, enjoy a chili cook-off and donate a toy at the Geneva Blessings Toy Drive from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 at The Old Red Barn of Geneva, 2993 W. Osceola Road, Geneva. Santa will be at the event from noon to 1 p.m.
Get more information.

There will be a Lake Mills Park clean up event at 10 a.m. Saturday. Dec. 4 at Lake Mills Park, 1301 Tropical Ave. Chuluota. You can choose to walk around the park to clean or bring a water vessel and clean up Lake Mills. Get more information.

Oviedo Community Yoga by the Lake is at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 on the east side of Lake Gem. It costs $5 cash and runs on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Directions: follow the long dirt road on the left before you get to the buildings. Look for signs for Incarnation. Bring a blanket or sheet to put under your mat, water, and bug spray.

Have breakfast, hear a story and have a sing-along with Santa from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. at The Oviedo Cultural Center, 357 Center Lake Lane, Oviedo. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children under 10. A portion of the proceeds will go towards the Oviedo/Winter Springs Optimist Club. Get more information.

Back by popular demand is the drive-through Winter Wonderland of Lights From 7-9 p.m. Dec. 5, 10, 11 and 12 at Winter Springs’ Central Winds Park. Come see Christmas lights and get into the spirit of the holiday season. See Santa Claus in his workshop! The socially distanced event debuted last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but proved quite popular, according to Parks Manager Brian Dunigan. “It’s something we’re looking to continue on an annual basis,” he said. It’s at 1000 Central Winds Dr., Winter Springs. Get more information.

Build a stuffed animal to either take home or donate to Nemours Children’s Hospital from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec.5 at the Oviedo Cultural Center, 357 Center Lake Lane, Oviedo. It costs $10 to build the stuffed animal. Cookies and beverages will also be available. Get more information.

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Author

Megan is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Oviedo Community News, the only independent news source for Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs. She oversees editorial content, policy and staff. She attends meetings, sends out the e-newsletter and curates conversations in the community to understand the information gaps that OCN needs to fill. She also works to create partnerships that can strengthen the bond between community and newsroom.

She has served as an award-winning community journalist for more than 20 years, including as associate editor for the East Orlando Sun and a reporter for the Seminole Voice, the Winter Park-Maitland Observer and Orlando Magazine.

In 2024, Megan was named Editor of the Year by the Society for Professional Journalism. With the Central Florida Foundation and Central Florida Public Media, she co-found the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida.

She served as treasurer for the Florida Press Club for seven years and has won awards from the Institute for Nonprofit News, the Florida Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalism. Megan holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism (now called the Reed College of Media) at West Virginia University.

Megan also loves yoga, running and playing board games with her family.

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