Get Out With Good Cheer!

Enjoy all the fun the holidays have to offer with the following suggestions for making the most out of this merry season:

• Kick off the season in traditional style at the Deering Estate by attending the official Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 5, followed by the 10th Annual Holiday Under the Stars outdoor concert on December 10.
• Get your furry friends in on the fun by attending the 3rd Annual Dog Park Holiday Extravaganza, on Dec 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p. m. at Miami Springs Dog Park on the corner of Dove & N Royal Poinciana (across from the High School). Enjoy pet photos with Santa and yummy treats while your shop for holiday cards, jewelry, candles, mosiacs, panama hats, wind chimes and more! It's great fun for people & pets!
• Miami's next big thing, the Amazon & Beyond exhibit at Miami Metrozoo, opens at 9:30 am on Saturday, December 6! Visit this new 27-acre Tropical American exhibit with giant river otters, anacondas, harpy eagles, jaguars and many more animals only at Miami Metrozoo.
• Show your culinary and creative abilities by competing in the first annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Coral Gables Museum from December 12 through 14. Make sure you register by December 8!
• Soulful Noel is the story of Christmas presented through drama, dance, and song. The contemporary approach makes Soulful Noel a holiday must-see for audiences of all ages.
• During Holiday Wonderland at the Deering Estate on December 13, visitors can tour the elegant and historic houses as they come alive with holiday accents and decorations created by the District XII Garden Clubs, the University of Florida Miami-Dade Extension, the FAFCS District and the International Ikebana Society.
• Enjoy a Christmas classic by attending The Nutcracker performed by Ballet Etudes on December 13 at the Dade County Auditorium.
• Enjoy the joyful sounds of the season during the December performance of the Arsht Center's Free Gospel Sunday series happening December 14.
• If you're looking for cultural and kid-friendly events to plan your holidays around, check the Greater Miami events calendar, where you can find a plethora of diverse diversions you and your whole family can enjoy.
• The holidays signal the start of the tourist season in Miami-Dade County, so why not discover what they know and plan a holiday "staycation?" There are a variety of resources available to help you plan your holiday fun, including parks activities and even a visitors guide to help you rediscover your hometown from a fresh and different point of view.