Let there be lights! Get into the spirit of the season at these Miami holiday events

The holidays are almost here, and even if temperatures are hovering around the 80s and you’re still wearing shorts, it’s time to get into the spirit (we recommend a shot of coquito, if you’re having trouble accepting it’s December).

Here are a few of the holiday-related events around town for adults and kids to help you, your friends and your family get in the holiday mood.

Urbanspace Holiday Market

Got some holiday shopping to do? Head to Lincoln Road on Miami Beach, where Urbanspace, a creator of food and retail public markets from New York, has opened a holiday market. Shop for gifts for adults and kids, art, apparel and jewelry, decorative home goods. There’s food and drink, too.

10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily through Feb. 15 at 500 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

Zoo Lights

Zoo Miami’s winter holiday celebration returns with a million bright, animal-shaped lights, dazzling tree lights and a 26-foot-tall holiday LED tree, plus special nights that celebrate ugly sweaters, superheroes and the joy of wearing pajamas.

6:30-10 p.m. on select nights through Dec. 30 at 12400 SW 152nd St.; admission $20.95 for adults and $18.95 for kids; zoo members save $2 per ticket; zoomiami.org

‘Million Dollar Quartet Christmas’

Join Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins (or, at least, the actors who play them) as they revisit the play “Million Dollar Quartet” — only this time, they’re singing holiday music. And yes — of course Elvis will sing “Blue Christmas.” Be sure you stay for the curtain call or you’ll miss a mini concert (and Santa might put you on the “naughty” list”).

8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 1, Actors Playhouse in the Balcony Theatre at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; $40-$125 with weekday discounts for seniors and students; actorsplayhouse.org or 305-444-9293.

Vizcaya Late Holiday Evening

Celebrate the season with light as Vizcaya decorates the way it did 100 years ago (the home first opened its doors as a private residence on Christmas Day 1916). Enjoy lights, music and a gingerbread house competition.

6-9 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15, 3251 South Miami Ave., Miami; free-$10; vizcaya.org

Holidays at Miami Children’s Museum

Celebrate Hanukkah on Dec. 18 with a special story time, activity and a snack, then join the museum theater troupe for interactive fun and a lesson in the dreidel game. On Dec. 23-24, get ready for the Christmas countdown by singing along with carolers, making Christmas cookies, meeting Santa and making decorations in the Art Studio for the You and Me Tree.

Dec. 18 and Dec. 23-24 at Watson Island at 980 MacArthur Causeway; $24 for general admission and $16 for FL residents with valid ID; miamichildrensmuseum.org/tickets-admissions.

Historic holidays at The Deering Estate

Head to the South Dade historic sight, the former home of Charles Deering, for a series of events focusing on Christmas, including holiday bay cruise on Dec. 11, plus storytime and photos with Santa, guided strolls around the property to enjoy the decor, campfires, holiday movies and more.

Throughout December at 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Miami; visit deeringestate.org for dates, times and prices of all events.

Santa’s Circus and Magical Village at Jungle Island

Jungle Island becomes a holiday wonderland with an interactive walk-through adventure that includes lights, music, characters, carnival games, photos with Santa, gingerbread-making and hot chocolate and churros (Santa loves churros).

4-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through Jan. 1 at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami; 3132) and is open Saturday, November 26, through Sunday, January 1, 2023. Tickets start at $15.99; SantasCircus.com

Santa’s Enchanted Forest

At its new and bigger home at the corner of Medley and Doral, Miami’s favorite holiday-themed amusement park awaits with rides, games, dioramas and food that is deliciously bad for you.

5 p.m.-midnight daily through Jan. 8 at 7400 NW 87th Ave., $42.99 age 9-adults; $34.58 kids 8 and under and seniors; season pass $67.29 adults; $57.94 kids 8 and under and seniors; santasenchantedforest.com

A Very Merry Garden

Christmas at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden runs through Jan. 1, with daytime reindeer scavenger hunts, letters to Santa, hot cocoa and storytime tales with Mrs. Claus. You can also ride a sing-along tram express with Santa himself.

Through Jan. 1 at 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables; admission $24.95 for adults; $11.95 for kids 6-17; kids 5 and under free; students $15.95; seniors $17.95; members get discount; fairchildgarden.org

Nightgarden at Fairchild

The outdoor wonderland of lights, plus old friends like Archie the Talking Tree and your favorite food trucks, return to the 83-acre botanical garden in Coral Gables.

6-10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through Jan. 8, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables; adults $30, kids $25; discounts for members, military, seniors, students; nightgarden.com

Merry & Bright Festival

Get ready for snow throughout the afternoon at Downtown Doral, which brings the free, family-fun action with performances, a hot cocoa station, Santa and his elves and even the Grinch. You can take photos with them in front of a 10-foot-high snow globe, too.

4–8 p.m. Dec. 11, Downtown Doral, 8551 NW 53rd St., Doral