Even without snow, or even cool weather, Miami and Fort Lauderdale manage to soak up the Christmas spirit. But the holidays have evolved through the decades.
Let’s look back at how South Florida has celebrated: a roaming Santa on Fort Lauderdale beach greeting the sunbathers, a carnival on the roof of a downtown Miami department store, the giant decorations on Flagler Street, an underwater Christmas tree.
These photos are from the Miami Herald archives. Let’s take a look:
Burdines rooftop festival
A Ferris wheel is part of a holiday rooftop event in December 1960 at the Burdines department store in downtown Miami. John Pineda Miami Herald File
Downtown Miami in the 1960s
The Christmas scene on Flagler Street in downtown Miami in 1963. Bill Kuenzel Miami Herald File
Shopping at Dadeland
Dadeland Mall has been serving Miami-Dade County shoppers since it opened in 1962. Above: Shoppers crowd an entrance to Burdines in the Dadeland Mall in 1992. Joe Rimkus Jr. Miami Herald File
Santa’s mailbox
In 1963, a special Miami mailbox to Santa. Albert Coya Miami Herald File
World’s tallest Christmas tree
New in the Miami skyline in 1989: the world’s tallest Christmas tree. Once a holiday landmark at National Enquirer headquarters in Lantana, the 144-foot tree is making its Miami debut. Al Diaz Miami Herald File
Bayfront Park
Hundreds of people turned out for the annual Christmas tree lighting at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami in 2015. DANIEL BOCK Miami Herald File
Motorcycle toy drive
In 2009, bikers ride into Markham Park in Sunrise for the annual South Floria President’s Council Christmas Toys in the Sun Run for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. EILEEN SOLER Miami Herald File
Underwater Christmas tree
Divers sank and decorated a Christmas tree in 2005 at Hog Heaven, an artificial reef off Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Eric Rohde Miami Herald File
Florida Keys bridge tree
Every year, a crew of anonymous “elves” decorate the Australian pine known as Fred the Tree on a section of the old Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys. Miami Herald File
Santa on the beach
Santa Claus walks Fort Lauderdale beach in 2001 and spreads cheer to the sunbathers. Walter Michot Miami Herald File
Santa on street
In 2006, Santa Claus sells flowers on 17st Street near U.S. 1 in Fort Lauderdale. on Christmas Eve in Fort Lauderdale. Lilly Echeverria Miami Herald File
Church pageant
First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale celebrate Christmas in 2010 with a pageant including live camels. EILEEN SOLER Miami Herald File
Estefan family
Emilio and Gloria Estefan with their first born, 3-month-old son Nayib Estefan, on his first Christmas in December 1980 from the Estefan family album and featured in the CD booklet of 2022’s “Estefan Family Christmas.” Miami Herald File/Estefan Family
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