West Palm Beach will switch on Sandi, the city's 35-foot holiday tree sculpted from about 700 tons of sand, on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. on the downtown waterfront at 100 N. Clematis Street. The lighting is free and opens the city's 2026 Holiday in Paradise season, which carries the theme The Art of the Holidays and is presented by FPL.

From that night through the end of December, the tree anchors nightly music and light shows on the Great Lawn, a 50-foot Ferris wheel, a holiday market and a New Year's Eve party with fireworks over the Intracoastal Waterway.

What happens on lighting night

The Dec. 3 evening is part of the city's Clematis by Night series and takes place on the NewDay USA Stage at the waterfront. The headliner is Phoenix5, a band that plays soul, funk, rock and reggae, with short tribute sets to artists such as Prince, Santana, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder and Bruno Mars. A second act, a group that includes military veterans and performs with the Rhythm Chicks vocal trio, plays holiday songs and hits from the 1960s and 1970s.

Families can also line up for photos with Santa and shop the Holiday Gift Boutique, set up inside the Lake Pavilion and along Flagler Drive, with vendors selling jewelry, ornaments, personal care items, clothing and accessories. The concert, activities and boutique run until 9 p.m. The first Sandi shows of the season and Ferris wheel rides continue until 10 p.m.

About Sandi and Ferris

Sandi stands 35 feet tall and is built each year from roughly 700 tons of fine-grain sand, according to the City of West Palm Beach. When the season ends, the city takes the tree down and recycles the sand for use in other city projects. Beside her on the waterfront stands Ferris, a 50-foot Ferris wheel.

After the lighting, Sandi's synchronized music and light shows run nightly from 6 to 10 p.m., starting on the quarter hour. On special event nights (Dec. 3, 10, 17 and 31) the city uses a modified show schedule, and on New Year's Eve the shows continue until midnight. The shows are free to watch.

Ferris wheel rides cost $5 per person per ride, with tickets sold on site, nightly from Dec. 3 through Dec. 30 from 6 to 10 p.m., and on Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to midnight. Children under 3, or shorter than 38 inches, may not ride. Children between 38 and 47 inches tall must ride with an adult. Food, drinks, smoking and animals are not allowed in the gondolas.

More Holiday in Paradise dates

  • Winter in Paradise, Friday, Dec. 4, 6 to 9 p.m., Heart & Soul Park, 825 N. Rosemary Ave. The 10th annual free event includes a holiday park lighting, a rock climbing wall, inflatables, face painting, a bubble artist, food vendors, crafts, games, live music from ReaXtion Band and DJ Scoobz, and performances by the U.B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary orchestra and band and the Palm Beach Lakes Community High School Ram Regiment Band.
  • Aloha Islanders Tropical Holiday Spectacular, Thursday, Dec. 17, on the waterfront.
  • Sandi's Ice Cream Social, Sunday, Dec. 27, 6 to 10 p.m., at the Lake Pavilion and Great Lawn, with a silent disco, bubble artists, inflatables and games. Ice cream is served until 9 p.m. and is sold on site.
  • Sandi's New Year's Eve with Ferris and Fireworks, Thursday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m. to midnight on the Great Lawn. The free dance party features DJ Reflex and the band Wonderama, with food and drinks for sale and a 15-minute fireworks display over the Intracoastal at midnight, presented by the Flagler Museum.

On Thursday, Dec. 24, there is no concert, but the Sandi shows and the Ferris wheel run on their normal schedule.

Parking and getting there

The city points visitors to its public garages, with the Banyan Street Garage (200 Banyan Blvd.) and the Evernia Street Garage (333 Evernia St.) closest to the waterfront. The City Center Garage (401 Banyan Blvd.), Clematis Street Garage (500 Banyan Blvd.) and Sapodilla City Garage (640 Clematis St.) are also options, along with metered street spaces and private lots. Accessible parking is available in the city garages.

Visitors who would rather not drive can use West Palm Move: fixed-route rides cost $1 and run about every 10 minutes between the Norton Museum of Art and Northwood Village, and on-demand rides cost $2 through the West Palm Move app or by calling 561-264-0458. Boaters can tie up at the free city docks, with the Clematis Street dock nearest the events.

Plan your visit

The tree lighting is Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the West Palm Beach Waterfront, 100 N. Clematis St., and admission is free. City events can change, so check the Holiday in Paradise schedule before heading downtown. Questions go to the city's Community Events office at 561-822-1515 or [email protected].

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