A Winter Park Weekend That Feels Like a Movie
Late November and early December in Winter Park offer more than snow-covered slopes and scenic gondola rides. There’s something special in the air—equal parts peppermint, pine, and a little bit of magic. It’s the kind of weekend that doesn’t need planning months ahead, just the right place to stay and the right events to stumble into. And if you’re staying at The Jabberwocky, the Reindeer and Holiday Drone Show might just become the highlight of your trip.
Get Up Close With Santa’s Reindeer
Let’s start with the obvious. You’re in Winter Park during the lead-up to Christmas. You’ve got skis ready, your winter jacket layered up, and probably some hot chocolate in hand. But around 3:30 in the afternoon on either November 30 or December 7, there’s a small crowd gathering near the Village base. Not for skiing. Not for shopping. They’re all here for something much simpler.
Santa’s reindeer are waiting.
Not cardboard cutouts or light-up decorations. Real reindeer. Antlers, soft noses, winter fur and all. Kids stare in disbelief. Adults pull out their phones. It’s calm, friendly, and surprisingly quiet considering the buzz it creates. Between 11 AM and 5 PM, you can walk right up and say hello to them, maybe even snap a photo next to Santa’s sleigh parked right by the reindeer pen. It’s wholesome. The kind of wholesome that doesn’t need marketing language. It just works.
The Jabberwocky Puts You in the Middle of It All
The best part? This isn’t in some far corner of the mountain. It’s happening right in the Village. From The Jabberwocky, you can head down and be there in minutes. No parking worries. No rushing. Just layer up, step outside, and walk into the experience. That’s one of the underrated perks of staying local—everything worth seeing is basically your backyard.
Then the Sky Comes Alive
After you’ve met the reindeer, you don’t need to rush off. Grab a warm drink or settle at Derailer or Doc’s deck and wait for sunset. That’s when the second act begins. The drone show.
There’s something about seeing the sky fill with color against the snowy peaks. Hundreds of drones, each synchronized, take off into the dusk. It’s not just flashing lights. The show is choreographed to seasonal music and designed to tell a story—snowflakes, reindeer, stars, and symbols that light up above the mountain. You’ll find yourself staring without blinking, completely absorbed by what looks like the northern lights meeting a Pixar movie. No fireworks, no noise, just movement and light and a few quiet gasps from the crowd.
Free, Family-Friendly, and Easy to Enjoy
You don’t need to know every detail to enjoy it. You just need to be there. That’s the point.
If you’re in town for Thanksgiving weekend or early December, this event is free. No tickets. No reservations. But the trick is to be nearby. Visitors who stay far end up rushing to find parking or miss parts of it completely. The Jabberwocky gives you that ease. The walk to the Village? Easy. Getting back after? Even easier. And if you brought family, especially kids, that short walk matters when the cold starts to bite.
The Right Night to Be in Winter Park
The whole experience doesn’t scream holiday extravaganza. It’s not loud. It’s not overproduced. It’s intimate. Reindeer in the afternoon, cocoa and carols in between, and a drone-lit sky to close the evening.
Locals know it. Guests at The Jabberwocky will feel it. If you’re planning a stay this winter and you want one of those nights you’ll talk about without needing photos to remember, time it with one of these two evenings. Either November 30 or December 7. Show up before sunset. Keep it simple.
And yes, Santa’s sleigh will be there too. But this time, he’s parked it right where the lights rise.
