Every November, before the Thanksgiving platters come out, designers, volunteers, and chefs fill our galleries with decorated trees, gingerbread houses, and wreaths. For four decades, Festival of Trees has marked the start of the holiday season in Orlando. The Council of 101 presents this year’s celebration, themed “Forty Seasons of Joy,” at the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) Nov. 14 to 22. One ticket covers both the museum and the festival; tickets for general admission and special events are available on Eventbrite. The museum is closed to general visitors Nov. 9 to 13 while the displays go up.
What to Know
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | The 40th annual Festival of Trees, themed “Forty Seasons of Joy,” presented by the Council of 101 at OMA. |
| When is it? | Nov. 14 to 22, 2026, daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesday, Nov. 17, when hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a private event. The Opening Night TreeView Party is Friday, Nov. 13, from 7 to 10 p.m. |
| When is the museum closed? | Nov. 9 to 13, while designers and volunteers set up. |
| Where is it? | 2416 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803, in Loch Haven Park. |
| Where do you buy tickets? | On Eventbrite, through the Council of 101’s organizer page. Special events are sold there separately. |
| Do you need a separate museum ticket? | No. From Nov. 14 to 22, general admission to the museum includes Festival of Trees. It is one ticket, bought on Eventbrite. OMA members have access as usual. |
| What does admission cost? | Adults $23. Children ages 3 to 12 $15. Seniors 60 and older, active-duty military, and first responders $15 with valid ID. |
| Where do you park? | $8 per day in the lot next to the museum during the festival. Parking is free the rest of the year. Rideshare drop-off is at the museum entrance. |
| Who benefits? | OMA’s art education programs, exhibits, and facility, through the Council of 101. |
What is the Festival of Trees at the Orlando Museum of Art?
If you are looking for holiday events in Orlando, Festival of Trees has been part of the season in Central Florida since 1986. The Council reports more than 15,000 visitors every year.
The Council of 101 is a volunteer group of nearly 300 women, formed in 1965 to support OMA. Festival of Trees is one of its two major events each year, alongside Art in Bloom in the spring. Members organize the festival with help from sponsors, designers, decorators, chefs, and entertainers. AdventHealth is this year’s Platinum Presenting sponsor. We are proud to host the Council each November and to watch the galleries fill with this much color and conversation.
What does the 40th anniversary mean for this year’s festival?
This year’s theme, “Forty Seasons of Joy,” celebrates the festival’s 40th annual edition. If you have visited before, it is a chance to return to a favorite ritual, and if you have never been, it is a good year to start one. New this year are creative holiday workshops, from bow making to holiday makeup.
What will you see at the Festival of Trees?
The heart of the festival is more than 50 designer-decorated trees. Each one is a small composition with its own palette, textures, and point of view, from the choice of ribbon to the scale of the ornaments. You will find wreaths, gingerbread houses, holiday vignettes, and tabletop displays around the trees.
The Council says visitors purchase the trees, wreaths, and gingerbread house creations, and you can also enter the Entertaining and Design tablescapes raffle. The silent auction offers treasures to bid on, from works of art and fine jewelry to destination getaways and more.
What else is there to do besides the trees?
You can shop for gifts in the Holiday Boutique and stroll Santa Claus Lane. On weekends, Santa Claus is on hand for photos and meet-and-greets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live entertainment is scheduled daily. The Festival Café serves seasonal bites and treats from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Your ticket also includes the museum’s current exhibitions, among them Hello Sophie!: The Artwork of Sophie Blackall, Floridiana: Material Culture from The Sunshine State, and The Wild Path: Connecting the Florida We Don’t See, with photographs by Carlton Ward Jr. View our current exhibitions for more information.
Which special events should you plan around?
Special events are ticketed separately on Eventbrite, so check each listing for what it includes.
The Opening Night TreeView Party is Friday, Nov. 13, from 7 to 10 p.m. You get the earliest look at the displays, with a tree lighting, a welcome glass of bubbly, two drink tickets, and passed hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $160, guests must be 18 or older, and valet parking is included. The ticket also covers all current exhibitions.
Breakfast with Santa takes place Nov. 14, 15, and 21 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Families share a hot breakfast, crafts, face painting, and balloon artists, with a photo opportunity with Santa Claus.
The Reindeer Romp Children’s Holiday Party is Friday, Nov. 20, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. It includes full access to the festival, story time with Mrs. Claus, a holiday sing-along, and reindeer stilt walkers. A family-friendly dinner menu is available in the Festival Café for an additional charge.
The rest of the schedule:
- Nov. 14: From the White House to Your House workshop with Winter Park interior designer Lindsay Matteoni, 3 to 5 p.m., and the Ugly Sweater Party, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Nov. 15: Shimmer & Spice makeup workshop with makeup artist Leslie Christin, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and The Festive Platter appetizer demonstration and tasting, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Nov. 17: Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as the museum closes early for a private event.
- Nov. 18: Seniors Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with discount tickets for ages 60 and older.
- Nov. 19: Festival After 5, an evening stroll from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Nov. 21: Baubles & Branches bow-making workshop, 3 to 5 p.m., and the Sip & Sleigh Cocktail Party finale, 7 to 9 p.m.
- Nov. 22: Heroes Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with $15 admission and valid ID for active-duty and retired military, first responders, and teachers.
How much are tickets, and where do you buy them?
One ticket covers both the museum and the festival. From Nov. 14 to 22, general admission to OMA includes Festival of Trees, and it is sold on Eventbrite through the Council of 101 rather than through OMA’s regular ticketing page. You do not need to buy a separate museum ticket and a separate festival ticket, and OMA members have access as usual.
General admission is $23 for adults and $15 for children ages 3 to 12. Seniors 60 and older, active-duty military, and first responders pay $15 with a valid ID. Special events are sold on the same Eventbrite page, each with its own ticket.
The Council encourages buying in advance. Festival of Trees is a cashless event, so bring a card or phone. For questions, visit councilof101.org or call 407-896-4231, ext. 254.
Where do you park, and when is the museum closed?
OMA is at 2416 N. Mills Ave. in Loch Haven Park, just north of downtown Orlando. Parking at OMA is free the rest of the year, but during Festival of Trees you can park in the lot next to the museum for $8 per day. Rideshare and taxi drop-offs are at the museum entrance, and Opening Night tickets include valet.
The museum is closed to general visitors Nov. 9 through 13 while designers and volunteers install the displays. Festival of Trees opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 14. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, festival hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. because the museum closes early for a private event.
The building has ramps and elevators at all entrances. Mobility devices are available in the main lobby checkroom on a first-come, first-served basis, and assistive listening devices are available at the front desk on request. Plan your visit for more on getting around.
How does the Festival of Trees support the museum and the community?
Festival of Trees is the Council of 101’s gift to the community and one of its two main fundraisers for OMA. Since 1965, the Council has contributed more than $15 million toward art, exhibits, facility renovation, and the museum’s operating expenses. For 2025 to 2026, it announced a $575,000 donation, its largest annual gift to date.
The Council describes the festival as raising funds for OMA’s art education programs for all ages, its exhibits, and its expansions. Its spring event, Art in Bloom, adds to that support with floral interpretations of works of art on view, and its proceeds benefit OMA’s exhibitions and educational programs. The Council also buys museum-quality prints by contemporary American artists and gives them to the museum. Your ticket, a raffle entry, or a wreath you carry home all support that work, and we are grateful for it. Read more in the Council’s Festival of Trees history or explore OMA’s learning programs.
Festival of Trees questions
Is the Festival of Trees run by the Orlando Museum of Art?
The Council of 101 presents and organizes it at the museum, and proceeds benefit OMA. Tickets and special events are handled through the Council’s Eventbrite page.
Can you buy the trees on display?
Yes. Visitors purchase the trees, wreaths, and gingerbread house creations, according to the Council. The Council’s office at 407-896-4231, ext. 254, can answer questions about how.
Is there a free day at OMA in November?
Access for All, OMA’s free third-Thursday program, does not run in November. It returns on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Is Festival of Trees a good fit for young children?
Absolutely! Children ages 3 to 12 pay $15. Santa Claus is on hand for photos on weekends, and the Reindeer Romp on Nov. 20 is a holiday party for all ages.
Are strollers and photography allowed at Festival of Trees?
Strollers are welcome in the galleries. OMA allows non-flash photography for personal, non-commercial use in most galleries, and a posted symbol marks any gallery where photography is not allowed. Tripods, selfie sticks, and monopods are not allowed. See OMA’s photography and videography policy for details.
What is Art in Bloom?
Art in Bloom is the Council of 101’s spring fundraiser at OMA, with floral interpretations of works of art on view, designer displays, and a silent auction. Its proceeds benefit OMA’s exhibitions and educational programs.
Plan your visit
- Festival of Trees event page at OMA
- Festival of Trees tickets on Eventbrite
- Hours, parking, and accessibility at OMA
- Current exhibitions in the galleries, including Hello Sophie!: The Artwork of Sophie Blackall
- Art in Bloom, the Council of 101’s spring event
- Become a member of OMA
Whether Festival of Trees is a yearly tradition or a first visit, we look forward to seeing you in the galleries this November.
