First Saturday in December, 6pm. Downtown closes and the golf carts take over. Not Halloween. Christmas.
Carts show up wrapped in lights. Inflatable Santas on roofs. Speakers playing Mariah Carey, Sinatra, and “Feliz Navidad” on loop. There are reindeer carts, Grinch carts, a full Nativity cart with a real baby last year. 80+ carts, all lit, all loud.
They loop Donnelly, 3rd, 4th, and 5th for an hour. Police block traffic. Kids sit on curbs. Adults sit on porches with spiked cocoa. The carts throw candy like it’s Halloween. Judges pick winners: “Most Lights,” “Best Theme,” “Clark Griswold Award.”
It started in 2015 with 12 carts. Now it’s a permitted event with a route and a DJ. Snowbirds plan vacations around it. Locals spend weeks wiring lights to 48-volt systems.
Why? Because Mount Dora does Christmas like it’s a sport and golf carts are the equipment. It’s absurd and sincere and you’ll stand there thinking “only in Florida.”
Local Tip: Bring a chair to the corner of Donnelly and 5th. That’s where they slow down. And bring a bag for candy. Your kid will get more than at Halloween.