Seven hundred tons of sand were scheduled to arrive on the West Palm Beach waterfront this Monday. WPBF reports that the sand was due at Centennial Square on November 9, ahead of sculpting, to become what the station calls the world's only 35-foot-tall tree made entirely of sand. Sandi won't be lit until December 3.
CityPlace lights its tree on Saturday, November 14. The 2026 season gives downtown two holiday centerpieces built in very different ways, on calendars almost three weeks apart. Sandi is shaped by hand in public view and comes apart after New Year's. CityPlace's new Discovery Tree is surrounded by lighting from the company that decorates the Champs-Élysées. For anyone who lives here, the weeks between those two lightings are the best part of the season.
Seven hundred tons, carved where anyone can watch
Sandi has been part of the waterfront long enough that it's easy to forget she's a sculpture. WPBF marked her 10th birthday in 2021. Every year she starts over from a pile of sand.
Last season, CBS12 reported that Team Sandtastic carved the 700 tons with seven professional sculptors over 10 days. They worked 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily on the Great Lawn, and the public was encouraged to come and watch. If this year's work follows a similar pattern, the carving fills the weeks before the lighting. That puts the most interesting part of Sandi's year in daylight, well before any lighting crowd shows up. WPBF is also the exclusive TV partner for the Sandi-cam Skycam, which carries live views of the tree all season.
This year's Holiday in Paradise, presented by FPL, has the theme The Art of the Holidays. The city describes it as inspired by "color movement, music, and imagination," with Sandi at the heart of it. The season officially runs November 27 to December 31. After the 2025 season, the city said Sandi's fine-grain sand would be recycled into various city projects. So the tree is temporary even by holiday standards, and that's a good reason to see it while it's still taking shape.
At CityPlace, the light arrives first
While the sand is still being carved, CityPlace switches on. Related Ross announced Season of Glow, running November 14 through December 31. It expects more than 1 million visitors over the six weeks.
The centerpiece is new. The Discovery Tree is presented by Florida Power & Light Company and described as a sister to CityPlace's Wishing Tree. It anchors property-wide lighting by Blachere Illumination, whose holiday work Related Ross lists on the Champs-Élysées, at Hudson Yards and at Harrods. Canopies, archways and light sculptures line the walk between the two trees, past shops and restaurants.
FPL presents both the city's waterfront season and CityPlace's new tree. Same sponsor, two very different trees. Sandi is carved by hand from sand, while the Discovery Tree sits inside lighting by a company known for its work in Paris and London.
The kickoff on Saturday, November 14, runs 5 to 9 p.m. It includes the first snowfall of the season, a preview of The Nutcracker by Ballet Palm Beach, The Sensational A Cappella Group, Richie Nuzz and Santa appearances. After that, CityPlace's schedule settles into a nightly routine:
- Snowfall shows at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. every night through December 31, weather permitting.
- Santa's Workshop, presented by Bank of America, November 14 through December 24. Hours are 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 5 to 7 p.m. Sundays, with an early-access hour on Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. for Bank of America cardholders.
- Outdoor movie nights on the center lawn, Friday, November 20 and Friday, December 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
A few blocks away, The Ben's Winter Wonderland has been open since November 4. The hotel describes it as South Florida's only real outdoor ice-skating rink, back for a third year and bigger than last year, when it drew more than 30,000 skaters. The rink at 251 N. Narcissus Avenue is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It goes to seven days a week from December 21 until it closes on January 3.
The first week of December, when both clocks line up
For most of November the two calendars run separately. In the first five days of December they overlap, and Worth Avenue and the Intracoastal join in.
| Date | Event | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, December 1 | Worth Avenue tree lighting and Santa's parade | Starts on the 100 block of Worth Avenue | 6:10 to 8 p.m.; tree lit at 6:25 p.m. |
| Thursday, December 3 | Holiday Tree Lighting: Sandi | Waterfront, 100 N. Clematis Street | 6 to 10 p.m. |
| Friday, December 4 | 10th annual Winter in Paradise | Historic Northwest, Rosemary Avenue | 6 to 9 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 5 | 32nd Annual Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade | Intracoastal, North Palm Beach to Jupiter | Starts at 6 p.m. |
The island goes first. The Worth Avenue Association's celebration sends Santa's parade off at 6:10 p.m. and lights the tree 15 minutes later, so it's a short evening.
Two nights later, the city's free lighting on the waterfront runs four hours. The lineup includes Phoenix5 and Officers & Gentleman with the Rhythm Chicks, plus Santa photos. From that night through December 30, Sandi runs nightly music and light shows from 6 to 10 p.m.
On Friday, Winter in Paradise moves inland to Rosemary Avenue for its 10th year. This year it's framed as "Rhythm on Rosemary," with ReaXtion Band and DJ Scoobz.
The parade that sails north
Saturday's boat parade is the one date that leaves downtown. The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County runs the 32nd Annual Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade, presented by Safe Harbor, up the Intracoastal from North Palm Beach to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. A Zambelli traveling fireworks display leads the way. Boats set off at 6 p.m. and should reach Jupiter at about 8 p.m., with the grand finale at the lighthouse. The parade doesn't pass the Flagler Drive waterfront. To watch from shore, you'll need to head north, or you can follow it live on the WPBF app and Facebook page.
Boat owners can still enter. It's free, rain or shine, and benefits Toys for Tots and Little Smiles. Boats registered by November 19 have the refundable $50 deposit waived and are entered to win $500 and PBIBS Winward VIP passes. Judges score lights, enthusiasm and themed decor. Best of Parade wins $500 cash, Fan Favorite wins $500, and first-time entrants compete for Rookie of the Year.
After the lightings, the dates that fill out December
Once both trees are lit, the rest of the month moves through smaller events, split between the city and CityPlace:
- Thursday, December 10. Clematis by Night: Friday At Five, 6 to 9 p.m. on the waterfront.
- Friday, December 11. Chanukkah Celebration with Palm Beach Synagogue West at CityPlace, 4 to 6 p.m., free. It includes live music, a menorah lighting, latkes and donuts.
- Thursday, December 17. The Aloha Islanders Tropical Holiday Spectacular, free, 6 to 9 p.m. This year it moves to a new venue, the NewDay USA Stage in Waterfront Commons.
- Saturday, December 26. A family-friendly Kwanzaa performance by Afrique Ngozi Dance & Drums at CityPlace, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., with live West African dancing and drumming.
- Sunday, December 27. Sandi's Ice Cream Social at the Lake Pavilion and Great Lawn, 6 to 10 p.m. Ice cream is served until 9 p.m., and there's a silent disco, bubble artists, inflatables, games and Ferris wheel rides. Ice cream and rides are for purchase.
- Thursday, December 31. Sandi's New Year's Eve with Ferris & Fireworks, free, 8 p.m. to midnight on the Great Lawn. DJ Reflex and Wonderama play, and a 15-minute fireworks display starts at midnight.
On Christmas Eve the waterfront has no concert, but Sandi's light shows and the Ferris wheel run on their usual schedule. New Year's Eve closes Sandi's season.
The weeks between CityPlace's first snowfall and Sandi's lighting are a good time to stop by our showroom at 211 Royal Poinciana Way, where the gallery is close to both trees. Haven Palm Beach offers private viewings around the season's lighting nights. Request a VIP Tour and we'll plan your visit around the evenings you want to keep free.
