What’s actually open in South Florida on Christmas Day? Here’s a list of things to do

Jeff Kleinman

It’s Christmas Day in South Florida. Is there anything open?

While most stores and malls are closed on Sunday, some businesses are ready for visitors on the holiday. And so are some South Florida attractions like parks and museums.

If you need a last-minute gift or need to return an ugly or misfit present, your choices are limited. And if you want to get out, you have options to enjoy the day in the great, but chilly, outdoors.

READ MORE: What to know about Dolphins-Packers game: Kickoff time, how to watch and more

Here’s a look at what’s open:

Numerous colorful kites including dozens of giant show kites fly the skies like giant squids and even a whale on Presidents’ Day during the 2022 Kite Festival at Haulover Park in Miami Beach, Florida, on Monday, February 21, 2022.
Numerous colorful kites including dozens of giant show kites fly the skies like giant squids and even a whale on Presidents’ Day during the 2022 Kite Festival at Haulover Park in Miami Beach, Florida, on Monday, February 21, 2022.

Parks, beaches and attractions

Beaches:

▪ If you’re brave enough with the cold, South Florida’s beaches are open all day. Usual parking rates apply.

Parks:

▪ Everglades National Park is open.

▪ Florida state parks are open, including Oleta River State Park in Northeast Miami-Dade and Bill Baggs State Park in Key Biscayne.

▪ All of Miami-Dade’s county-run parks are open, including Greynolds and Haulover in Northeast Miami-Dade and Matheson Hammock near Coral Gables. Zoo Miami and Jungle Island also are open.

▪ Bayfront Park in downtown Miami is open, but the adjacent Bayside Marketplace retail complex is closed.

Take note: Broward County parks and nature centers are closed Sunday, Christmas Day, except for Everglades Holiday Park, which is open.

The Swap Shop near Fort Lauderdale is open on Christmas Day.
The Swap Shop near Fort Lauderdale is open on Christmas Day.

Stores

Are any stores open except Walgreens and CVS? Well, they may be your best bet to pick up a last-minute gift. Malls and most stores won’t open again until Monday, including Walmart and Target.

What’s open? Sedano’s, CVS, Walgreens, Navarro.

But we have some big news for shoppers: The Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop, the mega flea market on Sunrise Boulevard in Broward, is open for business.

READ MORE: When is Publix open? Garbage pickup? What’s running in Miami on Christmas Day, Dec. 26

Movies

Moist movie theaters across South Florida are open on Christmas.

Museums

▪ The Miami Children’s Museum on the MacArthur Causeway is featuring the Winter Wonderland exhibit.

▪ Frost Science in downtown Miami is open, but the nearby Perez Art Museum isn’t.

▪ The Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale’s arts district is open.

Restaurants

▪ Fancy: Many fine restaurants are open for Christmas and serve special holiday menus.

▪ Neighborhood: Some neighborhood restaurants are closed for the day, so check before you go.

▪ Quick marts: Restaurants in gas stations, including Wawa and 7-Eleven, are generally open.

▪ Fast-food: McDonald’s, Burger King Starbucks, Dunkin’ vary by location.

Advertisement