Royal Palm Beach presenting Winter Fest, Santa Meet & Greet

Overlooking the Christmas tree and Winter Fest at Commons Park in Royal Palm Beach.

Photos by the Village of Royal Palm Beach.

South Floridians don’t often get to celebrate the coldest of the four seasons in traditional ways. But on three consecutive Saturdays the Village of Royal Palm Beach will turn the tropics into a winter wonderland.

Sponsored by the Village of Royal Palm Beach.

The village’s free Winter Fest jump-starts the season’s greetings at 1 p.m. Dec. 3. All-day activities include a kid fun zone with bounce houses and carnival games, arts and crafts vendors, a train ride, a Ferris wheel, a gingerbread-house-building contest, hot cocoa and cookies, and food and beverage vendors.

Gingerbread-house-building contest at the Royal Palm Beach Winter Fest.

The snow slide opens at 4 p.m.

Snow slide at the Royal Palm Beach Winter Fest.

Daytime activities lead to the illumination of Royal Palm Beach’s 28-foot-tall Christmas tree and a fireworks display at 6:15. Photo opportunities with Santa follow right after at 6:30.

The Royal Palm Beach Winter Fest Christmas tree.

The park’s main stage is active throughout the day. The Royal Palm Beach Elementary Bobcat Singers and Ringers appear at 2 p.m., followed by Dance Theater at Wellington Green at 3, Movement Art Dance Academy at 3:30, Somerset Starlettes at 4 and recurring a cappella vocal favorites Victorian Voices at 4:30.

Live entertainment at the Royal Palm Beach Winter Fest.

Classic Christmas brings more caroling to the stage at 5:30. The headlining act at 7 is a tribute to a living soul, pop and R&B legend, singer and keyboardist Stevie Wonder.

Meet and Greet with the princesses.

“Last year I believe we had between 500 and 600 people show up for Winter Fest,” says Ashley Turnquest, the program coordinator for the Sporting Center at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. “They filter in and out through the day, but a lot of them show up around the time Santa shows up.”

Food and entertainment during the day at Royal Palm Beach's Winter Fest.

St. Nick makes encore appearances on the following two Saturdays at Commons Park’s Sporting Center. The popular, family-friendly Meet and Greet With Santa provides photo opportunities with children during late afternoon and evening hours.

Pictures with Santa at the Royal Palm Beach Winter Fest and Meet and Greet With Santa

Winter Fest runs from 1 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 3, and Meet and Greet With Santa continues on Dec. 10 and 17 from 5 to 9 p.m., all at 11600 Poinciana Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach.

Sponsored by the Village of Royal Palm Beach.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for Winter Fest. Parking is available throughout the park and at Village Hall. For further information, call 561-753-1232, or visit www.royalpalmbeach.com.