Lignumvitae Christmas

Saturday, December 5, 2026. Christmas in the Keys arrives by boat. Lignumvitae Christmas takes over Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, a preserved island of virgin tropical hardwood hammock that has no road access at all, for one day of holiday celebration on an island most visitors never get to see.

Each ticket includes round-trip ferry transportation from and to Robbie's Marina, plus park entry and tour fees. Tickets go on sale online only starting November 1, and the event has sold out in past years, so early is better.

The centerpiece is the Matheson House, the two-story home built by William J. Matheson, the Miami chemist who bought the island in 1919. It ran on a windmill for electricity and a cistern for rainwater, and it's decorated for the holidays for the occasion.

In recent years the day has included guided nature hikes on trails normally closed to the public, tours of the historic house, live seasonal music, games that were popular in the 1930s, holiday arts and crafts, and storytelling from a Florida Keys historian. The 2026 program, hours and ticket prices will be posted when tickets open on November 1.

The event is presented by the Friends of the Islamorada Area State Parks in conjunction with Florida State Parks. It ran for more than a decade before Hurricane Irma ended it in 2017, and the Friends brought it back in 2022. For details, call the Friends at 305-664-4339 or the park at 305-664-2540.