Aruba in December 2025: the ultimate guide to holiday events, weather, and things to do

December in Aruba is one of the most festive and exciting times of the year! 

While it might feel a bit strange to spend the holidays somewhere warm, spending it in Aruba is a truly special and unique experience. The entire island transforms and comes to life during the holidays. 

Stores decorate their windows, roundabouts and homes glow with colorful lights, and cheerful music can be heard from every corner. 

In December, the entire island is abuzz. Visitors escaping harsh winters visit for a brief respite, and Arubans living abroad return home for a long-awaited family reunion. Sure, traffic is busy, and you’ll certainly be cart-to-cart in most grocery stores, but there’s something so utterly wonderful about all the frenzy. 

Aruba December weather: what to expect

Don’t be frightened when you check the weather forecast and see only clouds and rain.

December falls within Aruba’s rainy season, but the name is misleading. 

In Aruba, rains come in quick bursts that last ten to fifteen minutes, and then it’s sunshine again. Storms are rare, and all-day rain is even rarer. 

In fact, around this period the island cools ever so slightly, so the scorching heat from September fades. Instead, you get an incredibly pleasant breeze and perfect beach weather.

Best holiday activities in Aruba in December 2025

Visit Renaissance Marketplace’s Winter Wonderland

All through December, Renaissance Marketplace transforms into a full Winter Wonderland, complete with holiday decorations and sparkling lights. Throughout the month you can expect to see lots of live music performances, pop-up shops, and small events that bring a little bit of life to the plaza. Great if you’re in the mood for some family fun!

Visit the Garden of Lights (Hardin di Luz) at ELMAR

ELMAR, Aruba’s main electricity provider, is celebrating its 75th anniversary by opening a Garden of Lights that visitors can explore any evening between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the listed dates. The garden is filled with illuminated displays and festive decor, and the celebration also includes extra activities, such as a puppet show for children on the 6th of December and live Christmas carols on the 21st.

Where to find the best holiday brunches in Aruba

Craving bottomless mimosas? Throughout December, hotels and restaurants all over Aruba roll out festive holiday brunches. Resorts like the Hilton and Hyatt put together elaborate spreads with fresh seafood, sweet pastries, warm seasonal dishes, and more. Many other hotels and local eateries join in as well, each adding their own twist with live music, themed décor, or oceanfront seating. 

See the famous Cas di Luz in San Nicolas

This is a classic Aruba experience and a core memory for lots of locals. The Cas di Luz is a famous house in San Nicolas known for its extravagant holiday lights. The tradition started over 30 years ago with just a few cardboard boxes and string lights, and it’s turned into one of the island’s most-beloved and nostalgic Christmas traditions. 

Many locals have cherished memories of driving up to the house, meandering around its halls, and being mesmerized by all the lights. 

Address: C3XR+8G8, San Nicolas, Aruba

Attend Misa di Aurora: Aruba’s early morning Christmas mass

If you’re religious, consider visiting a local church for Misa di Aurora. For about a week leading up to Christmas, Catholic churches in Aruba hold special early morning masses starting at 5am. These are celebratory masses, and often include live music and snacks afterwards. While they are mostly held in Papiamento, it’s still a meaningful and unique way to experience local culture. 

If you’d like to experience it, make sure you dress appropriately, and don’t shy away from dressing up a little bit, too; locals usually wear their Sunday best to church.

Traditional Christmas foods to try in Aruba

December has its own special flavors. Make sure to try: 

• ayaca, a Caribbean tamale wrapped in banana leaves 

• ponche crema, Aruba’s version of eggnog (VERY sugary but oh-so-sweet) 

• ham di pasco, mouth-watering Christmas ham, topped with pineapples and cherries

You can find all of these at local bakeries, supermarkets, and traditional restaurants throughout the month. But if you’re curious about more everyday local treats, there’s plenty to explore beyond holiday dishes.

Take a Christmas lights drive around Aruba

In Aruba, many neighborhoods go all out with Christmas decorations. Entire streets light up with colorful displays, nativity scenes, and glowing ornaments. Nearly every roundabout is decorated, too. 

Locals often spend evenings driving through Oranjestad, Noord, or San Nicolas to admire the lights. It’s a cozy and relaxing activity that pairs perfectly with a late night snack or – if you’re in the passenger seat – a cup of ponche crema.

Where to shop for Christmas gifts in Aruba

Still searching for the perfect gift for your loved one? Aruba has plenty of unique options from local shops and makers.

You can pick up locally-produced bath products at Aruba Aloe, try locally-roasted coffee from Kompa Nanzi, choose a nice bottle of wine from Alto Vista Winery, or browse handcrafted handbags at Tangerine. If you are in a shopping mood, also consider a visit to Flora Market. It’s a gardening store in Aruba that always tends to go over-the-top with Christmas decorations during the holidays. It’s worth it to go in, even if it’s just to look around!

New Year’s traditions and events in Aruba

Experience Dande: Aruba’s most beloved New Year tradition

Dande is kind of like Aruba’s New Year’s version of Christmas carols, but with a twist. The tradition originated in 1880 after the Dutch king freed house slaves. After the midnight fireworks were over, the freed slaves would travel from house to house in Aruba to bring new year blessings to the community. 

Dande sounds like a blend of Caribbean folk music and Afro-Latin rhythms, with a rhythmic style similar to Curaçao’s tumba as well as the Venezuelan gaita. The choir repeats the Ay Nobe (New Year) refrain throughout the melody and as a gesture of appreciation, each person who is serenaded places money in the singer’s hat.

It’s considered Aruba’s most culturally significant of all local music traditions, and it's a custom that's uniquely Aruban. Today, some neighborhoods have their own Dande groups that go from door to door, sometimes continuing until Three Kings Day on January 6th.

Visit the annual Dande festival

If you’d like to experience Dande as a visitor, we highly recommend going to the Dande Festival! It’s held in honor of this tradition with more than 50 singers and musicians performing, and a Dande King or Queen is also selected.

This year, the Dande Festival will be held on the 21st of December at the Plaza Immaculada Curazon di Maria. 

Where to see Aruba’s famous pagaras on New Year’s

Another Aruban New Years tradition is the pagara. These are long red carpets of firecrackers that make a ton of noise and fill the air with smoke. Traditionally, when a pagara is lit, Arubans open their doors and windows to let the smoke in the house and chase away the fuku (bad energy), so the new year begins with a clean slate. 

On December 31st at noon, many businesses light pagaras on the streets. The biggest one is at Renaissance Aruba, where millions of firecrackers create a massive celebration along the boulevard. Bring earplugs because pagaras are extremely loud!

Best New Year’s Eve parties in Aruba

Arubans tend to dress up and celebrate in style. Many hotels host glamorous New Year’s Eve parties with elegant dinners, live bands, champagne toasts, and dancing. 

Moomba Beach always draws a big crowd with its lively beachfront party, while the Renaissance Convention Center hosts a more formal, ballroom style celebration that includes fine dining, live music, and an open bar. There is also the popular Top of the Rock party at the lighthouse, which is expected to be one of the island’s biggest events and will feature performances by well-known local artists like Jeon. 

Where to watch Aruba’s New Year’s Eve fireworks

When midnight strikes on December 31st, the entire coastline lights up. It is not an organized show, which makes it even more magical. Families, hotels, and beachgoers all set off their own fireworks.

Nice spots to watch the fireworks include Palm Beach (watching it from the sand or even standing in the water feels unreal) or watching from a hill, like the lighthouse. Ling & Sons also has a spectacular fireworks show, but that one usually happens a few days before NYE.

Join Aruba’s New Year’s Day Plunge at Moomba Beach

The New Year’s Day Plunge (or nieuwjaarsduik) is a Dutch tradition that trickled down into Aruba – but luckily, Aruba’s waters aren’t as cold as in the Netherlands!

Every first of January at noon, Moomba Beach organizes a plunge. There’s a Zumba warm-up, a big crowd, and a fun countdown before everyone runs into the sea together. 

More December events and things to do in Aruba

Aruba Fashion Week 2025: dates and highlights

Aruba Fashion Week is the premier fashion event in the Caribbean, and it brings together local and international designers, runway shows, pop-ups, and industry talks.

It’s an exciting chance to experience Aruba’s creative scene and see the island through a fashion-focused lens. The event starts with a kick-off party on December 11th and ends with a closing toast on December 14th. 

Juan Luis Guerra in Aruba: December concert details

Feel like dancing? In December, Juan Luis Guerra is bringing some spectacular vibes to the island. He’s an artist from the Dominican Republic that’s much-beloved here in Aruba, with merengue, bachata, and Caribbean tunes that will surely have you on your feet until the wee hours of the night. 

The concert is on December 13th, and it’s a wonderful chance to experience a world-class show in an island setting.

Heat Wave Concert: Rich Kalashh and Ryan Castro in Aruba

Heat Wave is a Caribbean and Latin urban concert featuring Rich Kalashh, a Dutch-Curaçaoan artist known for his blend of hiphop, dancehall, and Caribbean rhythms, and Ryan Castro, one of Colombia’s biggest reggaeton stars. The event takes place on December 20th.

Practical tips for visiting Aruba in December

Book early

December is high season in Aruba, so you need to book early! Flights, hotels, tours, and rental cars sell out quickly.

Packing for Aruba in December

Although you might experience some rain, expect warm temperatures around thirty degrees with plenty of sunshine. Pack light clothing, swimwear, sunscreen, and something comfortable for indoor air-conditioning. Evenings can be breezy, so consider bringing a cardigan.

Getting around

Buses tend to run on a reduced schedule during the holidays. Renting a car gives you the most freedom, although regulated taxis are reliable and safe. 

Still sorting out the details? We’ve created both a full trip planning guide and a separate “where to stay” breakdown to help you map everything out.

Final thoughts: visiting Aruba in December 2025

December in Aruba is a truly magical time, and as you can see, there’s more than enough to do!

If the thought of spending your holidays snowless, at the beach (perhaps with a cocktail in hand) sounds strange to you, and like the complete opposite of what the holidays are supposed to be, well, this is how Arubans have been doing it for ages! 

Once you’ve experienced it for yourself, it’s hard to find anything that compares.

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