New Year's Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31. Florida allows consumer fireworks on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. What is open, trash on New Year's Day and events as announced.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. The fireworks rule comes from section 791.08 of the Florida Statutes, trash from Orange County’s holiday collection page, school dates from the OCPS 2026-27 calendar and Winter Garden closures from the city calendar.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, and New Year’s Day is Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. No public New Year’s Eve event or fireworks show in Horizon West had been announced when we checked; we add them here as venues post them. Florida law allows consumer fireworks at home on both nights, unless your HOA’s recorded covenants ban them. Orange County trash runs as normal on New Year’s Day.

What this means for you

  • Fireworks at home: legal under state law on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; check your HOA covenants first.
  • Trash on Friday, Jan. 1: Orange County collects as normal.
  • School: OCPS students return Tuesday, Jan. 5.
  • Emergencies: 911. Orange County Sheriff’s Office, non-emergency: 407-836-4357.

Events

None of the usual organizers had posted a 2026 New Year’s Eve event when we checked: Hamlin’s events page, the Horizon West Happenings calendar and the City of Winter Garden calendar. We list restaurant dinners and parties only when the restaurant announces them on its own site. Venues can send us the details.

The last nights of Winter Garden’s holiday light show are Dec. 26 and 27, 6 to 9 p.m. at City Hall; see our holiday lights page. For a night out, Hamlin’s restaurants and bars are listed on our live music and nightlife guide.

Fireworks at home

Florida law names three designated holidays for consumer fireworks: New Year’s Day, Jan. 1; Independence Day, July 4; and New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, under section 791.08. The statute says:

  • It does not override local government fireworks rules.
  • It does not override a fireworks ban in a homeowners association’s recorded covenants.
  • An HOA board may not adopt new rules that take away a homeowner’s right to use fireworks on a designated holiday.

Many Horizon West neighborhoods have HOAs, so check your recorded covenants before you buy. Soak used fireworks in water, seal them in a bag and put them in the garbage cart, never recycling, Orange County says. The Fourth of July version of these rules is on our fireworks page.

What is open and closed

  • Orange County trash: the county changes collection only for Thanksgiving and Christmas, its holiday collection page says, so Friday, Jan. 1, runs as normal.
  • Inside Winter Garden city limits: city offices are closed on Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, and there is no collection that day, the city calendar says. Many Horizon West addresses say “Winter Garden” but are Orange County customers; see our trash and recycling guide.
  • Schools: OCPS winter break runs Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. Monday, Jan. 4, is a teacher workday and student holiday, and classes resume Tuesday, Jan. 5.
  • Library: the Orange County Library System had not posted its 2026-27 holiday closings when we checked. Last year it closed on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, its holiday hours page shows.

Getting home

Plan a ride before you go out. Road conditions are on FL511, and transit and ride options are on our getting around guide.

What this means for you

  • Read your HOA covenants before buying fireworks.
  • Put trash out as usual for a Friday, Jan. 1, pickup if you are an Orange County customer.
  • Check back in December for any New Year’s Eve events and restaurant plans.

Frequently asked questions

Florida law allows consumer fireworks on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, under section 791.08 of the Florida Statutes. A recorded HOA covenant that bans fireworks still applies, and the law does not override local fireworks rules.

Is trash picked up on New Year’s Day in Horizon West?

Yes. Orange County changes curbside collection only for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, runs as normal. Inside Winter Garden city limits there is no collection on Jan. 1.

When do Orange County schools go back after winter break?

Winter break runs Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, is a teacher workday and student holiday, and students return Tuesday, Jan. 5, the OCPS calendar says.

Is there a New Year’s Eve event in Horizon West?

None had been announced when we checked. We will list public events and restaurant plans here once the venues post them.