Holiday fun in Tampa Bay

It's the most wonderful time of the year .... Florida winter and the holiday season. Get into the holiday spirit with parades, tree lightings, craft markets, festivals and more around Tampa Bay.

Holiday parades & tree lightings in Tampa Bay

Nutcracker performances around Tampa Bay

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

Festival of Lights & Santa’s Village

Nov. 23–Dec. 31, 6-9pm weekdays & 6-10pm weekends

Hillsborough County Fairgrounds

More than 1 million lights along an expanded 2-mile drive featuring hundreds of dazzling light displays. Santa’s Village is packed with holiday-themed rides, a holiday market, visits with Santa, craft stations, Santa’s Barnyard, camel rides, holiday movies and live entertainment and more. $25/per car

Busch Gardens Christmas Town

Nov.11, 2023-Jan. 7, 2024

The park becomes filled with holiday cheer and guests can enjoy holiday traditions with a twist. Ride the Holly Jolly Express train, view millions of twinkling lights from the top of a roller coaster, visit Santa in his workshop, and spend time with Rudolph and his friends from the classic holiday movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Guests can also enjoy festive live shows. Holiday events included with regular day admission. 

Winter Village 

Nov. 17, 2023-Jan. 1, 2024

Curtis Hixon Park

Celebrate the magic of the holiday season at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa. The park sparkles with lights and festive holiday decorations. Guests can skate along downtown Tampa’s only outdoor ice rink ($17) while taking in views of the Tampa River Walk. The Shops of Winter Village will feature five boutiques from local markets and the Icicle Craft Kitchen of Winter Village will serve up some seasonal holiday treats.

Christmas in the Wild

Select dates Nov. 25-Dec. 30, 2023

ZooTampa

Christmas in The Wild is back and is bigger, better and brighter than ever! Enjoy the magic of wildlife at night while celebrating the holiday season. The zoo will be transformed into a whimsical wonderland filled with lights, seasonal holiday treats and festive shows. There will be six illuminated zones of lights, two new light shows across the entire manatee circle, and a 30-foot Christmas tree with thousands of dancing lights. Included with regular zoo admission on select nights. 

Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Lights Spectacular

November 2023 to January 2023

Tampa Riverwalk

Take a stroll along the Tampa Riverwalk among the festive holiday lights as the area transforms into a winter wonderland. Highlights include a 35-foot-tall LED lighted Christmas tree that floats in the harbor, a holiday selfie station at the Pirate Water Taxi ticket booth, a floating gingerbread lighted display, and a lighted pine tree forest. Hotels, restaurants, and bars along the Riverwalk will also have festive lighted displays.

Victorian Christmas Stroll

Dec. 1-Dec. 23, 2023, 10am to 5pm with extended weekend hours

Henry B Plant Museum in Tampa

The Victorian Christmas Stroll is back for it’s 42nd year! Be dazzled by the beautifully decorated rooms, each with a different theme. This year, they will have a display of 40 vintage Santas in honor of 40 years. Take in the beauty of a 14′ Christmas tree and travel back in time to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. $18 adults, $16 seniors, $12 youth

Christmas Lights at Chick-Fil-A

2023 Dates TBD (Closed Sundays), 6-10pm

6299 W Waters Ave, Tampa

Visit the most festive Chick-Fil-A in Tampa Bay and check out their annual Christmas lights display! Santa will also be there on select dates so be sure to stop by and say hello.

Old Fashion Country Christmas

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 24-Dec. 23, 2023

Raprager Family Farms, Odessa

Raprager Family Farm is exploding with Christmas cheer! Lights and decorations blanket the farm. Go on a holiday hayride and take a picture inside a giant inflatable snow globe. Check out the lighted gingerbread village, hear stories from Mrs. Claus and pay a visit to Santa and take pictures with him at his workshop. $17.50/pp. Season pass available.

Christmas Lane in Plant City

Select dates Nov. 24-Dec. 24, 2023

Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City

Take in the wonder of the 1.5 million lights that adorn 200 Christmas trees from 4 to 40 feet. There will be rides, food, live entertainment, and a kids zone. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph will also be there to celebrate and take festive photos with guests. $10 adults, $8 youth.

Tampa Santa Fest & Tree Lighting

Dec. 2

Curtis Hixon Park

Parade begins at 1pm at Morgan Street and Madison Street. Best viewing is along Madison Street. After the parade thru downtown, come by Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for Santa Fest entertainment and activities 1-4 p.m. Stay for Tampa's Tree Lighting ceremony at 6-6:30 p.m.

Tampa’s Holiday Boat Parade

Dec. 23, 2023, 6pm

Hillsborough River

The parade begins at the southern tip of Davis Islands, travels through the Convention Center basin and up to the Heights where the boats will turn around and head to Sparkman Wharf.

Winter Wonder Wharf

All month long after Nov. 18

Sparkman Wharf

Extravaganza of lights, music, and decorations including a 35-foot Christmas Tree and a colorful tree forest on the lawn. There will be opportunities for photos throughout the area, plus holiday-themed entertainment.

PINELLAS COUNTY

Holiday Lights & Train Ride

Nov. 23-Dec. 31, 2023, 5-10pm

Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Dr, Largo

A spectacular holiday light display of more than 2 million dazzling LED lights. Guests can also enjoy a stunning carousel and a seven-story Ferris wheel that offers breathtaking views of the lighted park. Rides are $6 each or 4 for $20. It is free to park and stroll among the sparkly Christmas lights. 

Enchant Christmas

Nov. 24 through Dec. 31, 2023

Tropicana Field

Guests wander the World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze in search of the missing magic sleigh bells. There are also craft and food vendors, an ice skating trail, visits with Santa and more.

Holiday Lights in the Gardens

Nov. 24-Dec. 31, 2023, 5:30-9:30p

Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo

The gardens sparkle with one million LED lights that twinkle in a variety of bright colors. Vibrant laser lights and lighted figures are sure to wow guests of all ages. The Children’s Candy Cane Area will provide free kids crafts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Suggested donation of $10pp. Leashed pets welcome.

Snowfest

Dec. 2. 2023, 9a-2p

North Straub Park, St. Pete

Toboggan slides for adults and children, inflatables, arts and crafts tents, food trucks and more. The $5 wristband includes all activities (excluding food).

Santa Parade & Tree Lighting

Nov. 25, 2023, 6:30pm

The Santa Parade begins at Albert Whitted Park and runs along Bayshore Dr. to 5th Ave. NE. The Tree Lighting immediately follows the parade in North Straub Park. Tree Lighting time is based on when the parade ends.

Tarpon Springs Illuminated Boat Parade

Dec. 1, 2023

Craig Park, Tarpon Springs

The best viewing is from Whitcomb Bayou/Craig Park/Spring Bayou. Boats enter Spring Bayou around 8 pm.

Treasure Island Boat Parade

Dec. 16, 2023

The parade will begin promptly at 6:20 p.m. just south of the Treasure Island Causeway. The route travels south of Paradise Island, back through the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge at 7 p.m., around the Isles of Palms and Capri, and finishes at John’s Pass at approximately 8:15 p.m.

The Oakdale Christmas House

Nov. 24, 2023-Jan. 3, 2024

2719 Oakdale Street South, St. Petersburg

Amazing walk through Christmas light experience that is bigger and better than before!A half million twinkling lights which has been ranked as among the world’s best Christmas light displays! Featured on both HGTV and The Today Show. Free to the public. 

Harbor Holiday Nights at Folly Farm 

Dec. 14-16, 2023

1562 Dr Martin Luther King Jr St North, Safety Harbor

Enjoy holiday lights, a campfire, children’s activities, a trolley light tour, shopping, crafts, and more! Harbor Holiday Nights is FREE. The Trolley Light Tour has a ticket fee of $5/person.

PASCO COUNTY

Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass

Nov. 11, 2023-Dec. 31, 2023

Experience an array of dancing lights choreographed to music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Tree lightning on Nov. 12 at 5pm

Celebration of Lights @ The Concourse

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 24-Dec. 23, 6-9pm

11919 Alric Pottberg Road, Shady Hills

Board the Grand Concourse Railroad Christmas Train ($3) for a festive ride to Safety Town or you can walk the trail to enter Safety Town. Once you are in Safety Town, enjoy a walk through this enchanted miniature town of lights! $25 per vehicle.

Christmas Under the Moon

Harvestmoom Fun Farm, Masaryktown

Dates TBA, 6pm-9pm

Head to HarvestMoon Fun Farm for their very first dazzling Christmas light display! You can also take a stroll down Christmas Tree Lane, visit with the animals in the petting farm, sip on some hot chocolate and enjoy other holiday treats. Activities included with admission: Jumping Pillow, Petting Farm, Cow Train, Ball Zone, Hill Slide, Swings, Arts & Crafts, Photo Ops, and a enchanted hay ride. Tickets are $10 per person for ages 3 and up. Kids ages 2 and under are free.