‘Tis the season! There is no shortage of festive holiday events in Tampa Bay this season. From dazzling light displays to ugly sweater parties to outdoor ice skating rinks and snow tubing (yes, right here in Tampa Bay!), your holiday season is sure to be magical. Keep reading to discover the best holiday events in Tampa Bay and don’t forget to send them to a friend, because the more the merrier!
Enchant Christmas
One of the most magical holiday events in Tampa Bay is back! Enchant Christmas is creating the ultimate Christmas experience at Tropicana Field. Enjoy the whimsical holiday light maze, explore the ice skating trail, sample seasonal treats, meet Santa, shop at the Enchant market, and more!
Cheers to the holiday season! 🥂 Miracle at Mezzo is a holiday cocktail pop-up bar at Intermezzo in St. Pete. Starting Black Friday and running until New Year’s Eve, Miracle at Mezzo serves tasty holiday cocktails in the most festive environment in Tampa Bay! Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just looking for a cute Instagram picture, you’ve got to visit Miracle at Mezzo this holiday season!
The Tampa Riverwalk is decking the halls or should we say the river! Now until January 2nd, you can get in the holiday spirit and experience the Riverwalk’s Holiday Spectacular! Enjoy lots and lots of festive light displays as you stroll alongside the Hillsborough River. Like most of the holiday events on the Tampa Riverwalk, the holiday spectacular is free and fun for all ages!
Mark your calendar for the 2021 Holiday Lighted Boat Parade on December 18th! Tampa’s largest Boat 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 where judging will occur and the parade will end.
Santa's Social Club
Dunedin’s beloved cocktail bar, Sonder Social Club, has transformed into Santa’s Social Club for the holiday season! Enjoy a “Milk and Cookies” cocktail and other festive drinks in one of the most decorated places in town. Santa’s Social Club is the perfect spot for your next Instagram post. You won’t want to miss this festive pop-up bar – cheers! 🥂
Celebrate the holidays at the 30-acre Raprager Family Farm’s Winter Festival on select dates from November 26th until December 28th! Day passes include an animal experience, hayride, hay chute slide, play fort, mini Christmas village, and so much more. You’ll also get a visit with Santa!
The farm is decorated for the holidays so you’ll definitely get the perfect family photo. There will be a variety of great vendors to get some gifts or yummy treats from. That’s not all though, make sure you check out the over 1 million lights, the lighted gingerbread hayride, and giant snowglobe.
Trust us, you don’t want to miss out on one of the most spectacular holiday events in Tampa Bay.
Test your skills while exploring the Tampa Riverwalk with the Riverwalk Holiday Hunt! This mobile-based scavenger hunt gives you the chance to compete to be one of the Holiday Hunt winners by solving puzzles, completing holiday challenges and answering historical Tampa trivia. This event is free and fun for all ages!
To participate, you must download the Mobile Adventures App and scan the QR code on the Riverwalk to begin. Good luck!
Head to the St. Pete Pier for the inaugural Winter Beach! Enjoy a 4,000 square foot, waterfront ice skating rink made of real ice – nothing says the holidays in Florida like ice skating next to palm trees! From themed ice skating nights to Santa sightings to holiday concerts to an arcade, there is so much fun to be had at Winter Beach.
Please note that tickets are required to ice skate, the rest of Winter Beach is free.
Celebrate the holiday season in the heart of downtown Tampa at Winter Village! Located along the Riverwalk, at Curtis Hixon Park is a real ice skating rink, shops, seasonal treats, and the Curtis Hixon Choo Choo. As one of the classic holiday events in Tampa Bay, Winter Village is fun for all ages.
Please note tickets are required for ice skating, the rest of Winter Village is free.
Get excited because snow is coming to Florida. Not real snow, of course, but close enough! Snowcat Ridge Alpine Snow Park will be bringing a massive snow tubing hill, Alpine Village, and a ten thousand square foot snow play dome. It’s a snowy landscape of fun right in Florida!
Ybor City Tree
Spend your holiday season in Ybor City by checking out their own holiday tree! The tree will be lighting up Centro Ybor all throughout the holiday season! It’s the perfect spot to get a family photo while you’re having a night out.
Mark your calendar for the 2021 Ybor City Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 17th!
While you’re in Ybor City, check out our Ybor City Neighborhood Guide for the best restaurants and other things to do.
1600 E 8th Ave Tampa, Florida, 33605
Enjoy over a mile of spectacular lights and holiday displays all from the comfort of your vehicle. at the Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village. At the end of your journey stop be Santa’s Village to get some tasty fair-type foods, family-friendly entertainment, catch the wolf exhibit, camel rides, and of course, meet Santa himself!
Step back in time at the Henry B. Plant Museum! Experience the grandeur of a Victorian Christmas at the former 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel. Each exhibit room has a different theme so there is something for everyone. Take in the tiny antique trees, find the snow babies, a replica Plant System train, vintage fashions, antique toys, orchids, fruit, shells, and fanciful ornaments.
Holiday Lights in Largo Central Park
Experience more than two-million dazzling LED lights at Largo Central Park! This family-friendly annual tradition features a spectacular holiday light display, stunning carousel and a seven-story Dreamland Ferris wheel that offers a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the 70-acre park. The lights are free to view and rides on the Ferris wheel are only $5.
Lights in Straub Park in St. Pete
This is another budget friendly spot to take a date for Christmas light viewing! The signature park in Downtown St. Pete, Straub Park, will be decorating their grounds with beautiful Christmas light displays! Free for all to stroll and view, this is a great option if you’re looking to just do a quick pass through the park. After, enjoy one of the many surrounding restaurants and waterfront attractions!
Celebrate the holidays at Christmas Town at Busch Gardens! With your ticket, you’ll enjoy admission to the park, holiday traditiona with a twist, millions of twinkling lights, visits from Santa Claus, and more. Be sure to check out one of the dazzling shows like Christmas On Ice, the Three King’s Journey, and Storytime with Mrs. Claus.
Calling all animal lovers! Enjoy the holiday events at Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park. Enjoy Christmas in the Wild and be immersed in holiday adventures this season. Check out their twinkly holiday lights displays, indulgent holiday treats, and attractions. View animals in a special nighttime experience in this reservation only experience, away from the regular crowds.
Sarasota's Lights in Bloom: An Open-air Holiday Light Show
Looking for a more scenic lights display? Look no further than Lights in Bloom at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota. Two million Christmas lights will illuminate your way through the beautiful gardens, with decorated paths and tunnels with lights shows. The gardens has absolutely remade the grounds to be a magical experience full of butterflies, flowers, dragonflies, and more! Food and drinks will be available at many locations throughout the park or dine at their signature Selby House for your Christmas dinner.
Pirate Water Taxi River of Lights
Experience the River of Lights aboard Pirate Water Taxi. You will pass beneath low bridges to enter the beautiful Hillsborough River for a one-of-a-kind tour of lighted bridges and downtown. Their Captains will entertain you with a whimsical narration and you can join in for a sing-along of Christmas carols. Kids can also write a letter to Santa and send it through the mail buoy to the North Pole, plus they’ll get a special gift.
Another fun holiday event happening along the Hillsborough River is a Pirate’s Christmas Cruise on the Lost Pearl! This family-friendly cruise will travel by Holiday Island where you will get an up-close look at Tampa’s largest floating Christmas tree and kids will get a special gift.
Serafina Besecker
Madison Skipper
Aimee Pacchiarotti