Holiday Bucket List: Fun Things to do This Winter in Tampa Bay

Board the Winter Village Express

All aboard the Winter Village Express! For a festive journey filled with holiday magic and lots to enjoy, board the Winter Village Express this winter in Tampa Bay.

Psst… make sure to book your seats early because tickets sell fast!

The Winter Village Express provides a family-fun winter activity for all to enjoy, taking you on a trip to experience the holidays with child-like wonder. Sing along to holiday songs as you traverse through downtown Tampa to Ybor City and back. Indulge with traditional festive milk and cookies. Test your holiday knowledge with a round of trivia. Surround yourself with festive spirits and a whole lot of holiday magic!

Go Sledding at Snowcat Ridge

Hit the slopes for a fun snow day at Snowcat Ridge! Snow? In Florida? Yup, you read that right! Snowcat Ridge brings the best parts of snow to Tampa Bay, from sledding to a giant snow dome filled with perfect snowman-building snow.

Snowcat Ridge’s 60-foot-tall and 400-foot-long slope provides an exhilarating sledding experience that you can share in a pair, group, or alone. After hitting the slopes, explore the rest of Snowcat Ridge’s winter wonderland with their Alpine Village, ice skating track, and igloo rentals.

Have a Holiday Themed Picnic from the Picnic Boys

The holidays sure can be stressful, so sit back and take a moment to enjoy the season with a picnic from Picnic Boys! Enjoy a Christmas-themed igloo picnic for the holidays with your significant other, besties, or family.

With your 2 hour picnic you get a 30 minute photography session, a Bluetooth speaker, a bottle of champagne, a small charcuterie or desserts, and so much more!

Keep your eye out on Instagram because are teaming up with the Picnic Boys!

Experience Enchant Christmas

For an enchanting winter in Tampa Bay, experience the magic of Enchant Christmas! This year, Enchant presents their second adventure in their series, the Mischivieous Elf. Their enchanting adventure brings to life a holiday miracle featuring an array of fun winter activities.

Wander through an amazing sparkling light maze! Glide across an icy trail. Discover winter wonderlands from around the globe. Help Eddie the elf save Christmas. The list of magical adventures goes on and on!

Witness Twinkling Lights along the Tampa Riverwalk

Hit up a Holiday Pop-up: Santa's Social Club

You need to hit up this Dunedin favorite as it turns into a quaint and cozy Christmas cafe! For the third year, Sonder Social Club turns into Santa Social Club, a holiday cocktail bar filled with beautiful wreaths and Santa hat-adorned seating. This spot does a holiday renovation of its delicious menu as well…our favorite drink is their authentic Puerto Rican Christina’s Coquito!

If you’ve been in recent years, you need to go back because the best part is that it is a different experience every year because they want to make sure they bring something new and fun as they plan to continue this tradition for decades. If you love holiday-themed food and drinks, this bar is completely Instagram-worthy. There isn’t a corner or detail on their menu or decor that doesn’t 100% tie into the holiday spirit!

Be sure to look out for events at Santa’s Social Club, like Best Dressed Elf on December 3rd, Coquito competition with Tampa Bay’s best bartenders on December 17th, and more!

Grab a Festive Drink from Miracle at Mezzo

Sip on festive holiday elixirs from Miracle at Mezzo this winter in Tampa Bay! Every holiday season, from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve, Intermezzo transforms its space into a Christmas-themed pop-up bar. From their walls to their cocktail glasses, Intermezzo spreads their holiday spirit with a sprinkle of Christmas flair.

Their Christmas cocktails encapsulate the festivities of the season in a tasty and magical elixir! On their holiday list of cocktails, Mezzo serves alcoholic versions of Christmas classics like eggnog and hot chocolate, among many more festive refreshments. Miracle at Mezzo provides an adult rendition of Santa’s workshop… and we love it!

Go Ice Skating

Embrace the holidays with a classic festive winter activity, ice skating! Florida may not get as chilly as other places, but that doesn’t mean we get to miss out on all the traditional winter fun.

This winter in Tampa Bay, you can glide across three different ice rinks! Take on the ice in downtown Tampa at Curtis Hixon’s Winter Village! Skate with 360 waterfront views on Winter Beach’s ice rink at St. Pete Pier! Or glide elegantly through a magical winter ice trail at Enchant Christmas! Each ice skating rink provides a different skating experience worth trying.

Shop Local

Looking for unique holiday gifts to give this winter in Tampa Bay? Shop local! Shopping local means finding one-of-a-kind gifts to give all while supporting small businesses. From eco-friendly beauty products to tasty treats, local stores in Tampa Bay offer a range of goodies to gift!

Explore all the best small businesses to support and shop at with help from our blog on 25+ Small Businesses in Tampa Bay! Don’t forget to treat yourself too!

Catch a Holiday Movie at the Tampa Theater

Laugh, cry, and warm your heart with some Christmas spirit by catching a holiday movie at the Tampa Theater! This winter in Tampa Bay, Tampa Theater spreads holiday joy with numerous favorite holiday classics.

Witness the miracle of Christmas magic with Miracle on 34^th Street! Go on a crazy adventure with Buddy the elf in the classic holiday comedy Elf! Warm up your caroling vocals with the musical White Christmas! Discover whimsical inventions with legendary toymakers in Jingle-Jangle! And learn heartwarming life lessons with It’s a Wonderful Life!

Visit Christmas Town at Busch Gardens

For a holiday adventure filled with dazzling lights, roller coasters, ice skating performances, and more, head on over to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens! Christmas Town makes for a fun and family-friendly holiday bucket list must-try, as they offer an array of winter activities to explore.

On top of Busch Gardens’ usual range of wonders, Christmas Town adds an extra sprinkle of magic to their theme-park adventure. From their enchanting holiday décor to their special holiday guests, Busch Gardens transforms into a magical wonderland spreading endless holiday joy to all.

Attend the Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

Gather around the Hillsborough River for a fun holiday event that will light up your winter in Tampa Bay! On the Saturday before Christmas, watch the Hillsborough River light up with holiday festivities as you attend the Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade!

Decorated boats will set sail from the Convention Center basin and parade their way to Tampa Heights, then back down the river to end at Sparkman Wharf! Enjoy front-row seats to this Christmas spectacle by watching the line of boats from anywhere along downtown Tampa’s Riverwalk.

Take a Stroll in Straub Park

Celebrate the holidays in St. Petersburg by taking a stroll in Straub Park! Venture through gorgeous light displays and take some holiday snaps to share on Instagram as you discover Straub Park’s Christmas makeover. Both North and South Straub Park will illuminate with Christmas spirit this winter.

On top of showcasing a vibrant display of holiday décor and lights, Straub Park will also host various holiday events worth attending! From magical light shows to Santa meet and greets, Straub Park enriches St. Pete’s holiday season with a bit of Christmas magic!

Enjoy a Holiday Dinner Cruise on the Yacht StarShip

Embark on a holiday adventure out on the water by enjoying a holiday dinner cruise on the Yacht StarShip! Throughout November and December, you can relish an extravagant holiday buffet feast while taking in the shimmering bay waters and painted sunsets.

StarShip’s holiday buffet includes delicious goodies like autumn rice pilaf, cider salmon, chicken Caprese, braised beef, and more decadent platters! These holiday dinner cruises welcome those of all ages and require dressy casual attire!

Shop a Local Market

Last but not least, on our holiday bucket list, we recommend shopping at a local market! With gift-giving season in full swing, it’s time to start looking for all the goodies to shower your loved ones with! Discover various creations and treasures, ranging from thrifted clothing to delicate décor pieces, at one of the many local market pop-ups occurring in town!

On top of finding hidden treasures and unique gifts, you can also buy fresh ingredients for your holiday dinners at a local market!