TAMPA, Fla. — Haul out the holly and get the sleigh bells ringing — another holiday season is upon the Tampa Bay area. There are plenty of events lined up all month long that can warm the hearts of even the meanest Grinches. From photos with Santa to festive light parades, check out what's happening in your community. Click the links for additional details.
What You Need To Know
- View a list of holiday events around the Tampa Bay area
- RELATED: Send Spectrum Bay News 9 your holiday lights!
- SEE ALSO: Zoo mission of education and conservation helped by holiday cheer
Citrus County
- Light Up Liberty
Dec. 2-3, 5-9 p.m. | Liberty Park
Wear your best ugly Christmas sweater and visit Liberty Park for an evening of shopping and food vendors as the countdown begins to the lighting of the park's Christmas tree. A holiday boat parade will also be taking place. - Olde Fashioned Christmas
Dec. 12, 5:30-9:30 p.m. | The Valerie Theatre
This event includes live holiday music outside throughout the downtown area, a variety of craft vendors and pictures with Santa in the Historic Courthouse.
- Trek Inverness Holiday Lights Ride
Dec. 16, 5-7 p.m. | Trek Bicycle Inverness
Deck your bike with strings of lights and join a group ride at a casual pace for all riders. There will also be festive drinks, treats and free gifts.
Hernando County
- Photos With Santa
Dec. 9-10, 4-7 p.m. | 2715 Forest Rd. Spring Hill, 34606
Get into the festive spirit with a visit from Santa and the opportunity to take pictures with him.
- 5th Annual Florida Cracker Christmas
Dec. 9, 6-11 p.m. | Florida Cracker Kitchen
Enjoy an evening of food and live entertainment this holiday season. A portion of proceeds will go to Operation Heart F.E.L.T., a nonprofit that provides nutritious meals to students and their siblings.
- Sensory Santa Pictures
Dec. 16, noon to 3 p.m. | The Sensory Center Inc
Get ready to meet Santa Claus in-person and capture magical moments with a special photo session. This event is perfect for kids of all ages, especially those with sensory sensitivities.
- Brooksville Country Christmas
Dec. 14 - 23, 6-10 p.m. | S. Brooksville Ave. Brooksville, 34601
Experience carriage rides and other holiday festivities in the Historic Downtown region.
Hillsborough County
- Christmas Town
Now through Jan. 7 | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Experience the joy of the season with animal encounters, roller coasters after dark, holiday inspired culinary food and drinks, and festive shows like "Christmas on Ice." Guests can enjoy a visit from Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. - Photos with Santa
Now through Dec. 17, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | The Florida Aquarium
Photos with Santa runs each Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 17. Use a cell phone or personal camera to commemorate a year of holiday memories. - Holiday Happenings at Armature Works
Now through Dec. 31 |Armature Works
From a holiday tree lighting to cookie making and movies on the lawn, Armature Works has events every week for all to enjoy. - Christmas in the Wild
Now - Dec. 23, 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. | ZooTampa at Lowry Park - Winter Village
Now through Jan. 1 | Curtis Hixon Park
Located along the Tampa Riverwalk, Curtis Hixon Park is transformed into a winter wonderland for the holiday season. Guests can enjoy ice skating, light shows, and cookies and milk aboard TECO Line Streetcar's "Winter Village Express," which makes its way through downtown Tampa's Whiting Station to Ybor City.
- Festival of Lights & Santa's Village
Now through Dec. 31 | Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
With presentations representing Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa, the Festival of Lights is a drive-thru display that features more than one million lights. Guests can visit Santa's Village, which has holiday-themed rides, craft stations and live entertainment.
ZooTampa's holiday event features one of the Bay area's largest light displays, with seasonal treats and plenty of wildlife viewing.
Manatee County
- Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade
Dec. 9, 6-8 p.m. | Riverhouse Waterfront
The Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade is the county’s largest holiday event of the year. A fleet of decked out vessels will tour up the Manatee River competing for cash prizes and the winning title while thousands of area residents and traveling spectators flock to the river to experience the magic.
- An Old Florida Christmas
Dec. 9, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Manatee Village Historical Park
Experience an old-fashioned Florida holiday celebration. The event features food, music, free “make-and-take” seasonal crafts and vendors selling handmade goods.
- Winter Wonderland
Dec. 9, 5-8:30 p.m. | Old Main Street
Bradenton’s Old Main Street will be transformed into a seasonal celebration, with lime performances, gift shopping with local vendors and visits from Santa.
- Breakfast with Santa at Grove
Dec. 16, 9-11 a.m. | Grove
Get ready for an all-you-can-eat breakfast crafted by award-winning chefs, complete with a dash of holiday magic.
- Bradenton Riverwalk Holiday of the Arts Festival
Dec. 16, 1-5 p.m. | Bradenton Riverwalk
The 2nd annual festival showcases original artwork by more than 100 artisans from throughout Florida and across the United States. Families can enjoy holiday themed sculptures, ceramics, woodworks and more.
Pasco County
- Christmas Carnival by Barrington Hill
Dec. 2, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. | 16117 Lake Iola Rd, Dade City, 33523
Experience the magic of the holiday season as vendors will be available for gift shopping, delicious food, photo ops with mini cows and Santa, and exciting games for everyone to enjoy.
- 39th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
Dec. 3, 5-8 p.m. | AdventHealth Zephyrhills
The event features live entertainment, pictures with Santa and other holiday activities leading up the lighting of AdventHealth's Circle of Trees.
- Holiday Market at Tampa Premium Outlets
Dec. 9 -10, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Tampa Premium Outlets
Get into the holiday spirit and explore a wide variety of unique gifts, from handmade crafts to local artisan products.
- Holiday Hayrides at Avalon Park
Dec. 12 - 14, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. | 5060 River Glen Blvd. Wesley Chapel, 33545 - Christmas Cookie Decorating Class
Dec. 15, 6-8 p.m. | Northwood Clubhouse
Do some piping practice, talk about how to strategize the best ways to decorate sugar cookies, and cover the general concepts around dough and icing. Everything you'll need is provided at class along with a live in-person instructor.
Hop on a free hayride and view holiday decorations around the neighborhood.
Pinellas County
- Enchant Christmas
Now through Dec. 31 | Tropicana Field
This event has a story-themed, festive light maze, an ice skating rink and a 100-foot-tall Christmas tree to dazzle guests. Visit with Santa and enjoy shopping opportunities around the field. - Downtown St. Pete Lighted Boat Parade
Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m. | St. Petersburg Municipal Marina
Get the chance to see boats lit up in their holiday best on downtown St. Pete's waterfront. Spectators should be able to view the boats near the St. Pete Pier, the Vinoy basin, from North Shore Park and Flora Wylie Park, all the way to Coffee Pot Bayou.
- Treasure Island Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
Dec. 22, 5 - 7:30 p.m. | Treasure Island - Sea of Holiday Joy at CMA
Dec. 2 - Dec. 31 | Clearwater Marine Aquarium - Holiday Lights in the Gardens
Now through Dec. 31, 5:30-9:30 p.m. | Florida Botanical Gardens
The Gardens will sparkle with one million, twinkling, LED lights in a multitude of colors. Laser lights and lighted figures will round out the displays to wow guests of all ages. The event also serves as the Gardens' annual fundraiser, which helps to keep up maintenance and stay open to the public. - Holiday Lights, Ferris Wheel & Carousel in Largo Central Park
Now through Dec. 31, 5-10 p.m. | Largo Central Park
This holiday tradtion by the City of Largo holds over two million LED lights throughout the park. Guests and their families can take part in a variety of crafts and activities, including a ferris wheel, a carousel, a campfire and food vendors.
The parade will begin promptly at 6 p.m. just south of the Treasure Island Causeway. The route travels south, and into the fingers of Paradise Island, back past Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis and through the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge around 7 p.m., through each of the fingers of Isle of Palms and each of the fingers through Isle of Capri, and finishes at John’s Pass at approximately 8:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Winners will be announced via Social Media and prizes can be claimed at City Hall, 120 108th Ave.
Have your cameras ready as Santa Claus makes a special appearance among marine animals. Kids can also take part in holiday arts and crafts while learning about marine life.
Polk County
- Holidays at Legoland
Now through Dec. 31, 6 p.m. | Legoland
Enjoy the holiday season at Legoland, where kids can write letters to Santa, dance to holiday tunes around a Lego Christmas tree and enjoy festive treats. - Lakeland Christmas Parade
Dec. 7, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland - Holidays in the Highlands
Dec. 9, | Bok Tower Gardens
Guests can enjoy a multitude of events all month long, from making floral and ornament arrangements to live performances. Connect to nature with a stroll through poinsettias, begonias, evergreens, and other seasonal greenery displays.
- Winterfest and Christmas Parade in Davenport
Dec. 9, 4-9 p.m. | Tom Fellows Community Center
Take pictures with Santa and shop at a number of holiday vendors. The parade will start at 6 p.m.
The 42nd annual parade will leave the RP Funding Center making its way down Lemon Street, twisting and turning through Downtown Lakeland. A fireworks show at Lake Mirror will kick off the festivities.