Mayor Jane Castor is ushering in the holidays with a Thanksgiving week message of gratitude, reflection and recovery as the city continues to recover from last year’s hurricanes and prepares for the holidays.
In an email to residents, Castor recalled the damage left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and praised the community’s resilience as the 2025 hurricane season comes to an end.
“This Thanksgiving week, I can’t help but feel a little extra gratitude as I think back to where we were this time last year,” Castor said in the email. “The holiday decorations going up in neighborhoods still marked by flood debris. Families trying to salvage what they could while figuring out where to celebrate Thanksgiving. The exhaustion in people’s eyes when you asked how they were doing.”
“This Sunday marks the official end of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season (November 30), and the relief is palpable,” she added. “We made it through without another catastrophic hit. We’re not where we were a year ago, and that alone feels like something worth celebrating.”
Castor’s email highlighted the city’s new Homeowner Hurricane Assistance Program to assist residents still recovering from last year’s hurricanes. The program provides up to $30,000 per household for hurricane-related repairs or reimbursements, and prioritizes homeowners in hard-hit ZIP codes.
Applications are accepted by phone at 813-307-5555 or online at tampa.gov/hha Mondays through Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Dec. 12.
Castor said the city remains focused on long-term recovery and prevention, pointing to major infrastructure projects aimed at reducing neighborhood flooding and improving stormwater management.
She highlighted efforts like the South Howard Flood Relief Project, which will add more than 8,000 feet of new drainage pipes and box culverts to relieve flooding along South Howard and Swann avenues and nearby neighborhoods, including Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines.
The project also includes new sidewalks, landscaping, permeable pavers, upgraded utilities, and underground power lines. A related South Howard Water Improvement Project will replace nearly 2 miles of aging water mains to improve water pressure, quality and reliability.
Another major initiative, the Manhattan Avenue Flood Relief Project, will replace outdated drainage lines in a flood-prone residential area and upgrade nearby water mains to prevent recurring street flooding during heavy rains.
“Initiatives like our proposed South Howard Flood Relief Project, Manhattan Ave Flood Relief Project, and other improvements across the city are about so much more than new pipes and pavement,” Castor said. “They’re about protecting families who deserve to sleep soundly when the forecast calls for rain.”
Castor also highlighted several upcoming holiday events. The city’s fifth annual Riverwalk Holiday Tree Lighting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Tampa Convention Center basin. Castor is expected to arrive by Pirate Water Taxi to flip the switch on the Riverwalk’s holiday trees, with live entertainment, food and family-friendly activities planned throughout the evening.
The Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park has returned to downtown, transforming the park along the Tampa Riverwalk into a festive destination with ice skating, local vendors, games, and seasonal food and drinks. The event runs from Nov. 21 to Jan. 4, but festivities kick into gear on Dec. 6 with the SantaFest Parade & Tree Lighting at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
The event begins at 1 p.m. with a colorful parade through downtown, and features entertainment, crafts, reindeer games and food. Castor will lead the tree-lighting countdown at 6 p.m., followed by a holiday movie. Admission is free and open to the public.
Castor’s email noted that city offices will be closed Nov. 27 to 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday, and reminded residents that solid waste collection schedules have been adjusted. Residents can report nonemergency issues such as missed trash pickups or sign repairs through Tampa Connect at TampaConnect.com.
“This Thanksgiving, I hope you take the time to relax with loved ones, reflect on what matters most, and talk about turkey and football instead of evacuation routes,” Castor said. “Stay safe, stay dry, and happy Thanksgiving!”