Just because it won’t snow (hopefully) this holiday season doesn’t mean Tampa Bay won’t get festive. There will be millions of twinkly lights, but all displays are equal. Here are a few of the better spots to get into the holiday spirit this season.
Oakdale Christmas Light Display
2719 Oakdale St. S, St. Petersburg. christmasdisplay.org
Oakdale is still recovering from last year’s Hurricane Milton, as is Reddington Beach, which canceled its yearly display. This free event previously featured a half-acre Christmas light display, 70-foot-tall Christmas tree, railroad, carnival rides and animated displays. The event has been confirmed for this year, but no official dates have been announced. At the time of this writing, the event website says the neighborhood is preparing “to showcase our much smaller, yet just as beautiful Christmas display.”
Credit: Pirate Water Taxi
Pirate Water Taxi River of Lights
Now-Jan. 4. 333 S Franklin St., Tampa. piratewatertaxi.com
The Pirate Taxi will be cruising around, providing views of holiday decorations along the water in downtown Tampa. For this year’s 45-minute cruise, guests can expect plenty of holiday displays, storytelling, an elf host, beer and wine for purchase, and a snow flurry finale. Tickets start at $25 for kids and $35 for adults, and children will receive a holiday gift during the ride.
Credit: Photo via Winter Village/Facebook
Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park
Now-Jan. 4. 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. wintervillagetampa.com
Featuring an elevated 360-Degree Light Show, ice skating, curling and a massive pop-up market, Winter Village has just about everything. Entry to the area is free, but ice skating for 90 minutes will cost $17 per ice skater for all ages. The Winter Village Express, a TECO Line Streetcar taking riders from Winter Village to Ybor and back, will feature sing-along songs, holiday trivia and milk and cookies, costing $10 for persons one years and older.
Credit: Photo via Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A light display
Now-Jan. 5 6299 W Waters Ave., Tampa. facebook.com/CFAWaters
An iconic Tampa tradition, the Chick-fil-A on Waters Ave. has displayed millions of Christmas lights every year for over two decades. It honestly doesn’t feel like Christmas until you experience the drive-thru and grab a lil spicy chicken sandwich on the way out.
Credit: Photo via Busch Gardens
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Now-Jan. 5. 10165 McKinley Dr., Tampa. buschgardens.com
Busch Gardens will be fully-dazzled with millions of lights, tons of Christmas-themed events, seasonal treats and booze, holiday shows, character encounters and more, says the park. Classic favorites are returning, like Santa’s North Pole Experience, Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland, the Holly Jolly Express, Elmo’s Christmas Wish show, Christmas on Ice, and a nightly Holiday in the Sky fireworks experience. This year, the park is adding a few new additions, including a gingerbread cookie decorating station, new Christmas Town craft cocktails, and nightly rides along the Skyride, which will be decked out with twinkly lights. Christmas Town festivities are free with park admission.
Credit: Photo via Festival of Lights
Festival of Lights and Santa’s Village at Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
Nov. 27-Dec. 28. 215 Sydney Washer Rd., Dover. hillsboroughcountyfair.com
This annual family favorite event features a nearly two-mile long continuous drive through holiday lights, followed by Santa’s village at the end, including rides, an inflatable snow tube, festive lights and holiday treats, as well as live music on select nights and a new “Santa’s Winter Woodland” attraction. Prices start at $25 per car for just the drive-thru, and $30 per car when the village is open, with season passes available for purchase.
Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass
Now-Dec. 31. 28211 Paseo Dr., Wesley Chapel. theshopsatwiregrass.com
This choreographed light show features holiday music and “snow” flurries in the center court of the mall, and is free to watch. Shows happen on the hour from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. nightly.
Holiday Lights & Carnival Rides in Largo Central Park
Nov. 27-Jan. 4. Central Park Dr., Largo. playlargo.com
From 5-10 p.m. every night this season, walk through over two million LED holiday lights, and enjoy activities like a Ferris wheel and carousel, a campfire and food. Park admission is free, with rides costing $6 each. Food and beverages are available for purchase throughout the park.
Credit: frrm.org
North Pole Express at the Florida Railroad Museum
Nov. 28-Dec. 22 (select nights). 12210 83rd St. E Parrish. frrm.org
Tom Hanks won’t be the conductor, but families can still have a magical night on the railroad. This 35-minute train ride goes from Parrish to The North Pole, where for about an hour and a half, kids can experience “snow” with a foam sprayer, get photos with Santa, see model trains galore, make s’mores and get tuckered out in the bounce house—which they’ll need to do to burn off the sugar from unlimited cookies and hot cocoa. And, of course, there’s tons of lights. Tickets start at $41.25 and vary by class, date and time. Many are already sold out, so reserve them online ASAP if you plan to go.
Celebration of Lights at The Concourse
Nov. 28-Dec. 27. 11919 Alric Pottberg Rd., Shady Hills celebrationoflightsfl.com
This event is only occurring on select dates throughout November and December, so be sure to check the website for details! Featuring a walk-through Christmas light display and a chance to meet Santa in the North Pole, Celebration of Lights is also hosting a $3 train ride running from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Credit: Christmas Lane/Facebook
Christmas Lane at Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds
Nov. 28-Dec. 4 (select nights) from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. 2508 W Oak Ave., Plant City. christmaslane.com
This massive winter wonderland includes a “Great Light Maze,” live entertainment and rides. Get your picture taken with Santa by a professional photographer ($15 & up), grab some fair food and enjoy some local music. Tickets are $12 for adults 13 and older, $10 for kids 4-12 and free for children 3 and younger.
Credit: Photo via ZooTampa
Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa
Nov. 28-Dec. 30 (select nights).1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. zootampa.org
ZooTampa is once again hosting “Christmas in the Wild” on select dates, so be sure to check the website to see the calendar. Guests can expect holiday light shows, animal sculptures throughout the parks and three brand new exhibits, “The Realm of the Nutcracker,” “Mrs. Claus Storytime” and “The Forest of Fantasy.”
Holiday Lights in the Gardens at Florida Botanical Gardens
Nov. 28-Jan. 3. 12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo. flbgfoundation.org
The botanical gardens will be illuminated with over 1 million LED lights, lasers and lighted figures to walk through and explore every night from 5:30-9:30 p.m. A donation of $10 per person is suggested.
97th Annual Santa Parade & Tree Lighting
Nov. 29. North Straub Park, St. Petersburg. stpeteparksrec.org
Starting at Albert Whitted Park at 6:30 p.m. and ending at North Straub Park for the annual Downtown St. Petersburg Christmas Tree Lighting, this annual parade is free to attend and features Santa, parade floats and lots of holiday lights.
Friends of the Riverwalk: Holiday Spectacular
Nov. 30-Jan. 2. Tampa Riverwalk. thetampariverwalk.com
Watch holiday lights and displays float through the Hillsborough River with synchronized music, at the Riverwalk. Some floats and attractions include a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, a 22-foot pirate ship, trees throughout Water Works Park lit up and a holiday selfie station.
The Lights of Lake Park Estates
Dec. 1-31. 100th Ave. N, Largo. lightsoflakepark.com
Neighbors along this 3.2-mile route have been decorating their homes to raise money for Suncoast Hospice (and to outdo each other) every year since 1993. There’s no cost to see it, but donations are collected.
The Wonderland of Lights & America’s Christmas Village
Dec. 4- Dec. 28. 1052 US-92, Auburndale. thewonderlandoflights.com
This drive-thru event features thousands of holiday lights, as well as food, family activities, and an opportunity to see Santa. Tickets cost $25, and there’s also an “Enchanted Elf” 3D glasses option for $5 more (not including fees).
Holidays at Legoland
Dec. 6, 13, 20, and Dec. 24-31. 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven. legoland.com
Legoland is celebrating the holiday season and all attendees can join the fun with dance parties, writing letters to the North Pole, competing in Santa’s toy-building competition and checking out the park’s Christmas tree, made of over 300,000 LEGOs.
Snow Place Like Tarpon Springs
Dec. 12 from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Downtown Tarpon Springs. ctsfl.us
Tarpon Springs is hosting a Christmas celebration with an illuminated boat parade at 8:00pm, a tree lighting at 6 p.m. and festivities for the whole family, like falling snow, a snow slide, an outdoor movie and more.
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This article appears in Nov. 27 – Dec. 03, 2025.
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