One of the best parts about living in paradise is basking in the beachfront sun during the holidays, while the rest of the country is shoveling snow instead of sand. TradeWinds Resort, one of St. Pete Beach’s biggest stars, is hosting an incredible lineup of holiday events to make the season merry and bright on the beach this year.
From Santa-themed events and movie nights, to bar crawls and a destination-worthy New Year’s Eve party, it’s a one-stop celebration on the sand. Plus, with new restaurants making their debut throughout the properties, we’ve never had more reasons to visit TradeWinds Resorts.
Here’s this year’s holiday event roundup at TradeWinds Resort:
Saturday, December 20, 8AM-12PM
Snap a holiday photo with Santa and have a chat with Mrs. Claus! Reserve a breakfast table at the all-new Pete’s Gulf Bistro. Mrs. Claus and her cheerful elf will stop by your table to share festive conversation and help you with your Christmas wish list. A breakfast purchase and a $10 donation to TradeWinds’ charitable fund gives you a special visit with Santa himself, along with a complimentary digital photo to capture the moment.
Thursday, December 25, 11AM-2PM
Start off your Christmas morning with a festive luxe brunch buffet at Island Grand. This buffet spread is expansive, featuring everything from herb-crusted prime rib and roast turkey to fresh seafood, made-to-order omelets, pasta and risotto stations, and several indulgent dessert options.
Seating is available at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm. Wine, beer, and cocktails will be available for purchase at the event. An unlimited beverage package can also be purchased during the check-out process.
Friday, December 26 6-10PM or Thursday, January 1 6-10PM
Toast golden hour with the Sunset Sips Bar Crawl. Guests will be taken across the TradeWinds property for specialty drinks and snacks at each stop. The crawl mixes cocktails with games, surprises, and plenty of opportunities to mingle while hopping between standout spots like Palm Bar, Salty’s Beach Lounge, Pete’s Gulf Bistro, and RumFish Sports Bar. Whether you’re looking to sip, laugh, or make new friends, this is the perfect way to toast the sunset in style!
December 1-28
From now until the 28th, Santa’s Pub transforms RumFish Sports Bar into a cozy hideaway serving up festive moonshine cocktails. Sip on a White Chocolate Strawberry Bandito or Ole Smoky shot when you swing by for these events at the pop-up:
Holiday Movie Nights, Wednesday, December 17 & 24 at 8PM
Ugly Sweater Contest, Tuesday, December 23 (Karaoke from 8-10PM)
Holiday Mixology Class, Saturday, December 20
Passport to 2026 NYE party
Wednesday, December 31st
Passport to 2026 takes place in the Ballroom and Grand Palm Colonnade at Island Grand and features international games, crafts, and activities from around the world. Enjoy festive snacks, music, and countdown celebrations in every time zone.
Guests can choose between two experience levels:
Party-only experience (10 PM–1 AM)
Perfect for late-night revelers, this option includes access to the full party experience with live music, interactive entertainment, unlimited beer and wine, festive snacks, and a midnight champagne toast. The evening is packed with high-energy performances, family-friendly activities, and a celebratory atmosphere leading into 2026.
Party & dinner experience (7PM–1 AM)
For a full evening of activities, the dinner-inclusive experience begins with a chef-curated buffet featuring seafood, sushi, carving stations, pasta, mezze, kid-friendly favorites, and a dessert table with a wide variety of sweets. After dinner, guests transition seamlessly into the Passport to 2026 party, enjoying all entertainment elements, unlimited beer and wine, and the midnight balloon drop and champagne toast.
Brunch, cocktails, movie nights, and a globe-trotting NYE party: TradeWinds has it all. Pack your calendar (and your appetite), because the holidays never looked this good on the beach. Learn more about TradeWinds Resorts and their stellar holiday lineup here.
