The 20 best ways to see Christmas lights in Tampa Bay this holiday season

Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa
Nov. 20 – Jan. 3
Head to Curtis Hixon to experience the only outdoor ice skating rink in Tampa and take in the views of Downtown Tampa and the Hillsborough River. The area will be covered with Christmas lights and other festive decor. Ice skating tickets cost $15 a person and online registration is required.

Photo via Visit Tampa Bay/Twitter

Busch Gardens Christmas Town

10165 N McKinley Dr. Tampa
Nov. 20 – Jan. 3
Included with daily admission, Fun cards and annual passes, Busch Gardens Christmas Town features the Sing-Along Train, visits from Santa and his reindeers, ice-skating performances, contemporary Christian gospel concerts and a whole lot more for the family to enjoy. This year festivities have been adapted to be open-air for safety. Tickets start at $63.99 for single day admission and advance registration is required.

Photo via Busch Gardens Tampa Bay/Facebook

River of Lights Holiday Cruises

333 S Franklin St, Tampa
Select dates in November and December, check website for details
Captain Jack II will be operating at 50% capacity for this year’s water taxi tour of Holiday lights. Take in the sights of Downtown Tampa’s seasonal decorations and lights and get a visit from a jolly pirate elf. There will of course be sing-a-longs, snow flurries and letters to write to Santa. Tickets start at $25 for adults and $20 for children.

Photo via Pirate Water Taxi/Facebook

St. Pete Holiday Events

Locations vary, visit website for more details
Dates vary, visit website for more details
The City of St. Petersburg is hosting a whole slew of winter events this year. Visit Santa at North Straub Park, watch a free drive-in holiday movie at Crescent Lake Park and take a stroll along the waterfront for festive light displays and decorations. Be sure to swing by Vinoy Park to see the giant greeting card made by volunteers at local recreation centers.

Photo via St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation

Sylvan Ramble Lights

4412 W Sylvan Ramble St, Tampa
Every Friday and Saturday in December
Visit the computerized light show in South Tampa to see over 200,000 individually controllable channels of lights, fountains, smoke effects and moving props. Sylvan Ramble Lights chooses a cause to support each year, this time supporting local charity Clothes To Kids.

Photo via Screengrab via Sylvan Lights/Facebook

Oakdale Christmas House

2719 Oakdale St. S, St. Petersburg
Nov. 27 – Jan. 3
Dubbed “one of the top displays in the nation,” by ESPN, the Oakdale Christmas House is an enormous display taking up half an acre and featuring hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights, a 70-foot tall Christmas tree and a manger scene with over 150 pieces. The display is free to the public.

Photo via christmasdisplay.org

Pirate Christmas

615 Channelside Dr., Tampa
Select dates in November and December, check website for details
Set sail aboard the Lost Pearl from Sparkman Wharf for a festive ride. A Pirate’s Christmas cruise will pass Holiday Island where participants will get a look at Tampa’s largest floating Christmas tree. The ride will feature sing-a-longs, letters to Santa, games, facepainting and a cash bar. Tickets cost $25 plus a $2 marine fee for adults and $20 plus a $2 marine fee for kids ages two through 12.

Photo via Pirate Ship Tampa/Facebook

The Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village

15 Sydney Washer Rd., Dover
Nov. 26 – Dec. 27
The Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village is celebrating five years as with a COVID-19 safe way to celebrate the holiday. Visitors will drive through over a mile of lights and holiday displays all from the safety of your own car. You can also stop by Santa’s Village every weekend and indulge in fair-type foods, entertainment and even meet Santa.

Photo via Wonderland of Lights/Facebook

Holiday Spectacular along the Riverwalk

Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa
Nov. 26 – Jan. 2
Tampa Riverwalk displays will include a 35-foot tall LED lighted Christmas tree that floats in the water, and other lighted displays floating on barges in the river. Establishments like restaurants and hotels along the water are joining in on the fun and will have their own lighted displays.

Photo via City of Tampa

Holiday Lights in Largo Central Park

101 Central Park Dr., Largo
Nov. 26 – Jan. 3
Festivities at Largo Central Park include a walking light display with over a million LED lights, local food vendors and a ferris wheel. The event is completely free and a ride on the ferris wheel costs $5. The park asks visitors to practice social distancing while walking throughout the park.

Photo via City of Largo/Facebook

The Concourse Celebration of Lights

111919 Alric Pottberg Rd., Shady Hills
Dates vary, Check website for details
For just $20 a car, the whole family can take a drive through The Concourse property. It will be decorated with lights and will feature a drive-thru wave to Santa and a ride on the miniature Holiday Train, which runs on Fridays and Saturdays during the event.

Photo via The Concourse/Facebook

The Lights of Lake Park Estates

Lake Park Dr., Seminole
Nov. 16 – Jan. 6
Benefiting Suncoast Hospice and Empath Health, this 27-years-running display finds homes in Lake Park Estates, Wieker, Lakeside Estates, and Lake Seminole Village, generously decorated and combined for over 3.0 miles of lights. Donations are accepted at the Suncoast Hospice Cart located along the route.

Photo via The Lights of Lake Park Estates/Facebook

Tampa’s Chick-Fil-A Lights

6299 W. Waters Ave., Tampa
Beginning Nov. 23
The annual light display at the Chick-Fil-A on Waters is basically an institution in itself. This year things are scaled back a bit, but those going through the drive-thru can still expect to see lights as well as an unnamed surprise. A QR code will also be present with a special message from Santa. And there’s still Chick-n-Minis, so… you know.
Photo via chick-fil-a.com

Wesley Chapel Holiday Tree and Light Display

5268 Village Market Dr, Wesley Chapel
Dec. 4 – Jan. 3
With a display of over 1,000,000 lights, Wesley Chapel’s Tree and Light Display will feature carnival rides, live music, and an opportunity for kids to meet Santa. At over 20 acres, there will be plenty of room for social distancing. There’s a plethora of options for ticket prices as well, so check out their website for more info.
Photo via Wesley Chapel Holiday Tree and Light Display/Facebook

The Christmas Trail

2837 S Frontage Rd, Plant City
Dec. 11 – Dec. 23
This holiday trail in Plant City is offering a bevvy of festive activities, including a Christmas Tree Light Show, a Jack Frost Ice Show, and a 'Naughty or Nice' - Christmas Escape Game. An assortment of concessions, like marshmallows and hot chocolate, will be offered along the walking trail. Tickets are going for $15.

Photo via The Christmas Trail/Facebook

Treasure Island's Lighted Boat Parade

400 Treasure Island Causeway, Treasure Island
Dec. 5
A perfect event for those looking to get on the water, Treasure Island’s Lighted Boat Parade is the biggest of its kind in Tampa Bay. Boats will start from The Club at Treasure Island and eventually make their way to John’s Pass.

Photo via Visit St. Pete Clearwater/YouTube

Raprager Farms Festival of Lights

16907 Boy Scout Rd., Odessa
Select dates from Dec. 3 – 30
This family farm in Odessa is putting on its own Festival of Lights, with tickets coming in at $15 for adults and $10 for kids. The festival will be open from Thursday to Sunday during the dates listed above. Explore the rest of the farm while you’re there – hop on a hayride wagon, meet farm animals, and get lost in a massive corn pit.

Photo via Adobe

Safety Harbor’s Harbor Holiday Nights

1562 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, Safety Harbor
Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19
Come through to Folly Farms one of six available days this December. Enjoy lights, holiday activities, a campfire, and more! The nights are free for all ages, but you must register beforehand, as only 50 people will be allowed in the park at a time.

Photo via Adobe

Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa
Dec. 19
Visit the Riverwalk for a festive boat parade starting at 6:30 at the Convention Center. Boat registration costs $50 and trophies will be awarded to first, second and third best decorations in two categories. Viewing is completely free.

Photo via City of Tampa

Hyde Park Village Square

1602 W. Snow Ave, Tampa
N/A
Hyde Park is six city blocks of beloved local shops, restaurants, and indie brands, and this year you should be on the lookout for their holiday festivities. Decorations have already gone up, and announcements will be coming soon on what to expect.

Photo via Hyde Park Village/Facebook