A smiling Santa Claus waves from a parade float, dressed in a red suit with gold trim and white gloves. He stands behind a railing draped with purple, green, and gold beads, with pine trees and a modern blue glass building visible in the background against a clear sky.
SantaFest 2024. Credit: Kim DeFalco / Creative Loafing

Santas galore will march and ride through Tampa before a Christmas tree lighting at Curtis Hixon Park, officially starting the holiday season in downtown. The celebration also includes crafts, reindeer games, food and free photos with Santa.

Mayor Jane Castor leads the countdown to light all seven trees before a screening of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (2024). Bring blankets, low-back chairs and well-behaved dogs on leashes.

The parade starts at 1 p.m., beginning at Morgan and Madison Streets. It travels west on Madison to Ashley Drive, turns north and ends at Ashley and Cass Street. Best viewing is along Madison, per the city.

The tree lighting happens at 6 p.m. in Curtis Hixon Park.

There is no cover for Santa Fest & Tree Lighting, happening Saturday, Dec. 6 in Tampa.

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This article appears in Nov. 27 – Dec. 03, 2025.

Selene San Felice is managing editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Prior to joining CL in 2025, she started the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter and worked for her hometown paper, The Capital in Annapolis,...