Christmas this year may look different, but Tampa Bay is still packed with plenty of yuletide cheer. Here are a few can’t-miss holiday events, including light shows, Christmas markets, bar pop-ups and movie showings that everyone should check out this year.

Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Through Jan. 3 600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa Curtis Hixon’s Winter Village is back again this year. Head downtown for ice skating, festive lights along the Tampa Riverwalk and winter treats from local spots like Kahwa Coffee. All ice skating tickets must be purchased online in advance, they’re $15 for all ages and include skates. Photo via Winter Village at Curtis Hixon/Facebook
River of Lights Holiday Cruises Selected Dates in December Tampa Riverwalk This water taxi tour through downtown Tampa will include a visit by a jolly pirate elf, Christmas song sing-a-longs, and a chance to see snow flurries in Florida . The voyage will be carried out on the Captain Jack II, which will operate at 50% capacity. Kids will also have the opportunity to write a letter to Santa and drop it off in Tampa’s only floating mailbox. Photo via Pirate Water Taxi/Facebook
St. Pete Holiday Events Through Jan. 3 Event locations vary St. Pete is offering a plethora of holiday options for you and your family this year, including drive-in movies, light shows and displays, and opportunities to meet Santa Claus. Visit St. Pete’s website to which of their many events are right for you. Photo via St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation/Facebook
A Pirate’s Christmas Through Jan. 3 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, Setting sail from Sparkman Wharf, Lost Pearl’s A Pirate’s Christmas is a 45-minute family-friendly cruise that will bring sailors by Holiday Island to get a look at Tampa’s largest floating Christmas tree. Christmas carols, swashbuckling games, temporary tattoos, and face painting will only add to the fun, and cruise times begin on the hour, every hour from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Photo via Pirate Ship Tampa/Facebook
Holiday Spectacular Through Jan. 2 Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Spectacular features a massive 35 inch tall LED lighted Christmas tree that floats in the harbor, several other lighted displays floating on barges in the river and the lighted garland and red bows on the Riverwalk light poles. The hotels, restaurants, and bars that line the Riverwalk will have their own light displays as well, leaving no shortage of options to look at. Photo via Visit Tampa Bay
Sylvan Ramble Lights Every Friday and Saturday in December 4412 W Sylvan Ramble St., Tampa Visit this computerized light show in South Tampa to see over 200,000 individually controllable channels of lights, fountains, smoke effects and moving props. The shows will last about 20 minutes and feature popular songs that will be sure to get you in the holiday mood. Sylvan Ramble Lights chooses a cause to support each year, this time supporting local charity Clothes To Kids. Photo via Screengrab via Sylvan Ramble Lights/Facebook
Oakdale Christmas House Through Jan. 3 2719 Oakdale St. S, St. Petersburg 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, and is entering its 42nd active year. Photo via christmasdisplay.org
Wesley Chapel Holiday Tree and Light Display Through Jan. 3 5268 Village Market Dr., Wesley Chapel 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, and children under 4 can get in for free. 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 Dec. 11-Dec. 23 2837 S Frontage Rd, Plant City 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. Masks are required, and tickets are going for $15. Photo via The Christmas Trail/Facebook
Santa & Ice Skating in North Straub Park Select Dates in December 400 Bayshore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg For an enjoyable family experience, visit Santa in the Park and go “glice” skating on a simulated ice rink in North Straub Park this holiday season. Ice skating sessions are 30 minutes for $5. Skates are included, and socks are required and available for $1. Photo via Family-Friendly Tampa Bay/Facebook
The Concourse Celebration of Lights Nov. 27-29, Dec. 4-6, 11-13, 18-20 11919 Alric Pottberg Rd., Shady Hills This year’s Celebration of Lights at The Concourse will be a drive-through affair for only $20 a carload. You can get your ticket at the Train Depot to board the Grand Concourse Railroad miniature Holiday Train, which will feature seasonal decorations and lights.Photo via The Concourse/Facebook
The Lights of Lake Park Estates Now-Jan. 6 Lake Park Dr., Seminole 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. To keep visitors safe, there will be no pedestrian traffic allowed. Photo via The Lights of Lake Park Estates/Facebook
The Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village Now-Dec. 27 15 Sydney Washer Rd., Dover 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
ZooTampa Christmas in the Wild Now-Dec. 30 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa Attractions at the annual ZooTampa event include Christmas tree light shows, a marketplace with European-style holiday treats, meetings with Santa and his reindeer and a holiday kaleidoscope light show. There’s also a European marketplace to explore, featuring delicious German food and unique merchandise. Reservations are required for this event and tickets start at $26.95 per person. Photo via ZooTampa/Facebook
Victorian Christmas Stroll Now-Dec. 31 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa Visit the former 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel (aka the Henry B. Plant Museum at University of Tampa) to experience the beauty and grandeur of a Victorian Christmas. Each exhibit room has its own unique display with beautiful trees, Victorian art and other holiday decor. Masks will be required and because of a limited capacity, tickets must be bought in advance. Photo via Henry B. Plant Museum/Facebook
Busch Gardens Christmas Town 10165 N McKinley Dr. Tampa Through 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. There will even be festive cocktails for purchase around the park, including hot cocoa you can make a little more jolly with the addition of Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlúa or Peppermint Schnapps. 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
City of Clearwater outdoor movies Dec. 5, 12 & 19 301 Pierce St., Clearwater The City of Clearwater outdoor holiday movies are completely free as a part of the 2020 Holiday Extravaganza with the city of Clearwater’s Community Redevelopment Agency. Movies include “Abominable,” “Lion King” and “The Santa Clause.” On-site parking is available and concessions will be for sale. Due to COVID-19, attendees must register in advance for the event as well as practice social distancing. Photo via City of Clearwater/Facebook
Holiday Movie Nights at Wiregrass Through Dec. 10 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel Bring the family and a chair to spend the evening watching a holiday movie beneath the stars. The movies play every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. and include “The Grinch,” “Home Alone” and more Christmas classics. The mall asks attendees to maintain a social distance of 6 feet, wear a face covering and wash hands or use hand sanitizer often at the free event. Photo via The Shops at Wiregrass/Instagram
12 Days of Christmas on Clearwater Beach Dec. 12-Dec. 24 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach With a variety of activities happening each night during this celebration, everyone is sure to find something that appeals to them. Events include carolling, taking holiday photos with Santa, a parade on the beach and a Christmas Tree Lighting at Pier 60. Be sure to check the Facebook event page for the details on each evening’s festivities. Photo via Clearwater Beach 12 Days of Christmas/Facebook
Santa-themed pop-up bar at Sonder Social Club Through Dec. 26 966 Douglas Ave. Unit 101, Dunedin For the duration of the event, Sonder Social Club in Dunedin will be covered in holiday decorations sure to get you in the mood. With the addition of fun drinks like the Milk + Cookies cocktail made up of oat milk, Sonder Milk (milk infused with Golden Grahams), mellow corn whiskey, marzipan, chocolate, banana, pimento dram served in a homemade-to-order gooey chocolate chip cookie, it’ll be sure to get even the most reluctant visitor into the Christmas “spirit.” There will also be events like Christmas movie trivia and drunken gingerbread house building. Photo via Sonder Social Club/Facebook
Miracle at Mezzo Through December 1111 Central Ave. St. Petersburg Everyone’s favorite Christmas-themes pop-up Miracle at Mezzo is returning to St. Pete. Through December visit the coffee and cocktail bar for kitchy cocktails like Fruitcake Flip, Bad Santa and SanTa Rex and the annual ugly Christmas sweater contest. For safety, the bar will have a capped capacity, distanced tables and seating, a contactless payment system, QR code menus, one-time use menus, mask requirements for both staff and guests and sanitizer stations. Photo via Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails/Facebook
Santa Claus Visits The Florida Aquarium Dec. 5, 12 & 19 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa In Florida, we celebrate Christmas seaside. Visit The Florida Aquarium to take safe, socially-distanced photos with Santa Clause this season. Professional pictures will be available for purchase. Tickets to The Florida Aquarium start at about $25. Photo via The Florida Aquarium/Facebook
Snowcat Ridge Now through March 31 27839 Saint Joe Rd., Dade City Hit the slopes in Dade City as Snowcat Ridge. Attractions include Snowy Slopes, a 60-foot tall, 400-foot long snow tubing hill, a snow play area for the little ones, and Alpine Village where you can find drinks, beer, wine and shops. You can even roast s’mores around a campfire. For safety, guests must practice social distancing and wear a mask whenever six-feet of distance is not possible. Tickets start at $24.95 online and are $5 more when you buy in person. Photo via Snowcat Ridge/Facebook
Drive-in Christmas movies at Armature Works Through Dec. 30 1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa Rooftop Cinema Club will be playing Holiday movies at Armature Works through December. Movies include classics like Elf and The Grinch. Movie snacking essentials like popcorn, candy, and soda will be available at showings via contactless order and pickup.It’s for a good cause, too! $5 “community screenings” will be hosted on Sundays, where 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Feeding Tampa Bay. Photo via Rooftop Cinema Club/Facebook
Check out a boat parade Through December Are you a real Floridian if you don’t go to at least one Holiday boat parade? Check out the Tampa Riverwalk’s parade on Dec. 19, the Illuminated Boat Parade in Tarpon Springs on Dec. 4, or the Cotee River Christmas Boat Parade in New Port Richey on Dec. 5. Visit the link above for more parades in Florida. Photo via Tampa Riverwalk/Facebook