Christmas palm trees, fake snow, boat parades and a whole lot of twinkly lights. If you’re looking to gaze upon as many strung up lights as possible this year, Tampa Bay has plenty of options.

Pirate Water Taxi River of Lights   Boarding and Departure at Tampa Convention Center Nov. 26-Dec. 30 The Pirate Taxi will be taking people on a boat tour of River of Lights for $20 a pop for the kids and $25 tickets for adults. Kids get to write a letter to Santa and send it through a “mail buoy” to the North Pole. Christmas Carols will be sung, and there’s a pretty nice view of downtown Tampa.
Enchant Christmas @ Tropicana Field 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg Nov. 26-Jan. 2 Since you didn’t get enough of Tropicana Field during the Rays’ postseason, visit there for Enchant Christmas. Enchant will have a maze and a market, with Christmas lights galore. Enchant has several options for ticket packages, but the base price is $25 for both adults and kids. Children 2 and under are free.
Festival of Lights and Santa’s Village Hillsborough County Fairgrounds Nov. 25-Dec. 28 Located at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover, Wonderland of Lights and Santa’s Village has a drive-thru lights show with a village at the end featuring circus attractions, craft stations, camel rides, and the obligatory photo with Santa. Cost is $25 per car (1-8 people).
Christmas Town @ Busch Gardens 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa Daily through Jan. 2 Bring the kids, as Busch Gardens features Christmas Town, which has a Sing-Along Train, millions of lights, and visits from the classic Christmas characters, Santa and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. You do have to pay for a park ticket to get in though (a Fun Card costs $84.99 and gets you in through 2022) plus any money you want to spend for food and drinks.
Winter Beach @ St. Pete Pier 800 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg Nov. 20-Jan. 17 Celebrate the holidays at the inaugural Winter Beach at St. Pete Pier. There’s a holiday market, snow days, an arcade, movie nights, and ice skating (at $17 per person) on real ice. Check out themed nights like 90s, Santa Hat Skate, and Pride Night. And, of course, Santa will be there.
Florida Botanical Garden 12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo Nov. 26 – Jan. 2 This annual “Holiday Lights in the Garden” event has over 1 million lights on display from 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. every night. A donation of $10 for anyone over 10 is suggested.
Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park Downtown Tampa Through Jan. 2 Ice skating and a lights display are the main attractions at Curtis Hixon Park’s yearly event. Skating costs $17, plus whatever treats you want to buy yourself from the pop-up market.
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
Sylvan Ramble Lights 4412 W Sylvan Ramble St., Tampa Ongoing The Sylvan Ramble House has become somewhat of a local institution when it comes to holiday lights. The house features thousands of lights and displays timed to music. The shows are every 20 minutes and can be viewed for free from your car!
Celebration of Lights at Safety Town 15325 Alric Pottberg Rd., Spring Hill Friday and Saturday nights, Dec. 6-21 Celebration of Lights takes place in Spring Hill’s Safety Town every Friday and Saturday night. Tickets are $10 per car, as you will be able to drive through a show of bright Christmas decorations plus music you can play on your car stereo. Bring your own camera for Santa photos ops at the end.
Lights of Lake Park Estates Lake Park Estates, Largo Dec. 1-31 With over 3 miles of Christmas decorations and lights for the public, The Lights of Lake Park Estates has been going on since 1993. The event is free, but donations will be accepted at the Suncoast Hospice Cart; 100% of the donations will go to Suncoast Hospice, and the event has raised over $1 million since the event started.
Holiday Lighted Boat Parade @ Tampa Riverwalk Downtown Tampa Saturday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m. Billed as Tampa’s largest boat parade, it starts at the Convention Center, travels up to Armature Works then back to Sparkman Wharf. The event is free to watch, but parking will probably cost you.
Snow @ Sundial 153 2nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg Nov. 29-Dec. 31 Fake snow falls every 30 minutes from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at the downtown St. Pete mall (or shopping plaza, whatever you want to call it). There’s a photo opportunity with Santa, holiday performances, and thousands of twinkling lights. Plus, it’s free to the public.
Treasure Island Holiday Lighted Boat Parade and Celebration Treasure Bay Recreation Facility, 10315 Paradise Blvd., Treasure Island Dec. 4, 5 p.m. The boat parade watch site at Treasure Bay Recreation Facility starts with a holiday celebration that includes a DJ, a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus, interactive entertainers, and concessions for purchase. Decorated boats launch at 6:20 p.m.
Tarpon Springs Christmas Parade Starts at Manatee Plaza and ends at Spring Bayou, Tarpon Springs Dec. 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tarpon Springs hosts a Christmas Parade that will travel through the downtown area, with an annual candy cane hunt also taking place at Craig Park following the parade. Kids up to 12 years old can participate in the hunt. Word is Santa will be making an appearance around 11:30 a.m. Daytime lights, for people who don’t like night!
Clearwater Holiday Lighted Boat Parade Clearwater Dec. 11, 6 p.m. This free and family-friendly event will begin at the Mandalay Channel, with the boats traveling under the Memorial Causeway Bridge turning into the Clearwater Marina Channel, then proceed south through the navigable canals to Clearwater Point. The festively decorated boats will pass Coachman Park around 8:30 p.m.
Oakdale Christmas Light Display 2719 Oakdale Street South, St. Petersburg Nov. 26 – Jan. 3 Half-an-acre in size and about a quarter of a million lights, this walking yard tour includes a small pond, several waterfalls and fountains. An 18-train HO scale railroad, with moving planes and carnival rides. Many animated & lit up figures and inflatables, a house covered with lights and window cabinet displays also live here alongside bubble machines for the kids. This home is among the top three finalists on NBC’s “Today Show,” featured on HGTV’s “All Out Christmas” special and appeared in People Magazine. Plus it’s free.
Redington Beach and Indian Shores Holiday Boat Parade Redington Beach starting at County Boat Park Sunday, Dec. 19, 6 p.m. The Redington Beach and Indian Shores Holiday Boat Parade is free, with two public viewing locations, including the Indian Shores Town Hall and the County Boat Park.
Wonderland of Lights and Santa’s Village 1052 U.S. Hwy-92, Auburndale Nov. 25 – Jan. 2 A mile-long light display leads into a Christmas village with Santa’s Village that has rides, crafts, food, and pictures with Old St. Nick. Don’t worry, the hour drive from Tampa will be worth it. Tickets are by the carload starting at $25 for a vehicle with up to eight people.
Boca Ciega Christmas Lighted Boat Parade Boca Ciega Yacht Club, 4600 Tifton Dr S., Gulfport Saturday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m. Hosted by Boca Ciega Yacht Club, this lighted parade starts at 6 p.m. and goes in and out of the Gulfport community canals. The parade is free to watch but the fee to participate is two or more unwrapped Christmas presents or a check written out to “Operation Santa,” Gulfport’s annual toy drive.
Largo Central Park 101 Central Park Dr., Largo Nov. 25-Jan. 2 Holiday display with two million dazzling LED lights, plus a carousel and seven-story ferris wheel to get an up-high view of the 70-acre park. Entrance is free, rides are $5.
Symphony of Lights @ Wiregrass Mall 28211 Paseo Dr., Wesley Chapel Every night through Dec. 31 Check out giant (fake) trees, fake snow, and a crap-ton of lights at Wiregrass mall. They start the light shows (choreographed to the music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra) at 6 p.m. and run it until 9 p.m. every night. It’s free admission, too, so you won’t have to break the bank.
Hillsborough River Holiday Boat Parade Lowry Park boat ramp upriver to Sulphur Springs Sunday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m. Hosted by Sierra Club and Friends of the River, this free event has decked out boats parading with a free Community Holiday Party at Sulphur Springs pool park during and after.
Old Fashion Christmas and Holiday Parade Downtown Dunedin Saturday, Dec. 11, 4 p.m. This Old Fashioned Christmas & Holiday Parade will take place on Douglas Avenue with a festival on Main Street following. The parade will kick things off, then it’s time for horse-drawn carriage rides, train rides, a snow slide, kids crafts, old fashioned games, s’mores, live music featuring “Late Night Brass” entertainment, and snow flurries. The event is free, but donations are accepted.