It’s not really Christmas unless you hack down a tree with a small ax, right? So for all you Tampa Bay lumberjacks out there, these area tree farms and other unique holiday experiences will help bring in the holiday for you and your family. But you better head out soon, or you may be stuck with the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
Lazy Acres Christmas Tree Farm
November 29 – December 24
14920 Swift Rd, Dade City, FL
Lazy Acres Christmas Tree Farm is another family owned and operated business that has provided Christmas trees and other holiday decor for over 30 years. Lazy Acres allows for guests to come and take down their own trees while also given the chance to mingle with some farm animals, take pictures and eat some boiled peanuts. Lazy Acres also offers wreaths, tree stands and firewood.
Photo via Adobe ImagesSanta’s Christmas Tree Forest
November 23 – December 22
35317 Huff Road Eustis, FL
Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest is exactly what it sounds like, a forest full of christmas trees that are ready to be chopped down. Started back in 1989, Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest is big on family tradition and trying to bring families together during the holiday season. Given the option to cut your own tree or simply take one off the lot, this tree farm allows for guests to bring their own saw and invite the entire family, they also offer wreaths, tree care information, and live potted trees.
Photo via Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest/FacebookTampa Bay Farmers Market
All Christmas Season
1718 W. Fletcher Ave. Tampa, FL
Although the Tampa Bay Farmers Market usually offers fresh veggies and fruits, they also have a selection of Christmas trees as well. Open now till the end of the christmas season this farmers market features green table tops, floral grade poinsettias, Christmas decor, garlands and much more.
Photo via Adobe ImagesEnchant Christmas
November 22 – December 29
Tropicana Field St. Petersburg, FL
The world’s largest Christmas maze is coming to St. Pete and it’s bringing a whole lot with it. Enchanting features include a variety of activities for the family to enjoy, from the light maze to the Christmas market. Vendors, sweets and an ice skating trail to top it all off. Tickets start at $14.99.
Photo via enchantchristmas.comSanta and Ice Skating at North Straub Park in St. Pete
All Christmas Season
400 Bayshore Dr. NE., St. Petersburg, FL
Every year North Straub Park hosts a Christmas event that allows guests to chill with Santa at the park and also get the opportunity to go ice skating on a simulated ice rink, they’re also allowing guests to bring their own cameras and snap pics. For $5 you get 30 minutes of ice skating, skates are included and make sure to bring socks or you’ll have to pay an extra $1 for a pair. The ice skating will end at 9 p.m. so try and get the most out of the fat man before then.
Photo via Adobe ImagesWinter Village at Curtis Hixon Park
November 22 – January 5
600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL
Curtis Hixon Park in Downtown Tampa transforms into a winter wonderland with ice skating, winter-themed shops, and a holiday-themed cafe. The Winter Express — an hour-long excursion filled with family fun and holiday trivia — will also make its way from Downtown’s Whiting Station to Ybor and back on the TECO Line Streetcar track. If you’re not savvy enough to actually ice skate, drinking hot cocoa riverside watching all the winter-esque fun is certainly festive enough.
Photo via City of Tampa/FacebookErgle Christmas Tree Farm
All Christmas Season
3325 Treiman Blvd., Dade City, FL
Open from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. every day, Ergle Christmas Tree Farm is a locally owned business that believes in family traditions. With over 200,000 fresh trees, Ergle Tree Farm allows guests to chop down their own tree for the holiday season, while charging $6.00 a foot up to 9 feet and $7.00 a foot for trees above 9 feet. The farm also sells wreaths and has polar express train rides on weekends.
Photo via Adobe ImagesGallagher’s Christmas Trees
All Christmas Season
7401 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL
Locally owned and family operated since 1989, Gallagher’s Pumpkins & Christmas Trees is a popular Thanksgiving and Christmas hub for the holiday essentials. This year Gallagher’s offers a variety of holiday decor, ranging from trees, pumpkins, wreathes, as well as activities such as photo opps,, kids games and snow cones.
Photo viaDave’s Christmas Tree Lot
All Christmas Season
6438 106 E Lumsden Rd, Brandon, FL
This Christmas, if you’re looking to grab an authentic Christmas tree then Dave’s Christmas Tree Lot is a good place to start. Dave’s offers a variety of trees such as Grand Fir, Oregon-grown Noble Fir, Fraser Fir, Douglas Firs, Black Spruce, Blue Spruce and Scotch Pines, all cut from the North Carolina mountains. Alongside the trees, Dave’s Christmas Tree Lot also offers flocking flair, wreaths, garlands and year-round firewood.
Photo via daveschristmastreelot.comThe Wonderland of Lights and Santa’s Village
November 28 – January 5
215 Sydney Washer Rd. Dover, FL
This holiday event brings two major attractions with it. The Wonderland of Lights and Santa’s Village both come included with general admission, which starts at $25 per vehicle, just keep in mind that the vehicle must not surpass the legal seating limit. Other than that there are plenty of things to enjoy at this event, such as circus, comedy and magic show that goes down each night, as well as wagon rides, camel rides, trains, lights and much more.
Photo via Wonderland of Lights/FacebookZooTampa Christmas in the Wild
November 29 – December 23
1101 W. Sligh Ave. Tampa, FL
With over 12,000 lights, 2,000 ornaments, and an eight-ft star all atop a 50-foot Christmas tree, is just one of the many attractions at Zoo Tampa Christmas in the Wild. This winter wonderland — which begins at 4 p.m. every night and general admission tickets starting at $26.95 — also features animal attractions such as mingling with furry creatures and tasting delectable treats.
Photo via Zootampa at Lowry Park/FacebookGreat Lakes Christmas Tree Farms
All Christmas Season
5107 N. 22nd St. Tampa, FL
Serving the Tampa Bay area for over 30 years, Great Lakes Christmas Tree Farms provides hundreds of varying Christmas trees such as Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, Black Hill Spruce and many more. Tree’s start at around $350 for their extra large specialty trees and their cheapest at $22. Great Lakes also offers wreaths, decorated mini christmas trees, decorated holly plants and Poinsettias as well.
Photo via Adobe ImagesHyde Park Village
December 1 – 24
1509 Swann Ave, Tampa, FL
For most of December, Santa is also at visiting Hyde Park Village and bringing a couple activities with him for the kids. From 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Hyde Park offers guests the chance to not only paint with Santa but to also read a couple stories with him, as well as create plates and ornaments. Admission starts at $35 a person.
Photo via Adobe ImagesLegoland Christmas Bricktacular
November 29 – December 31
1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, FL
Included with general admission, Legoland has now opened their Christmas Bricktacular, which involves a multitude of shows, activities and Lego’s. One of the events largest attractions is their 30-ft LEGO Christmas tree equipped with lights and ornaments. The Christmas Bricktacular also features building stations where you can create your own holiday decors, as well as interactive shows for the family.
Photo via LEGOLAND Florida/FacebookBlue Acres Christmas Tree Farm
November 29 – December 23
20638 Moreland dr. Spring Hill, FL
A bit of a drive is putting it lightly but if you’re in the mood for a road trip and some Christmas decor then Blue Acres Christmas Tree Farm could be the way to go. This family owned tree lot specializes in Florida native Carolina Sapphires and Southern Red Cedars and also includes, rustic wood centerpieces, handmade wreaths, centerpieces and potted trees. The Christmas trees start out at $45 and work their way up from there.
Photo via blueacreschristmastreefarm.comChristmas Lane at Florida Strawberry Festival
November 29 – December 24
2508 West Oak Ave; Plant City, FL
Over 1.5 millions lights, 200 Christmas trees, elves, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and bunch of snow, Christmas Lane at Florida Strawberry Festival is a solid way to enjoy the holidays. There will also be live entertainment, face painting, tons of rides and most importantly, free parking. Admission starts at only $3 and tops off at $5.
Photo via christmaslane.comNorthstar Wisconsin Christmas Trees
All Christmas Season
2905 Gulf To Bay Blvd. Clearwater, FL
Along with fresh-cut trees up to 15 feet tall, tabletop trees, fresh handmade wreaths, swags, garlands and Christmas tree stands, Northstar Wisconsin Christmas Trees also offers Christmas tree delivery and set-up. This tree lot is open seven days a week and closes at 9 p.m. every night.
Photo via northstarwisconsinchristmastrees.comWinter Wonderland Clearwater
December 2 – 22
200 N Fort Harrison Ave. Clearwater, FL
Since 1993, Clearwater community volunteers have put together a Winter Wonderland that has become pretty popular. Admission is free except for some rides and refreshments, other than that guests can enjoy activities such as, a hot chocolate shop, a petting zoo, a Bouncy House, a Giant Slide and the Holiday Express Train.
Photo via Winter Wonderland Clearwater/FacebookBusch Gardens Christmas Town
November 16 – January 6
10165 N McKinley Dr. Tampa, FL
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. Tickets start at $84.99 for single day admission.
Photo via Busch Gardens/FacebookSaturdays with Santa at Florida Aquarium
November 25 – December 23
701 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL
Going down every Saturday during December, Santa at Florida Aquarium is a fun way to enjoy the creatures of the sea along with the creatures of the North. Santa and his elves will be putting on quite a show as they dive in the Aquarium’s Coral Reef habitat and swim with some of the animals there, but do keep in mind that pictures with Santa do not come included with general admission.
Photo via Adobe ImagesSanta’s Flight Academy International Plaza
November 7 – December 24
2223 N. Westshore Blvd. Tampa FL
Santa’s Flight Academy at International Plaza is a solid event to bring your kiddos if they are even slightly interested in flying. This event includes photo ops with Santa, virtual flight gear, cadet badges, and much more. If you want to save the memories and get print outs of the photos, it’ll cost you, starting at $34.99.
Photo via International Plaza and Bat Street/FacebookKandy Kane Christmas Treeland
All Christmas Season
10001 NE 27th Terrace, Anthony, FL
Cutting down the tree is only the first part of the mission, what about the rest? Kandy Kane Christmas Treeland has that covered, they provide not only the trees but the saws, hole drilling for tree stands, shaking to remove all dead needles, as well as tree wraps for the journey back home. Treeland also offers a variety of holiday decor, ranging from wreaths to Poinsettias and much more.
Photo via Kandy Kane Christmas/FacebookMike’s Christmas Trees
All Christmas Season
11349 Bloomingdale Ave., Riverview, FL
Mike’s Christmas Trees are directly from the hills of Michigan. Along with the trees, Mike’s also provides free candy canes and coloring books for the kids and they also shake, bale and load every tree they sell. Mike’s offers wreaths, centerpieces and decor all for reasonable prices.
Photo via Mike’s Christmas Tree’s/FacebookSanta at Westshore Plaza
December 4 – 10
250 WestShore Plaza, Tampa, FL
For about a week, Westshore Mall is having the big fat man come through and spread some holiday spirit. Pulling up at 11 a.m. and leaving at 8 p.m. Santa will be in the mall handing out hugs and joy, and no, he’s not charging for visits (but it does cost money to take a picture home).
Photo via Adobe Images
