The 25 best ways to see Christmas lights in Tampa Bay this holiday season
By CL Staff
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.
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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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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