Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Tampa
69 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Tampa, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 29 are free.
Don’t miss
- Nov26ThuLight displays
Through Jan 1
Largo Central Park Holiday Lights
Largo Central Park
Free
- Nov28SatLight displays
Through Jan 1
Holiday Lights & Displays on the St. Pete Waterfront
Downtown Waterfront Parks (North Straub, South Straub, Pioneer Park, St. Pete Pier)
FreeAll ages
- Nov15SunMarkets and festivals
Through Dec 31
Gingerbread Village at Glazer Children's Museum
Glazer Children's Museum
With admission
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov15SunChristmas
Sun, Nov 15 · 7:00 PM
A Charlie Brown Christmas - Live on Stage! at Ruth Eckerd Hall
Ruth Eckerd Hall
Paid
- Nov20FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Nov 20 · 8:00 PM
A Magical Cirque Christmas at the Mahaffey Theater
Mahaffey Theater
PaidAll ages
- Nov21SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Nov 21 · 10:00 AM
Seminole Holiday Craft Fair
Seminole Recreation Center
Free
- Nov21SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Nov 21 · 1:00 PM
The Nutcracker Excerpts with Tampa City Ballet at Glazer Children's Museum
Glazer Children's Museum
With admission
- Nov23MonChristmas
Mon, Nov 23 · 8:30 AM
Holiday Kids Camp 2026 (zip line & paddle board day camp, ages 7-12) – Empower Adventures
Empower Adventures Tampa Bay
PaidAges 7–12
- Nov25WedLight displays
Wed, Nov 25 · 10:15 AM
Lights! Music! Dance! New Year's Eve Storytime
Land O'Lakes Branch Library
FreeUp to 5
- Nov27FriLight displays
Fri, Nov 27 · 5:30 PM
Holiday Lights in the Gardens 2026 (Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo)
Florida Botanical Gardens
With admissionAll ages
- Nov28SatSanta visits
Sat, Nov 28 · 10:30 AM
Santa Meet & Greet at Glazer Children's Museum
Glazer Children's Museum
With admission
- Nov28SatLight displays
Sat, Nov 28 · 12:00 PM
All Aglow Snowman - Family Friendly! 11x14!
Painting with a Twist - Tampa, FL - South Tampa
From $25
- Nov28SatSanta visits
Sat, Nov 28 · 6:30 PM
98th Annual Santa Parade & Tree Lighting (St. Petersburg)
North Straub Park (tree lighting); parade starts at Albert Whitted Park, downtown St. Petersburg
All ages
- Nov28SatSanta visits
Sat, Nov 28 · 6:30 PM
St. Pete 98th Annual Santa Parade & Tree Lighting
Downtown St. Petersburg waterfront: Albert Whitted Park to North Straub Park
FreeAll ages
- Nov29SunSanta visits
Sun, Nov 29 · 8:00 AM
Sensory-Friendly Santa Meet & Greet at Glazer Children's Museum
Glazer Children's Museum
- Nov29SunSanta visits
Sun, Nov 29 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa at Sunken Gardens
Sunken Gardens
From $65
- Nov29SunSanta visits
Sun, Nov 29 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa at Sunken Gardens
Sunken Gardens (Oak Pavilion)
From $65
- Nov29SunTree lightings
Sun, Nov 29 · 5:00 PM
Clearwater's Bright and Beautiful Tree Lighting
Coachman Park
FreeAll ages
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec1TueChristmas
Tue, Dec 1 · 4:00 PM
Holiday Makerspace for Families @ East Hernando Branch
East Hernando Branch Library
Free
- Dec4FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 3:30 PM
Nutcracker Story Time with Gulf Coast Ballet Theater
Palm Harbor Library
Free
- Dec4FriMarkets and festivals
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Winter Wonderland at R. E. Olds Park (Oldsmar)
R. E. Olds Park
- Dec4FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:30 PM
Holiday Movie in the Park: The Grinch (Brandon)
Brandon Park & Recreation Center
FreeAll ages
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM
Safety Harbor Tree Lighting at John Wilson Park
Gazebo at John Wilson Park
Free
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa – Dunedin Community Center
Dunedin Community Center
From $10
- Dec5SatParades
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Safety Harbor Holiday Parade on Main Street
Main Street, Safety Harbor
Free
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Santa's Merry Meet and Greet
East Lake Community Library
Free
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Tampa's Santa Fest Parade & Holiday Tree Lighting
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and downtown Tampa parade route (Madison St / Ashley Dr)
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM
Downtown Palm Harbor Christmas Tree Lighting at Harbor Hall
Harbor Hall, Downtown Palm Harbor
Free
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:30 PM
Holiday Movie in the Park: Christmas with the Kranks (Huggins-Stengel Field)
Huggins-Stengel Field
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:30 PM
Holiday Movies in the Park (St. Pete)
Huggins-Stengel Field (Dec 5) and Vinoy Park (Dec 12)
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 7:30 PM
Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert at Mahaffey Theater
Mahaffey Theater
Paid
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5
Tampa City Ballet: The Nutcracker 2026
New Tampa Performing Arts Center (Dec 11-13, 17-19); University of South Florida (Dec 5-6)
Paid
- Dec6SunLight displays
Sun, Dec 6 · 6:00 PM
Seminole Holiday Lights Parade
Seminole Recreation Center
Free
- Dec7MonChristmas
Mon, Dec 7 · 10:00 AM
Jingle Bell Ball for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers (East Lake Library)
East Lake Community Library
FreeUp to 5
- Dec9WedHanukkah
Wed, Dec 9 · 10:30 AM
Baby Café: Chanukah with Chabad of Pinellas
Palm Harbor Library
Free
- Dec9WedSanta visits
Wed, Dec 9 · 3:30 PM
Story Time with Santa & Mrs. Claus at Palm Harbor Library
Palm Harbor Library
Free
- Dec11FriSanta visits
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:00 PM
S'mores with Santa at Pinellas Pioneer Settlement
Pinellas Pioneer Settlement (at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve)
From $5
- Dec11FriSanta visits
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:00 PM
S'mores with Santa at Pioneer Settlement
Pinellas Pioneer Settlement
From $5
- Dec11FriMarkets and festivals
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:30 PM
Seminole Holiday Winterfest
Seminole Recreation Center
From $7
- Dec11FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 11 · 6:30 PM
Holiday Movie in the Park: Frozen (Northdale)
Northdale Park & Recreation Center
FreeAll ages
- Dec11FriSanta visits
Fri, Dec 11
Breakfast with Santa at Balm Park
Balm Park & Recreation Center
Free
- Dec11FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 11
The Nutcracker 2026 – Tampa City Ballet at New Tampa Performing Arts Center
New Tampa Performing Arts Center
PaidAll ages
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Santa in Space at MOSI
MOSI - Museum of Science & Industry
With admissionAll ages
- Dec12SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:30 AM
Gingerbread House Building Challenge
President Barack Obama Main Library
FreeAll ages
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 1:00 PM
Holiday Concert in the Park (Largo Community Center)
Largo Community Center Park
From $5
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM
Holiday Pops: Tampa Bay's Beloved Holiday Tradition (Florida Orchestra) at Mahaffey Theater
Mahaffey Theater
From $20
- Dec12SatParades
Sat, Dec 12 · 3:30 PM
Dunedin Holiday Parade & Old Fashioned Christmas
Downtown Dunedin (Main Street & Douglas Avenue)
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 4:00 PM
PJ's & Pizza with Santa (Ages 7 & Under)
Southwest Recreation Complex
Up to 7
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 6:00 PM
Meet Santa in the Park (North Straub Park)
North Straub Park
- Dec12SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 6:30 PM
Holiday Movie in the Park: The Nightmare Before Christmas (Vinoy Park)
Vinoy Park
FreeAll ages
- Dec13SunCrafts and cookies
Sun, Dec 13 · 1:30 PM
Clay Gingerbread Houses Workshop (W-YH608) – Dunedin Fine Art Center
Dunedin Fine Art Center
From $65
- Dec16WedSanta visits
Wed, Dec 16 · 4:00 PM
Robot Reindeer Games @ East Hernando Branch
East Hernando Branch Library
FreeAges 6–12
- Dec17ThuSanta visits
Thu, Dec 17 · 3:00 PM
Cookies & Milk with Santa at Palm Harbor Library
Palm Harbor Library
FreeAges 4–9
- Dec18FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 18 · 6:00 PM
Holiday Kids Night Out at The Centre of Palm Harbor
The Centre of Palm Harbor (Palm Harbor Parks & Recreation)
From $30Ages 6–12
- Dec18FriMarkets and festivals
Fri, Dec 18 · 7:00 PM
Cirque Musica: Holiday Wonderland at Ruth Eckerd Hall
Ruth Eckerd Hall
Paid
- Dec18FriSanta visits
Fri, Dec 18
Breakfast with Santa for Toddlers – Westchase Recreation Center
Westchase Park & Recreation Center
Paid
- Dec18FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 18
Next Generation Ballet's Nutcracker at the Straz Center
Straz Center for the Performing Arts – Morsani Hall
Paid
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec19SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 19 · 9:30 AM
Breakfast with Santa!
Zephyrhills City Hall (Council Chambers)
Free
- Dec22TueChristmas
Tue, Dec 22 · 5:00 PM
Yule Ball @ West Hernando Branch
West Hernando Branch Library
Free
- Dec22TueNutcracker and shows
Tue, Dec 22 · 7:00 PM
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at Ruth Eckerd Hall
Ruth Eckerd Hall
PaidAll ages
- Dec26SatLight displays
Sat, Dec 26 · 8:15 PM
Laser Light Show: Holiday at MOSI
MOSI - Museum of Science & Industry
From $13All ages
- Dec30WedNew Year’s Eve
Wed, Dec 30 · 10:00 AM
Kids Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Majeed Discovery Garden
Majeed Discovery Garden, Florida Botanical Gardens
From $5
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 9:30 AM
Downtown Countdown: Noon Year's Eve at Glazer Children's Museum
Glazer Children's Museum
With admission
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 10:30 AM
Pint Sized Noon Year's Eve Party (7 and Under)
Central Park Performing Arts Center
Up to 7
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 3:00 PM
Sunset to Sparkle: Clearwater Beach Family New Year's Eve
Pier 60 Park
FreeAll ages
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Nov15SunChristmas
Through Jan 1
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Paid
- Nov15SunMarkets and festivals
Through Dec 31
Gingerbread Village at Glazer Children's Museum
Glazer Children's Museum
With admission
- Nov20FriChristmas
Through Dec 27
Enchant Christmas St. Petersburg 2026 at Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field
From $28
- Nov26ThuLight displays
Through Jan 1
Largo Central Park Holiday Lights
Largo Central Park
Free
- Nov27FriChristmas
Through Dec 30
Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
From $34.95
- Nov28SatLight displays
Through Jan 1
Holiday Lights & Displays on the St. Pete Waterfront
Downtown Waterfront Parks (North Straub, South Straub, Pioneer Park, St. Pete Pier)
FreeAll ages
- Nov28SatLight displays
Through Jan 1
Holiday Lights & Displays on the St. Pete Waterfront
Downtown Waterfront Parks (North Straub Park, South Straub Park, Pioneer Park, St. Pete Pier)
All ages
Nothing matches that filter in Tampa. Try another one.
For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Tampa?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Tampa listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 69 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.