Holiday Events

Join the Clearwater Marine Aquarium for a splashingly great holiday celebration! Watch as the aquarium transforms into Winter's Wonderland between Nov. 2 - Jan. 6. Get your family photo taken with Winter Claus, experience Winter Wonderland with lights and décor all around, and watch special Santa dive presentations at Mavis's Rescue Hideaway. Learn about more CMA holiday fun.

Get a head start on the holiday fun with thousands of twinkling lights, Christmas music, and REAL SNOW at Sundial St. Pete! Bring out the whole family for face painting, a visit from Santa, holiday music, family art projects and more! The festivities start at 5:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. 

The seventh year for the Black Friday alternative event brings double the fun with two days of shopping local at more than 100 independent vendors and galleries with specials, food, children's entertainment, a gift wrapping area, beer tent, raffles and special surprises. Shop til you drop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Straub Park in St. Pete. Part 2 takes place Nov. 24. 

The seventh year for the Black Friday alternative event brings double the fun with two days of shopping local at more than 100 independent vendors and galleries with specials, food, children's entertainment, a gift wrapping area, beer tent, raffles and special surprises. Shop til you drop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Straub Park in St. Pete. Click here for more information. 

Head to Busch Gardens for some great thrill rides and to see the park transform into a holiday wonderland of Christmastime entertainment, holiday shoppings and more than a million twinkling lights! Santa will be available to take photos and the park will be open until 10 p.m.

The annual "Holiday Lights in the Gardens" is a seasonal escape into a wonderland of twinkling lights and fun entertainment. Over 1 million LED lights shining throughout our Botanical Gardens highlighting our plants and in nature-themed or holiday-themed light displays. The event begins nightly at 5:30 p.m. and a $5 suggested donation is encouraged for entry. 

Kick off the holidays in the Sunshine City when Santa comes to town and Mayor Kriseman lights up the waterfront! The parade begins at Albert Whitted Park at 5:30 p.m. and runs Bayshore Dr. and 5th Ave. NE. The Tree Lighting will follow the Santa Parade at 8 p.m. in North Straub Park. Stay after the Santa Parade and Tree Lighting to enjoy entertainment, children's activities, music and more in the park. Food concessions will be available. Blanket seating. Free to the public.

Ring in the holidays during Dunedin's annual waterfront celebration as boats parade through Dunedin at approximately 7 pm. Enjoy holiday music and s'mores while waiting for Santa to arrive by boat and lead the countdown in the lighting of the City's Christmas tree. The event is free and takes place at Dunedin Marina / Edgewater Park. 

Shop small this year at this open air showcase of over 100 local and traveling makers, artists and creatives! Handmade goods, plants, upcyled furniture, indie home design, vintage clothing, organic body care, prints and greeting cards, leather, coffee and more! The family and pet friendly fun goes down from 6-9 p.m. on Baum Ave, next to Green Bench Brewery in St. Pete. 

This free and family-friendly festival will transform downtown Clearwater's Cleveland Street into a holiday wonderland complete with falling snow, a skating rink, horse and carriage rides, pictures with Santa, carolers from the Clearwater Chorus, a giant gingerbread house, face painting and a balloon artist, inflatables and more. Children will also be able to phone Santa's Elves in the North Pole to share their Christmas wish list. Join the fun from 5-10 p.m. 

Come celebrate the holidays at Pinellas Park's Holiday in the Park! This community-wide family event will feature children's games, entertainment, photos with Santa, hayrides, children's train ride and much more! The free event is going on from 12 - 10 p.m. and takes place at England Brothers Park. 

Sixty-five tons of snow are expected to fall in North Straub Park at the annual holiday Snowfest celebration. Join the fake snow fun from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Activities include a big and kiddie toboggan slide, art tent, karaoke, moonwalks, giant slide, "glice" ice skating, and a Kiddyland area designed especially for pre-schoolers with inflatable train, cookie decorating and more. 

Make your holidays bright with vintage delights! Explore 15,000 sq feet of vintage treasure finds at this monthly market in St. Pete! This true vendor-run market has an amazing variety and selection of vintage items unlike anywhere else. Grab your next vintage find the first weekend of each month from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday at 2200 2nd Ave S in St. Pete.

Bring out the family and friends to enjoy the lighting of Safety Harbor's giant Christmas tree. Choirs will warm up the crowd for a visit from Santa Claus. The fun starts at 6 p.m. at the John Wilson Park Gazebo.

Venture out to downtown Tarpon Springs for a great free holiday event! The event will have a snow play area, music, children's activities and a visit with Santa himself. The fun takes place from 5-10 p.m. on Tarpon Avenue. 

Vessels will proceed down the Anclote River and into the bayous where Santa will give out treats. Your best bet for viewing these holiday decorated vessels is from Craig Park/Spring Bayou. The event is free and boats are expected to enter Spring Bayou around 8 p.m. 

Bring your blanket or lawn chairs to settle in for a holiday movie in Vinoy Park at 5th Avenue NE. Tonight's showing is the holiday classic, "A Christmas Story" starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Stay tuned for the 2016 date! An annual Clearwater holiday event that's not to be missed! Festively decorated boats will parade past Coachman Park around 8 p.m. From there, the fleet will cruise under the Memorial Causeway Bridge turning into the Clearwater Marina Channel before navigating to the Clearwater Yacht Club. Free and family-friendly!

Join Santa along St. Pete Beach's parade route! The Parade starts at St. Pete Beach City Hall (155 Corey Ave) and heads west down Corey Ave, south on Blind Pass Rd, east on 73rd to Bay St and back to City Hall. Santa will finish the parade route at the St. Pete Beach Library (365 73rd Ave) to meet with all the Whos in Whoville. While at the library, enjoy Grinch themed crafts, a movie, face painting and light refreshments.

It's time to get your holiday cheer in gear! Holiday Hoopla is a celebration of arts, crafts, foods, live music and roving holiday characters set in a waterfront atmosphere amid bright, twinkling, colorful lights. Stroll the decorated streets of Gulfport filled with talented exhibitors and unique shops. The festival will provide shoppers with one-of-a-kind gifts that cannot be found anywhere else, and all of your holiday shopping can be done in one place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stay late to view Boca Ciega Yacht Club's 32nd Annual Lighted Boat Parade.  

This annual event rich in Christmas tradition is the perfect way to bring holiday cheer! Watch as festive floats parade down the streets of Pinellas Park starting at 6 pm.

Get that Goodwill sweater, find those tacky holiday pants, and get ready to jingle bell ROCK! Registration is $14 - $23 and includes ugly sweater swag, live music throughout the crawl, & deals along the way. Check-in begins at 5 p.m. at Thirsty First. 

Like Las Vegas on the water! This year's dazzling nautical spectacle features boats of all kinds making it the biggest lighted boat parade in Tampa Bay.  Boats will depart from The Club at Treasure Island at 6:20 p.m., sail past the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge at 7 p.m. and end at 8:15 p.m. at John's Pass. 

Boley Centers' 36th Annual Jingle Bell Run will take place on Friday, December 14 at 7:30 PM along St. Pete's magnificent waterfront! This 30-mile fun run features 1,500 luminarias, 15 bands, three glow zones, snow, glow in the dark face paint, glow necklaces and thousands of merry runners, joggers, walkers and four-legged trotters! 

Bring your blanket or lawn chairs to settle in for a holiday movie in Vinoy Park at 5th Avenue NE. Tonight's showing is the holiday classic, "The Santa Clause" starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. 

This art festival transforms South Straub Park into an outdoor gallery of original and handmade art created by extraordinary artists in painting, sculpture, jewelry, glass, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, photography, digital art, mixed-media, metalwork, woodworking and more. Whether for yourself or as gifts for friends and loved ones, you will find something at all price points. This outdoor art show is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. Bring your sense of discovery and appreciation for the beautiful!

Head over to Main Street in Safety Harbor for amazing floats, old fashioned cars & a visit from Santa himself! The free fun starts at 1 p.m.

Feel the funky beat and shop for unique treasures during this bi-monthly event held in downtown Gulfport from 6-10 p.m. every first Friday and third Saturday. Over 35 locally owned boutiques and artists line the streets along with live musicians to keep you movin'. Don't miss the opportunity to dine at one of the area's delicious restaurants or belly up to the bar for a cocktail or two.

Shop the holiday gift market, play in the snow or take a stroll around beautiful Largo Central Park to gaze at the holiday displays featuring over one million LED lights and lighted motorcycles. Enjoy a snow zone and a visit from Santa from 6:30-9 pm. This event is FREE. Largo Central Park is located at 101 Central Park Drive.

Watch as Indian Rocks Beach lights up as decorated boats parade through the waterways! The boat parade will launch Saturday evening, Dec 15 at 7 pm. 

This annual holiday parade weaves through downtown Tarpon Springs starting at 10 a.m. Parade route: starts at Manatee Plaza and goes north on E. Lemon Street, then south on Ring Ave and finishes its last leg on Tarpon Ave. all the way to Spring Bayou. 

After the Annual Tarpon Springs Christmas Parade in downtown Tarpon Springs (approximately 11:30 a.m.), stick around and head to Craig Park for the annual Candy Cane Hunt. Children up to age 12 can hunt for the lucky candy cane. There will also be crafts, music and a visit from Santa. Free for whole family!

Festively decorated boats will meander through the intracoastal waterways from the Tom Stuart Causeway to Caddy's Pub restaurant in Indian Shores. The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. Free and family-friendly! Top prizes will be awarded after the parade that evening at Caddy's Pub.

The world's most loved five–man contemporary pop vocal phenomenon Rockapella returns to the Capitol Theatre at 7:30 p.m. for a must see holiday show! With their completely original take on the holidays, Rockapella creates a light-hearted and unforgettable holiday experience as they travel the country spreading musical holiday cheer.

Bring your blanket or lawn chairs to settle in for a holiday movie in Vinoy Park at 5th Avenue NE. Tonight's showing is "Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws" starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Bring the whole family for a great Christmas celebration! The Moscow Ballet will be performing the Great Russian Nutcracker with two shows at  3 p.m. and 7 p.m.