Holiday Activities Tampa: The Ultimate 2025 Edition to Holiday Cheer

I’ve always believed that the holiday season in Tampa brings out the best of this city, with lights, laughter, and a real sense of togetherness. If you’re looking for ways to slow down and soak in some seasonal magic with your loved ones, here’s my list of festive fun with some of the best holiday events in Tampa this year. As a Tampa native and local real estate agent, I have ideas for what makes this city feel like home!

Please note that holiday event details are subject to change without warning. It’s best to check the website before planning your outing, just in case there have been any changes.

Busch Gardens Christmas Town

Busch Gardens turns into a winter wonderland each year, and Christmas Town is a show-stopper. Imagine millions of lights, holiday-themed shows, and visits from your favorite characters like Rudolph and Santa. Every corner of the entire park glows with holiday spirit, where you can meet festive characters, enjoy special themed family-friendly activities, see holiday decor, and taste yummy treats. Nothing says holiday season like riding roller coasters under a canopy of lights!

Best of all? It’s included with park admission.

• Dates: November 15, 2025 – January 5, 2026
• Tickets: Included with park admission

Holiday Spectacular on the Tampa Riverwalk

Taking a stroll along the Tampa Riverwalk under twinkling lights with barge floats gliding down the glimmering Hillsborough River is a holiday vibe that’s hard to beat! Elegant, lighted displays line the water’s edge, providing families and friends with a soft-lit space to wander, take in the season, create merry memories, and experience that unmistakable holiday cheer. Downtown Tampa never looked so magical.

• Dates: Late November 2025 – Early January 2026 (TBD)
• Tickets: No tickets needed!

Riverwalk Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

This is the biggest holiday boat parade in Florida, hands down. Boats decked out in holiday lights make their way from Davis Islands through downtown, and the waterfront views are full of holiday spirit with hot cocoa in hand. It’s festive entertainment perfect for kids and adults alike, and a Tampa tradition I don’t want to miss.

• Date: December 20, 2025 (6:15 p.m.)
• Tickets: Free!

Santa Fest & Tree Lighting at Curtis Hixon Park

Santa arriving in a parade, neighborhood music, and a massive Christmas tree lighting in the park: Can you think of a sweeter way to start the season with the whole family? It’s one of my favorite festive kickoff events downtown.

• Date: December 6, 2025 (Parade starts at 1 p.m.)
• Tickets: Free!

Holiday Gift Market From The Junior League of Tampa

If you love finding thoughtful gifts with purpose, this holiday gift market offers nearly 200 vendors, all benefiting community programs through the Junior League. It’s local shopping you can feel good about. For delectable holiday treats, handcrafted gifts, and shopping that supports the community, this has become a family favorite.

• Dates: November 6–9, 2025
• Tickets: Advance online tickets for $10; in person during the Market weekend for $12.

Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa

ZooTampa goes festive, and it’s pure joy for families. Imagine amazing wildlife meeting holiday fantasy, with giraffes under garlands and flamingos by string lights. Lights, animal encounters, and seasonal snacks make this a perfect, low-fuss, family-friendly night out with the kids.

• Dates: Select nights November – December (2025 dates have not yet officially been announced)
• Tickets: Included with the regular admission

Festival of Lights & Santa’s Carnival

Drive through two miles of dazzling holiday displays, then step into Santa’s Village at the midway, packed with rides, games, and winter cheer. Two miles of light displays, rides, festive characters, and food, plus a festive ride with Santa. Drive through holiday magic, then stop for holiday treats and a carnival vibe. It’s great for all ages.

• Dates: November – December (2025 dates have not yet officially been announced)
• Tickets: Prices TBD

Cracker Country’s “Christmas in the Country”

Turn back time for old-Florida charm with carols, crafts, and historic Florida homes that tell stories from over a century ago. Christmas in the Country is where merry memories meet history. Its rural charm meets holiday tradition during the most wonderful time of the year, and I always leave feeling connected to Tampa and Florida culture.

• Date: December 13, 2025, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Tickets: Adults (12+) $14; Seniors: $12; Students (6-11): $12, Kids (0-5): FREE. Advanced ticket purchase is required.

Holiday Lights at the Florida Botanical Gardens

For a peaceful, nature-driven holiday outing, the Botanical Gardens shine with millions of lights among live plants. Walking through hundreds of tree canopies dressed in holiday lights is something I always recommend for a date-night stroll or family excursion. It’s an outdoor sanctuary transformed into dazzling lights: quiet, scenic, and a place I return to when I need calm in the season.

• Dates: Late November – December 2025 (Exact dates TBD)
• Tickets: Previously, $10, with children 12 and under admitted free of charge.

Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park

Ice Skating, Holiday Sales & Maybe a Snow Flurry 😉

This one’s a winter tradition I look forward to every year. Along with SantaFest and the tree lighting, the Winter Village arrives downtown with vendors, food, an ice rink, and pop‑up performances. On select nights, you can catch festive adventures like 360° light shows, themed skate nights, pop-up performances from the Tampa Bay Ice Show, and even street curling and silent discos.

• Dates: Late November 2025 – January 5, 2026 (Exact dates still TBD)
• Tickets: It’s free to walk around! The ice skating is usually around $17 for a 90-minute session, including skate rental.

Enchant Christmas at Tropicana Field (St. Pete)

Okay, so technically it’s just across the bridge in St. Pete, but Enchant is an experience worth driving for. There’s a massive light maze, ice skating trail, market, and Santa, all indoors. Twinkling lights galore, food, and festive characters make for a great indoor backup on rainy nights or for larger families. Tickets change based on date and availability, so buying them early is a smart move.

• Dates: Based on dates for other cities, November 21 – December 28, 2025 (TBD)
• Tickets: Typically starting around $34 for adults and $25 for kids; ice skating adds $10–15. (These prices may shift, but serve as a reasonable ballpark estimate.)

Thinking of Making Tampa Your Forever Home?

If you’ve fallen for Tampa’s holiday spirit—or have always known this city felt like home—I’d love to help you explore where your next chapter might begin here. I bring insider knowledge, local passion, and a rooted sense of community to every home search.

So if you’re charmed by Tampa’s holiday fun, I’d love to help you explore the possibility of making it more than a season, but finding a place to call home. I’ll help you make this season’s joy your everyday story, so next year, these celebrations happen just outside your door.