Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Clearwater, Dunedin And Surrounding Area

CLEARWATER, FL — There are plenty of things going on around Clearwater, Dunedin and other areas in Pinellas County to celebrate the 2023 winter holidays.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, starts at sundown on Dec. 7, and ends at nightfall on Dec. 15. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the season.

Hanukkah events around Clearwater and Dunedin include:

Clearwater Hanukkah Celebration

The Clearwater Hanukkah Celebration will take place on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. Join the Chabad of Clearwater in the lighting of a surprise-themed menorah, hot latkes, Hebrew school performances and other musical performances, the Nerdy Noah Show, a visit from Thunderbug, the traditional gelt drop from the top of the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department's ladder truck and children's activities at Coackman Park, 300 Cleveland St. Click here.

Hanukkah On Ice

Young adults from Congregation Kol Ami and Congregation Beth Shalom in Clearwater will come together on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. for Hanukkah on Ice at Tampa Bay Skating Academy, 255 Forest Lake Blvd. Oldsmar. RSVP by Dec. 7 here.

Hanukkah Read-Aloud

A Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights Read-Aloud and Activity will take place Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Join Wendy Hutkin, the PJ Library program coordinator, for an interactive read-aloud with a PJ Library book such as "Hoppy Hanukkah," "Simon and the Bear" and "The Hanukkah Trike." Kids can get hands-on with coloring Hanukkah activity sheets, crafting their very own menorah or creating a make-and-take dreidel while learning the game's rules. Plus, there's an opportunity to enjoy some chocolate gelt candy or even make your own. This is a free event and registration is required at the Clearwater Beach Library, 69 Bay Esplanade.

Hanukkah Bar Crawl

Young Jewish professionals in their 20s and 30s from across Tampa Bay are invited to Pioneer Park, 420 Main St. in downtown Dunedin, for a Hanukkah bar crawl and menorah lighting on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 5:45 p.m.

Events begin with a menorah lighting and Hanukkah festival in the park, then the group will make its way to surprise locations all over downtown Dunedin for specialty crafted Hanukkah-themed drinks and snacks. The event is sponsored by Young Israel Chabad of Pinellas. Nonalcoholic options will be available. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit YIChabad.com/YJP or email Admin@YIChabad.com

Tree lightings are always a crowd-pleaser:

Clearwater Christmas Tree Lighting

Kicking off the festive season, Clearwater's annual Christmas Tree Lighting takes place on Friday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. in Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St. Beginning at 4 p.m., those gathered will enjoy live holiday music and entertainment. Elected officials will then illuminate the city's Christmas tree.

Holiday parades on the water and on the streets will take place in Clearwater, Dunedin and surrounding cities:

Holiday Golf Parade

The town of Redington Beach will host its Holiday Golf Parade on Dec. 2 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Click here.

Clearwater Yacht Club Holiday Boat Parade

The Clearwater Yacht Club Annual Holiday Boat Parade Saturday will take place Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Watch holiday-decorated boats illuminate the waterways. The route can be viewed from various vantage points including Coachman Park, waterfront restaurants and hotels and private residences. Coachman Park will have food, beverages, children's activities and more as part of a watch party. Decorated vessels will gather in Mandalay Channel and then proceed along navigable channels in Island Estates, Coachman Park, Harbor Marina, Clearwater Beach Marina and end at Clearwater Point. Participation is free for boaters. Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St.

Dunedin's Old-Fashioned Christmas And Holiday Parade

Santa will be the star of the evening on Saturday, Dec 9 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Old-Fashioned Christmas and Holiday Parade in Downtown Dunedin.

The annual street parade, sponsored by Joe's Family Plumbing Inc. of Clearwater, kicks off at 4 p.m. on Douglas Avenue with local dignitaries, decorated floats, bands, performers and, of course Santa Claus. The parade route travels along Douglas Avenue from Beltrees Street heading north to Skinner Blvd/State Road 580.

Immediately after the parade, downtown Dunedin will be transported back in time as old-fashioned Christmas activities, entertainment and snow fill downtown. Children, families and the young at heart can enjoy Clydesdale horse-drawn carriage rides, Christmas caroling, festive bands, live music in Pioneer Park featuring "Modern Measure," old-fashioned games, children’s crafts, roasted marshmallows to create gooey s’mores, face painting and slide down the gigantic snow slides. To cap off this event, visit Santa Claus with your Christmas wish list.

The events are free to attend but donations will be accepted at the activity areas for the Dunedin for Youth Scholarship Fund.

Dog Paw-Parade

The Market Marie will take place Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland Street. Make the gift-giving season extra special by shopping local. There will be handcrafted goods, a "Dog Paw-Parade," food trucks and a special storytime with Mrs. Claus. Registration for the dog parade is on-site.

Festival Of Lights Boat Parade

The 57th annual Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Holiday Boat Parade will take place Saturday, Dec. 9 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post 273 and travel all the finger canals through the city, ending at John's Pass around 10 p.m.

Watch the parade from ROC Park where you can enjoy a party with live music and a Merry Market on the seawall and watch the parade.

Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

The Redington Beaches/Indian Shores Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will take place, weather permitting, on Sunday, Dec. 10. Participating boats are requested to rendezvous just north of the Tom Stuart (Madeira Beach) Causeway at approximately 5:45 p.m., for the 6 p.m. start of the parade. The parade will end at the Caddy’s Indian Shores Restaurant on Gulf Boulevard in Indian Shores. Prizes will be awarded at the free, family-friendly post-parade awards party at Caddy’s. Click here.

The captains’ meeting for participating boats will be held jointly with the Madeira Beach parade meeting at Madeira Beach City Hall on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m. Boat captains are urged to attend the captains’ meeting to review route details and to pick up their numbered parade entry boards. For further information about the Redington Beaches/Indian Shores Boat Parade, call RedingtonBeach Town Hall, 727-391-3875 or click here.

Making Spirits Bright Parade

The Making Spirits Bright Parade will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Clearwater Beach. Spread holiday cheer at the Making Spirits Bright Parade, sponsored by the 12 Days of Christmas. Local businesses and residents are welcome to participate. The parade begins at Island Way Grill at 3:30 p.m. The parade will travel from North Clearwater Beach to South Clearwater Beach, and then back to Island Way Grill.

Santa’s Candy Cane Stroll

On Friday, Dec. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m., Countryside Mall will welcome Santa for a Candy Cane Stroll. Guests will enjoy a festive stroll through the mall with stops at select stores for treats, roaming holiday characters, jolly activities, and a contest with a prize for the family with the most Christmas spirit. Guests should come festively dressed in their ugliest Christmas sweaters, cozy Christmas PJs or in their yuletide best. Check in with Santa’s helpers at the Candy Cane Stroll service table located near the Santa Set and receive a free goodie bag, passed out to the first 100 guests

There's plenty of holiday music and presentations to enjoy throughout Clearwater, Dunedin and beyond:

Holiday Experience

Holiday Experience in Station Square Park will take place Saturday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m.Listen to music at the open-air Station Square Park, 618 Cleveland St. in Downtown Clearwater with headliner Selwyn Birchwood.

Music Of The Holidays

Music of the Holidays with the Florida Suncoast Chorus will take place Sunday, Dec. 10 from 2 to 3 p.m. Enjoy your favorite holiday songs with the barbershop-style quartets of the Florida Suncoast Chorus. Registration is not required, but space is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis at Countryside Library, 2642 Sabal Springs Drive

'Nutcracker' Ballet To Be Performed

The "Nutcracker" ballet performance in which Clara gets a nutcracker that turns into a prince will be presented on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. at Palm Harbor University High School, 1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor. Click here for tickets.

Check out these holiday light displays in Clearwater, Dunedin and surrounding areas:

Holiday Lights In The Garden

The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation's annual Holiday Lights in the Garden is on display nightly through Sunday, Dec. 31, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. It features one million, twinkling LED lights in a multitude of colors with vibrant laser lights and lighted figures that can be seen along walkways that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Florida Botanical Gardens' annual Gift & Plant Sale at the Botanical Bounty Gift Shop and locations throughout the gardens will take place Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Also planned at the gardens this holiday season is a visit with the signing Santa from the Family Center on Deafness Friday, Dec. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. and a Florida Farm Bureau Craft Weekend Friday, Dec. 15 to Sunday, Dec. 17 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

For the Holiday Lights in the Garden, a donation of $10 per person is suggested to support the Majeed Discovery Garden. Leashed pets are welcome. Free parking is available at 12520 Ulmerton Road and 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo.

Lights Of Lake Park

Every year since 1993, the residents of Lake Park Estates decorate their homes and yards along a three-mile stretch with holiday lights and decorations for the public to enjoy. It runs from Dec. 1 through Dec. 31. This is to celebrate Ruby Dow, a former resident, and salute the care she received from Suncoast Hospice. The event was started by her husband, Eddie. Donations to Suncoast Hospice have raised over $1 million since it began.

Running every night through Dec. 31, the Lake Park Estates "Lights of Lake Park," 109 Avenue N Lake Park Drive, Largo, allows light lovers to donate to Suncoast Hospice at a stop along the 3-mile loop of homes that cars can drive through to get into the spirit of the season. Click here.

Light It Up Clearwater

Light It Up Clearwater will take place Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m. To celebrate the new year, fireworks will grace the sky at midnight on Clearwater Beach courtesy of AMPLIFY Clearwater, Clearwater's chamber of commerce. Call 727-461-0011.