Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Tampa: Boat Parades, Hanukkah, Lights

TAMPA, FL — There is no shortage of things to do in the Tampa area to get in the holiday spirit.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. 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 holidays.

Holiday events occurring in the Tampa area include:

Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

The Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, sponsored by Yacht StarShip and Pirate Water Taxi, will glide down the Hillsborough River on Saturday, Dec. 17 beginning at 6 p.m.

The parade begins at the southern tip of Davis Islands, travels through the Convention Center basin and up to the Heights where the boats will turn around and head to Sparkman Wharf for judging and a celebration.

Click here to register to participate.

Tampa Bay's Festival Of Lights & Santa's Village

Tampa Bay's Festival of Lights & Santa's Village immerses families in holiday fun at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road in Dover, daily from 6 to 9 p.m. through New Year’s Day.

This year, the event features a nearly 2-mile drive-thru of continuous lights followed by a festive walking visit to Santa’s village to see Santa, Santa's barnyard, Candy Cane Lane, holiday moving and festival treats.

The cost is $25 per car. Click here.

Temple Terrace Lighted Boat Parade

Each year, as the holidays approach, Temple Terrace boaters light up the night and cruise along the Hillsborough River in boats outfitted with holiday lights and decorations.

The 2022 Temple Terrace Lighted Boat Parade will be held on Friday, Dec. 16.

Those wanting to participate must bring their holiday-themed vessels to the Harney Bypass Canal area by 5:45 p.m.

There will be two public viewing spots. The first is next to Florida College at Billy Graham Park, passing by at about 6:30 p.m. The flotilla will continue upriver under the Fowler Avenue bridge where it can be viewed from Rotary Riverfront Park at about 7 p.m.

Click here.

Winter Village At Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

The annual Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park at 600 N Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Lightning, will continue daily through Jan. 4, offering an ice-skating rink, seasonal food and drink vendors, thousands of lights and other holiday decor, Santa sightings, the Curtis Hixon Choo-Choo miniature train, curling tournaments and the Winter Village Express (TECO Line Streetcar).

Families can try their hand at the ice skating at the 5,000-square-foot ice-skating rink at Winter Village. Click here for tickets for ice skating. The cost is $17 and includes skate rentals.

The 2011 family movie, "A Christmas Carol," will be shown Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.

The Cafe at Winter Village features Icicles Craft Cocktails, Icicles Craft Kitchen, Kahwa Coffee and Whatever Pops.

The Winter Village Shops offer holiday shoppers an affordable retail experience with local sellers of garments, personal products, artisan goods and gourmet packaged foods.

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Curling will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. RecRec and Shuffle Tampa are working with the Tampa Downtown Partnership and Cigar City Brewing to bring Winter Village’s inaugural curling league, running through Wednesday, Dec. 28. Games will occur every Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. Team registration is $200. Click here.

Hop aboard the Winter Village Express (TECO Line Streetcar) on Dec. 18 and experience a holiday trip through Tampa’s downtown. This interactive experience takes visitors from Whiting Station to the historic city of Ybor and back just in time for more Winter Village Tampa fun. Enjoy cookies and milk on board (no additional charge), as well as entertainment like group trivia, stories and sing-alongs. Click here.

Tampa River Of Lights Holiday Cruises

Hop on Tampa’s Pirate Water Taxi tour for the River of Lights Holiday Cruises and get up-close views of downtown Tampa’s holiday decorations and lights, including Holiday Island.

This family-friendly event will include a holiday river tour with prime viewing of the floating holiday displays, a Dickens caroler performing sing-alongs, holiday cookies and hot chocolate and a snow flurry finale.

Every child will have an opportunity to write a letter to Santa and drop it off in Tampa’s only floating mail buoy to the North Pole.

Cruises will take place at 5:15, 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. Dec. 16, and Dec. 18-24.

Click here for reservations.

Christmas Train

The Christmas Train is coming to South Tampa Fellowship's Ballast Point Campus on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 5-7 p.m.

Families can ride around the Christmas Tree Trail, listen to live music, take pictures with Santa, enjoy free food trucks and more. Click here.

Christmas In The Wild At ZooTampa

It’s the most wonderful time of the year at ZooTampa with the return of Christmas in the Wild, featuring one of Tampa Bay’s largest light displays, holiday treats, wildlife and new festive adventures.

Experience the magic of the holiday with immersive realms full of twinkling lights, cheerful music, interactive family shows, holiday-themed animal experiences and festive entertainment throughout the zoo.

It runs from 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It continues every day after Christmas from Dec. 26 to 30.

ZooTampa members and pay-for-a-day ticket holders get free admission to seasonal events like Christmas in the Wild. Click here for the foodie menu.

Click here for more information.

Winter Wonder Wharf

Celebrate the season each weekend at Sparkman Wharf with Winter Wonder Wharf. Enjoy holiday-centric activities, live entertainment and festive backdrops for fun photo-ops.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy the 30- foot tree-lighting and photo-ops at themed areas, which include a colorful tree forest where they'll find Santa, melting snowmen and a redesign of the well-known Sparkman Wharf Tampa sign.

Join in the joy of the holiday season with special holiday caroling with a twist Dec. 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Click here.

Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Spectacular

The magic of the holiday season will be on display along the Tampa Riverwalk once again. This year, the 2.6 miles of Riverwalk will be aglow with lights, festive decorations and activities for the whole family as part of the Friends of the Riverwalk’s Holiday Spectacular, presented by Mosaic through Jan. 2.

All along the river basin, visitors will be treated to a variety of lighted floating displays including a pine tree forest, teddy on a toy horse, gingerbread house with a boy and girl, and a toy train. To celebrate Tampa’s distinct local culture, there will also be a lighted pirate sword fight, two pirate ships and a treasure chest.

The floating barges will be lit nightly and add to the magical holiday ambiance along the Riverwalk. Additional decor will include lighted garland and red bows on the Riverwalk light poles. Thousands of twinkling lights will adorn the grand oaks in Water Works Park along with a festively decorated Christmas tree-shaped gazebo. And there will be festively decorated photo ops along the Riverwalk this year.

Hotels, restaurants and bars along the Riverwalk will also have lighted displays.

The Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Spectacular will run along the 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk and Water Works Park through Jan. 2. Click here.

10th Annual Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Christmas Town

The 10th annual Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Christmas Town will run through Jan. 9. In addition to millions of twinkling lights, visits with Santa and Rudolph, festive foods, decorated trees and holiday shows, Busch Gardens has introduced new features this year.

Sir Henry's Haunted Christmas In Plant City

Sir Henry's Haunted Christmas will take place Dec. 16 to 18 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Sir Henry's Haunted Trail, 2837 S Frontage Road, Plant City.

This event will feature two Christmas-themed haunted trails, two new Christmas escape games and laser tag with all new spooky Christmas characters and photo ops as well as new Christmas swag and concessions.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Click here.

Victorian Christmas Stroll At Plant Museum

Tampa’s favorite holiday tradition returns with the 41st Annual Victorian Christmas Stroll daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 23 at the Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

What started as a small, three-evening event has grown over the past four decades into a month of extravagance and grandeur, allowing visitors a glimpse into the magic of Christmas past.

With a variety of delightful themes and displays in each exhibit room, the 41st annual Victorian Christmas Stroll features antique snow babies and tiny antique trees. Gaze in wonder at a 14-foot tree bedecked in antique ornaments.

Complimentary cider and cookies will be served on the veranda each day while holiday music floats through the air. The Museum Store offers unique gifts, including elegant jewelry, artwork and beautiful holiday accessories. Enjoy shopping in a Victorian atmosphere.

Proceeds from the Victorian Christmas Stroll fund museum restoration and preservation projects, as well as educational programming.

Admission is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $12 for youth.

Parking is available immediately in front of the museum. If all these spots are full, there is a free parking garage, the Thomas Parking Garage, that is about a five-minute walk through the University of Tampa campus.

For information, click here.

Shadrack's Christmas Light Show

Visit the award-winning, drive-thru Shadrack's Christmas Light Show synchronized to music, using cutting-edge technology and a multitude of lights synchronized to music on your vehicle radio.

The drive-thru Shadrack Christmas Light Show will take place through Jan. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Masonic Park &Youth Camp, 18050 U.S. 301 S, Wimauma.

It features a 50-foot RGB tree of lights and a state-of-the-art 300-foot drive-through color-changing tunnel with custom-built light displays.

At the end of the journey is Santa’s Village where families can enjoy a host of festive activities including:

• Photos with Santa Thursday, Friday and Saturday along with hot food and beverages as well as tasty treats, a craft fair, activities for kids, festive photo ops and more.
• Pets are welcome in the village as long as they are on a leash.
• Admission into Santa's Village is free with admission to the light show. Additional fees are required for attractions. Santa's Village is operated by Jen’s Markets and Events. For all inquiries regarding Santa’s Village, contact Jennifer@Jens-market.com.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Click here.

The cost is:

• Passenger car (up to eight people - $29.99
• Activity van - $59.99
• Tour or school bus or large RV - $99.99

The event will benefit the Masonic Youth Park of Florida and the Free Masons of Florida.

Meet Santa At The Florida Aquarium

Put on your best holiday sweater and get in the holiday spirit at The Florida Aquarium where Santa will be spreading holiday cheer and jolly good times every weekend through Dec. 18.

Santa will be available for photo opportunities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18.

Photos with Santa will take place in the aquarium’s Mosaic Center at no cost to members and included with general admission.

Note: Photos must be taken on a personal device. Click here.

Tampa Chanukah Festival

Join Chabad of Tampa for Tampa’s largest Chanukah Festival as the community lights up the night in downtown Tampa on Sunday, Dec. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall Plaza, 315 E Kennedy Blvd.

City officials will light Tampa's largest menorah. There will be a gelt drop by Tampa Fire Rescue, master illusionist Razzmatazz will perform, there will be hot latkes, doughnuts, hot popcorn and cotton candy, fresh falafel by Pilpel, a rock wall, obstacle course, human whack-a-mole, a balloon artist, a stilt walker, face painting, DJ Ron, Johnny's Photo Booth and raffle prizes.

There is no charge and no RSVP is needed. Click here.

Chanukah In The Park

Chanukah is coming back to Hyde Park Village Monday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. Chabad of South Tampa will light the menorah and those attending will enjoy latkes, doughnuts and chocolate gelt.

Additionally, Color Me Mine will host a menorah art lesson on canvas and there will be dancing the Hanukkah jams.

Click here.

Chanukah Night Of Lights

On the fifth night of Chanukah, Dec. 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. Water Street Tampa invites the community to celebrate the holiday with a special menorah lighting and a lineup of activities and entertainment throughout the evening.

The event includes live entertainment, food and activities for all ages and is free and open to the public.

A Night of Lights includes:

• Grand menorah lighting beginning at 6 p.m.
• Live entertainment
• Traditional lite bites
• Craft stations and more

The event will take place at Raybon Plaza, 536 Channelside Drive, Tampa.

Click here.

Vodka Latke

Jewish Tampa will host Vodka Latke Saturday, Dec. 24, from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Remix Lounge at Aloft Tampa Downtown, 100 Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

Tickets are $36 in advance and $45 at the door and include one drink, gourmet latkes, hors d’oeuvres and desserts. A cash bar will be available. Attire is dressy casual.

Click here or contact Lisa Robbins at lisa.robbins@jewishtampa.com.

Christmas On The Farm

Raprager Family Farms is hosting a winter festival Friday and Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. through Dec. 23.

It includes visits with Santa, a Merry Market with holiday vendors, decorations including a 34-foot digital pixel pine Christmas tree, a 70-foot light wall and giant nutcrackers and toy soldiers, nutcrackers and toy soldiers guarding the property, a gingerbread village, Mr. Grunch, a huge Lemax Christmas town with a train and hand-crafted mini Christmas village, holiday hayrides, Rapragers’ Sweet Shop featuring fresh, gourmet fudge, warm cinnamon-roasted nuts and hot cocoa, a petting zoo, bounce pillow, holiday hayrides, a corn pit, a 40-foot hay chute slide, axe throwing, a chance to meet Santa and visit his workshop where kids can build a doll and storytime with Mrs. Claus.

The cost is$14.95 per person in advance and $17.50 at the gate. Children 2 and under are admitted for free. Click here.

Chanukah In Midtown

Chabad of South Tampa will host its first Chanukah celebration at Midtown Tampa Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m.

It will feature a grand menorah lighting with latkes, doughnuts, crafts, fresh coffee and treats from Joffrey's Coffee and local vendors. Click here.