Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Tampa: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

TAMPA, FL — There are plenty of things going on around Tampa 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 Tampa include:

Hanukkah Pet Blessing

A free Blessing of the Pets Hanukkah Edition will take place on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 5:15 p.m. at Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 2713 Bay Shore Blvd.

Bring your pet in costume for a fashion show. Pets get to demonstrate tricks and have a try at an obstacle course. Pet owners can light the menorah with their pets and are encouraged to write a poem about their pets, and all pets will receive a Hanukkah bandana, certificate, photo and goody bag. Click here.

FishHawk Menorah Parade

Chabad of Brandon and Southshore will host a FishHawk Menorah Parade Sunday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. Those wanting to participate or have the parade drive by their house can sign up here.

Let It Glow Hanukkah Party

A Let it Glow Hanukkah Party will be held on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. at Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa. This event will include a glow dance party, scavenger hunt, dreidels, a latke cook-off, and arts and crafts. The scavenger hunt will be a Hanukkah-themed scavenger hunt with clues placed around the synagogue and prizes for the winning team. Teams consist of no more than four people with one of those being an adult. The event is free for members and $10 for nonmembers. RSVP by Dec. 6 here.

Hanukkah At Midtown Tampa

The Chabad Chai Center will host a Hanukkah celebration at Midtown Tampa, 3659 Midtown Drive, on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m., featuring gourmet drinks from Joffrey’s Coffee, hot latkes, doughnuts, jams and crafts. Click here.

Hanukkah At The J

The Tampa JCCs & Federation will hold its inaugural Hanukkah at the J celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC, 522 N Howard Ave., Tampa. A dreidel tournament, Hanukkah bingo and trivia games will be led by Staar Entertainment while area synagogues and community organizations will host stations of games and activities. Other highlights of the Hanukkah party will include an ugly Hanukkah sweater contest and kids’ craft corner.

The evening will culminate in the grand menorah lighting in celebration of the seventh night of Hanukkah. Advance tickets are $15 per person with a maximum of $40 per family. The ticket price at the door is $20 per person. Dinner and nonalcoholic beverages are included in cost of tickets. A cash bar will be available. To purchase tickets, click here.

Hanukkah Music Bingo

Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 2713 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, will host Hanukkah Music Bingo and a chorizo dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. The cost is $18 per person. Register here.

Latke Cook-Off

On Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 6:45 p.m. there will be a Latke Cook-off with tasting and judging and a winner announced after minyan at Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa. Visit www.kolami.org for rules and registration.

Vodka Latke

Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation will present Vodka Latke for Jewish singles in their 20s, 30s and 40s on Sunday, Dec. 24, from 8 p.m. to midnight at Aloft Downtown Tampa's Remix Lounge, 100 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

Early bird tickets are $36 until Friday, Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. and $45 after and on the evening of the event. Tickets include one drink, hors d’oeuvres, latkes and desserts. Attire is dressy casual. There will be a cash bar and valet parking for $10. Click here.

Holiday performances to catch include:

'Nutcracker' On Stage

Now a glittering holiday tradition around the world, Next Generation Ballet’s performance of the "Nutcracker" will take audiences into a fantastical world of dancing sweets, sword-fighting rodents and timeless ballet music. The production features Next Generation Ballet’s award-winning young dancers alongside guest principal dancers from powerhouse companies across the nation. It will take place Dec. 21, 22 and 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Carol Morsani Hall at The Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. Click here for tickets.

Holiday Pops

The Florida Orchestra’s most popular concert of the year, the Raymond James Pops and the Tampa Oratorio Singers, conducted by Bruce Hangen, former guest conductor of the Boston Pops, will present merry music for the holidays Friday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. at Carol Morsani Hall at The Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. Click here for tickets.

Winter Village Express

Hop onboard the Tampa TECO Streetcar for a singalong filled with holiday music, trivia, stories and surprises. Five 50-minute trips are available every Sunday evening through Dec. 17. Tickets typically sell out well in advance and must be purchased ahead of time online for $10.

Christmas tree lights can be viewed at these locations around Tampa:

Lights Along The Riverwalk

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 and festive decorations.

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, a 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. New this year is a trio of playful penguins sliding down an igloo.

The floating barges will be lit nightly and lighted garland and red bows will adorn the Riverwalk light poles with thousands of twinkling lights hanging from the grand oaks in Water Works Park along with a festively decorated Christmas tree-shaped gazebo. Hotels, restaurants and bars along the Riverwalk will also have lighted displays.

Sylvan Ramble Light Show

A holiday tradition in Tampa since 2018, this will be the last chance to see the Sylvan Ramble Holiday Light Show at 4412 W Sylvan Ramble St. in South Tampa.

Sam Johnson and his holiday-loving family have been putting on the over-the-top light show for five years, attracting hundreds of holiday lights fans each year. However, after spending hundreds of hours decorating his house with 2,000 channels of lights, fountains, special effects accompanied by festive tunes, Sam Johnson is stashing his ladders for good.

"Every year the show has gotten bigger, better and more complicated," Johnson said. “It almost takes a full year to plan and execute."

In fact, the light show now attracts so many holiday lights lovers that the South Tampa neighborhood roads can no longer handle the traffic every Friday night in December.

“We’ve kind of outgrown it,” Johnson said. “We’re looking for commercial properties to move to potentially for next year.”

To prevent traffic jams, Johnson now limits visitors to the Friday night shows spacing the holiday light shows. Families are required to choose a time and make an advanced registration.

Reservations are still available for:

• Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:45 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 22 at 7:45 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 22 at 8:30 p.m.

"We kindly remind all attendees to respect the neighborhood by refraining from littering and blocking driveways," he added.

Each year, the Johnsons choose a charity to benefit from the light show, raising thousands of dollars for Tampa Bay charities over the past five years.

"This year, we are proudly supporting Clothes To Kids, a local charity dedicated to providing new and quality used clothing to low-income and at-risk children and youth in the Tampa Bay area," he said. "One hundred percent of funds raised in person at our event or online via Eventbrite will go directly to Clothes To Kids. If you enjoy the show, we kindly ask you leave a donation.
As we bid farewell to a beloved tradition, let's make this last show our brightest ever, spreading cheer and compassion with every light that twinkles in the night."

In addition to accepting in-person and online donations for charity, this year the Sylvan Ramble Holiday Lights Show is hosting a silent auction with the help of more than 50 Tampa Bay companies that have donated more than $5,000 worth of items.

The auction is now open with bidding available on about half of the donated items. The other half will be available for bidding starting Wednesday, Dec. 13. The auction will end on Dec. 20 and all items will be delivered by Dec. 22, in time for Christmas.

Click here to register to bid on items.

Christmas Town

Busch Gardens' annual Christmas Town fills the park with thousands of twinkling lights as well as fireworks displays through Jan. 7. Click here.

Santa's Village

Tampa Bay’s Festival of Lights & Santa’s Village will immerse everyone in holiday fun with family favorites and new attractions at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road in Dover, through Dec. 31, which will be decorated in one million lights with a 2-mile drive-thru of elaborate displays. The expanded Santa’s Village will feature an Arctic Plunge Inflatable Snow Tube, holiday-themed rides, a self-guided walking tour of Hometown Hillsborough Historical Village, visits with Santa, camel rides, holiday movies and tasty treats. Click here for tickets.

Christmas Lane

Featuring 1.5 million lights adorning 200 Christmas trees from 4 to 40 feet tall, Christmas Lane at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, 2508 W Oak Ave. in Plant City, will be open Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 24. Santa will be at Christmas Lane every night of the event from 6 to 10 p.m. and on Christmas Eve from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event will also include a Great Light Maze, holiday entertainment, rides, concessions and the KidZone with face painting, an opportunity for kids to write and crafts. Click here for tickets and information.

ZooTampa's Christmas In The Wild

Featuring thousands of lights across holiday-themed areas throughout the zoo, the ZooTampa's Christmas in the Wild boasts one of Tampa Bay's largest light displays. It features new larger-than-life illuminated animal sculptures and the return of Forest of Fantasy Christmas tree light shows showcasing synchronized twinkling lights to choreographed festive music.It will be open on select nights through Dec. 30. Click here for information.

Santa At Chick-fil-A

Visit the Chick-fil-A at 6299 W. Waters Ave., Tampa, to see its annual extravagant light display through Dec. 30 and have your photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Dec. 15 and 22 from 6 t0 10 p.m. Click here.

Lights At Winter Village

Winter Village will light up Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa through Jan. 1. from 5 to 11 p.m. daily. It will feature the 360-Degree Light Show powered by TECO that has been upgraded with new lights that wash the park in color each night. Marvel at the 10- to 15-minute displays at 7, 8, 9, and 10 p.m.

Boat parades as well as traditional street parades are popular in Florida. In the Tampa area, residents and visitors can take in these parades:

Apollo Beach Lighted Boat Parade

The Tampa Sailing Squadron and Star Ship Yacht Cruises will host the annual Apollo Beach Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 9, starting at 6 p.m.

Decorate your boat, show your colors and compete for prizes, including a dinner cruise on the Star Ship Yacht. Registration is open.

Any size boat, power or sail, is invited to join in the event. The boat parade will be judged and multiple awards will be presented in all classes of entry. This year, first place in each category will receive a dinner cruise for two, courtesy of the Yacht StarShip Dining Cruises. There will be a required captain’s meeting on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Sailing Squadron clubhouse. Every boat participating will receive a commemorative 2023 Apollo Beach Lighted Boat Parade gift.

Burgers, hot dogs, drinks and sides will be available at the clubhouse beginning at 5 p.m.
The annual Chili Cookoff will be held at the clubhouse following the event. Bring a pot of your best chili recipe for judging, or just come and sample chili.

Click here.

Temple Terrace Lighted Boat Parade

Each year, as the holidays approach, Temple Terrace residents light up the night and cruise along the Hillsborough River in their holiday-decorated boats.

The 2023 boat parade will take place on Friday, Dec. 15. It will launch the Harney Bypass Canal dam at 5:45 p.m., and pass by two viewing areas, the Billy Graham Garden, 913 N Riverhills Drive, at 6:30 p.m. and the Rotary Riverfront Park, 8000 E Fowler Ave., at 7 p.m. where there will be hot chocolate served. Click here.

Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

Tampa's Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, sponsored by Yacht StarShip and Pirate Water Taxi, will sail down the Hillsborough River on Saturday, Dec. 23 beginning at 6:15 p.m. The 7.5-mile parade featuring 125 boats begins at the southern tip of Davis Islands, travels through the Convention Center basin and up to the Laurel Street Bridge where the boats will turn around and proceed to Sparkman Wharf where the boat parade will conclude.

Spectators can gather at several public viewing areas along the route, which include Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, American Social, Davis Islands, Harbour Island, Channel Drive, Julian B. Lane Park, Sparkman Wharf, Tampa Riverwalk, the University of Tampa and the American Victory Ship to cheer on the boaters and get a close-up look at the lighted boats. To view the complete route, click here, which also has information on parking and transportation options.