Santa Claus Is Coming To Tampa For Christmas: Where To See Him

TAMPA, FL — Visits and pictures with Santa are treasured traditions for many Tampa area families. For them, there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person.

Around Tampa, kids can share their Christmas wish lists with Santa Claus at these locations and events:

International Plaza

International Plaza and Bay Street, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa, is now hosting Santa at the mall. The Jolly Old Elf will be available at Santa's Flight Academy in the mall's Grand Court through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

Make your reservation to meet Santa for a picture-perfect moment. Afterward, take off on an interactive adventure at Santa's Flight Academy in the Grand Court, complete with his 22-foot-tall sleigh. Click here for reservations and information on photo packages.

Children can also talk to Santa by phone in the North Pole. Get a free phone call from Santa powered by Portable North Pole. Just lock in the date and time of your choice by clicking here.

Christmas Town

Share heartwarming moments with Santa and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Busch Gardens' annual Christmas Town throughout the holidays until Jan. 7.

Join the jolly elves as they guide guests to see Santa in his workshop, preparing for the holidays, from 3 p.m. until the park closes throughout the holiday season. The activity is made for Christmas photo opportunities.

Don't miss this photo opportunity and meet with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and friends at Rudolph's Winter Wonderland from 5 p.m. until the park closes.

Click here.

Santa At ZooTampa's Christmas In The Wild

ZooTampa’s Christmas in the Wild will host Santa Claus on select nights through Dec. 30 at the Twinkle Town Marketplace. Meet Santa and take a photo of him in front of his sleigh. Click here for information.

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.

Santa’s Workshop at MOSI

Join MOSI and the Jolly Old Elf for a mixture of science and holiday spirit at Santa's Workshop at the Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa, on Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Take your own picture with Santa, join in the hands-on activities, and even mail your letter to the North Pole.

Santa’s Workshop is included with MOSI admission.

Santa At The Florida Aquarium

Santa will be spreading holiday cheer and jolly good times at The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive. This beloved family tradition runs each Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Photos with Santa will take place in Santa’s workshop off the second-floor lobby and are free to members and with general admission.

Santa At Brass Pro Shops

Experience the Magic of Christmas now through Dec. 24 at Bass Pro Shops in Tampa. There will also be games and events for the whole family, carousel rides, and holiday craft gift bags to take home plus visits with Santa Claus. Reserve a Santa visit time slot.

Santa At Winter Village

Santa and Mrs. Claus will make stops at different locations throughout Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, posing for photos and greeting children on Dec. 15 during the annual Winter Village. Click here for information.

Santa At JCPenney

JC Penney stores, including stores Westshore Plaza, 201 Westtshore Plaza, Tampa, and Citrus Park Mall, 8201 Citrus Park Town Center Drive, Tampa , are offering professional portraits with Santa through Dec. 18.

Santa At Brandon Mall

Santa and Mrs. Claus have arrived and will make their seasonal home at Brandon Mall, 459 Brandon Town Center Drive, Brandon, through Dec. 24 in Center Court at their Holiday Wonderland.

Visitors can get a fast pass to skip the line by purchasing photo packages in advance online here.

For Santa's hours, click here.

Santa At Citrus Park Mall

Enjoy the magic of Santa at the Citrus Park Mall, 8201 Citrus Park Town Center Drive, Tampa, this holiday season.

Santa will be on hand for photos and to hear wish lists through Dec. 15, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Santa visits will continue Dec. 16 to 23 daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Santa's workshop has several photo packages available and prices vary. Click here.

Raprager Family Farms's Old-Fashioned Christmas

Raprager Family Farms, 16907 Boy Scout Road, Odessa, will host its Old-Fashioned Country Christmas Festival Dec. 15, 16, 17, 22 and 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Santa Claus will be on hand for photos and wish lists each day the Christmas festival is open from 3 p.m. to closing.

The cost is $15 in advance and $17.50 at the gate. Click here.

Tickets include a tour of Santa's 7,000-square-foot workshop, crafts with Mrs. Claus, pictures with Mr. Grunch the Christmas Grinch, the 2-acre petting zoo with 300 animals, acres of lights and Christmas decorations, an 80-foot-long bounce pillow, axe throwing, caroling hayrides with the elves, a 40-foot hat chute slide, a corn pit, a butterfly garden, games, entertainment and Christmas music.

Also, purchase gifts from the Merry Market, live 6- to 7-foot-tall Christmas trees, gourmet fudge, truffles, coffee and cider doughnuts from the SweetShop, ice cream, kettle corn and cider doughnuts from Kangal's Corner, fresh-squeezed lemonade, cinnamon-roasted nuts and sno cones from The Lemonade Stand, face painting for $10, gem mining for $12.50 and up, pony rides for $10, feed the cows for $3 and buy product at the fresh market.

Christmas Lane

Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at Christmas Lane, is open at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, 2508 W Oak Ave. in Plant City.

Featuring 1.5 million lights adorning 200 Christmas trees from 4 to 40 feet tall, Christmas Lane 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.

Parents can take their own photo of Santa for free or a professional photographer can take one for $15 per photo or two for $25, with $10 for each additional print.

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 mail letters to Santa, making ornaments to hang on the Lincoln Elementary Magnet School Wishing Tree and a LEGO build station.

Click here for tickets and information.

Santa At Chick-fil-A

Visit the Chick-fil-Aat 6299 W. Waters Ave., Tampa on Friday, Dec. 15 and 22 from 6 t0 10 p.m. to have your photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy some cookies and hot chocolate while enjoying the Chick-fil-A's extravagant light display. Click here.

Ana G. Mendez University Christmas Family Festival

Kids will have an opportunity to meet, take photos and share their wish lists with Santa at the Ana G. Mendez University Christmas Family Festival on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3655 W Waters Ave., Tampa.

Kids can also enjoy face painting, and interactive games throughout the day.

Live entertainment will be provided, including singers, local bands and performances by local artists. Additionally, kids under the age of 10 will be able to participate in the festival's Christmas gift giveaway.

Photos With Santa At Forbici

Forbici Modern Italian, 1633 W Snow Ave., Tampa, will host holiday pictures with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photos With Santa At Boulon Brasserie

Boulon Brasserie, 1001 Water St., Tampa, will host holiday photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Know about another Santa visit? Post the information to the Tampa Patch events calendar.