Tampa International Sparkles With Holiday Spirit, Live Entertainment

TAMPA, FL — Tampa International Airport is now officially decked out for the holidays, bringing lights, colors and music to its terminals.

TPA's traditional decorations went up last week when a team of around 20 people spent nine hours decorating the entire airport, from the Rental Car Center to baggage claim. Nearly 200 wreaths and other ornamental greenery deck the walls along with five holiday trees, the largest topping out at 18 feet tall in the middle of the Main Terminal.

Last year, the airport introduced decorations with bold Florida-themed colors of pink and orange.

“I was looking for something different and unconventional,” said Maria Cook, Tampa International Airport’s marketing events manager, who is tasked with making sure the airport looks festive each holiday season. “The colors represent the Florida sunshine and go along well with our new flamingo.”

Along with the holiday trees usually associated with Christmas, the airport also has a massive menorah that lights up during Hanukkah and a large kinara in celebration of Kwanzaa.

TPA will also feature live entertainment in the Main Terminal most afternoons between Dec. 10 and Christmas Eve, fom bell ringers to choral groups.

Performers include Milosz Gasior, a gifted pianist from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School who was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of 2. Despite struggling with severe speech delay, Gasior wows audiences with his amazing musical abilities and is on track to graduate from high school near the top of his class in May 2023.

Other performers include Bill Vincent, The Santa Sisters and The Southern County Chorus.