Hillsborough County

  •  Christmas in the Wild: ZooTampa’s annual Christmas event is returning this Friday at 4:00 pm and will be continuing throughout the holiday season. This year, witness dazzling light shows, decorate cookies, shop in the Twinkletown Marketplace, and take photos with Santa and the Queen of Ice and Snow all while visiting all of your favorite animal friends at the zoo! Tickets and showtimes for Christmas in the Wild can be found here.

  • River of Lights: Cruise down the Hillsborough River in style as the River of Lights boat cruise comes back to the Bay this Friday! Float through beautiful light displays as your captain narrates your town through Tampa, and sing along to your favorite Christmas carols. Kids can even write letters to Santa aboard the boat, with the cruise stopping at a mail buoy that will send their letters to the North Pole. Tickets and departure times can be accessed here.

     Tampa Bay Festival of Lights: Explore a two-mile stretch of jaw-dropping light displays this Saturday from 6:00 - 10:00 pm at the Hillsborough County Fair’s Festival of Lights. After the scenic drive, you can walk to Santa’s Village and watch holiday movies, visit Santa, take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane, and enjoy some holiday treats. The festival charges $25 per car.

  • Holiday Classics at Tampa Theatre: Enjoy a screening of Miracle on 34th Street this Sunday at 3:00 pm at the Tampa Theatre. Be sure to arrive early though, as Santa will be making a guest appearance before the film while the theatre’s Wurlitzer Theatre Organ will be playing Christmas Carols to sing along to. Tickets are $10 and are available to purchase here.

 

Pasco County

  • Light up the Angelus: Santa is coming to the Angelus in Hudson, this Friday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Come meet Santa, take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane, and even build your own stuffed animal in Santa’s workshop. Proceeds help benefit the Angelus, a residential program for people with non-ambulatory cerebral palsy. Tickets and event information are available here.

  • Star-Gazing at Starkey: Bundle up and take a glimpse into the cosmos this Saturday night from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park. The Pasco Astronomers club will be providing telescopes to go star-gazing on a lovely, crisp evening where you can clearly see the dwarf planet Ceres.

  • Hanukkah Street Fair: Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah this Sunday at the Grove Mall’s Hanukkah Street Fair. This fair features live music, human foosball, arts and crafts, latkes and doughnuts, and a grand menorah lighting. The event is from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and is free to the public.

Pinellas County

  •  Enchant Christmas: This Friday, Tropicana Field transforms into a winter wonderland with Enchant Christmas, a holiday-themed event spanning the whole season. This larger-than-life experience boasts a huge Christmas light maze, Nordic-inspired winter village and market, ice skating trail, and scavenger hunt to find Santa’s missing presents.

  •  Shopapalooza Festival: Shop till you drop this Saturday at Vinoy Park at the Shopapalooza Festival! From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, you can shop from over 300 local businesses that will be selling their wares just in time for the holidays. The event will also feature food trucks and live music.

  • Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Festival: The 30th annual Arts and Crafts Festival is returning to Downtown Tarpon Springs this Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Shop small at any of the over 150 local artisan shops and enjoy some of the tasty local fare and iconic Greek eats Tarpon Springs has to offer!

  • Hanukkah Spectacular: Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard will kick off Hanukkah at Surf Style Mega Store this Sunday at 4:00 pm with the lighting of a surprise-themed menorah. Also, enjoy hot latkes, doughnuts, an appearance by ThunderBug, and a gelt drop by the Clearwater Fire Department.

Sarasota/Manatee County

  • Deck the Halls: The Florida Studio Theater is presenting Deck the Halls, a live variety show that celebrates the holidays Florida-style, starting this Saturday. Sit back, relax, and enjoy brand-new songs and sketches in this interactive, family-friendly show. Tickets and showtimes are available here.

Polk County

  •  Eagle Lake Carnival: Delight in some classic carnival fun this Thanksgiving weekend at the Eagle Lake Carnival. Enjoy thrilling coasters, fun games, and some traditional deep-fried fare Friday from 4:00 to 11:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 11:00 pm.

Citrus County

  • Ozello Arts Crafts and Blue Crab Festival: Taste the flavors of Florida this Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Ozello Arts Crafts and Blue Crab Festival. In addition to the local restaurants that will be providing fresh seafood and some Old Florida favorites, there will be artists, local vendors, and live music.

 

Lee County

  •  South Cape Jolley Trolley: Have a “Jolley” good time at this Trolley across Cape Coral’s entertainment district, and start the holiday season off with a tasting tour of twelve local restaurants. Each restaurant will provide a festive-themed appetizer and drink sample and a stamp, with guests who get every stamp being eligible to win the grand prize. There will also be live music, dancing, a photo booth contest, and trolley trivia. The event is Saturday from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with more event information and tickets available here.