With the Christmas season quickly approaching, it is important to know some of the festive activities Tampa has to offer. Peyton Pickett (‘25) says, “I love celebrating Christmas in Tampa with my friends and family. Even though the weather doesn’t really put you in the Christmas mood, the activities around Tampa definitely can!”
The Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park opens on Friday, November 22, 2024, and ends on January 5, 2025. This village’s hours are open from 4:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday’s hours are 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Closer to Christmas, the hours may differ. On Hillsborough County non-school days, it will also be open from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The winter village offers activities such as ice skating as well as ice skating shows, holiday trivia, curling (which is similar to shuffleboard on ice), a winter village express with a TECO street car while singing Holiday songs and eating cookies and milk, 360 degree light show by TECO, and a variety of shops and cafes.
Katie Pearson (‘25) says, “I have been to the Downtown Winter Village before and it’s so fun since it’s ice skating outside, it feels like you are really ice skating up north.”
On Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 6:15 p.m. Tampa has their largest lighted boat parade throughout the Hillsborough River. This parade starts at the southern end of Davis Island and will travel through the Heights and Convention Center basin. The judging will occur at Sparkman Warf where all registered boats will receive a prize. To register a boat, there is a registration fee of $85 dollars but will continue to go up the closer to the date of the event. To watch the boat parade, there is VIP private seating on the Wharf at Sparkman Wharf. Tickets will also start at $85 dollars a person and go up as the event date gets closer.
To get in the Christmas mood, Friday, November 15, 2024 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sparkman Wharf is hosting a holiday event where Sparkman Wharf will become a winter wonderland including a 30-foot Christmas tree, holiday lights, a DJ for holiday tunes, an ice skating act, Rockettes performance, break dancers, and aerial artists. This event is also free! While getting a start to the holiday season, Sparkman Wharfs selection of restaurants will also be open.
On select dates in November and December there will be seasonal showings on holiday movies at the Silvermoon Drive-In. Ages 10 and up are eight dollars, ages four-nine are three dollars, and under four years old tickets are free! No outside food or drinks are allowed, but there is a snack bar for food during the movie.
Seaworld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration:
Seaworld will transform their park into a winter wonderland on November 16, 2024 until January 15, 2025. There will be holiday experiences like sparkling lights, ice skating, Christmas themed shows, and Christmas characters like Santa and Rudolph.
Busch Garden’s Christmas Town:
Busch Gardens will transform their park into a winter wonderland on November 15, 2024 until January 15, 2025. There will be characters like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as well as Christmas lights, decorations, and Christmas themed shows.
Mia DeBourg (’24) says, “I love Christmas season in Tampa and how almost everyone decorates in some way.”
