Witness the Glow: Tampa Bay Area’s Christmas Tree Lighting Events

Explore the enchantment of holiday tree lightings with 18 delightful opportunities across the bay area.

Join in the festive spirit as cities, towns, businesses, and churches come together to celebrate. Here’s your chance to immerse yourself in the joy of holiday tree lightings:

1. Ybor Tree Lighting (Tampa)
   • Date: Nov. 15, 6 p.m.
   • Location: Centro Ybor, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa.
   • Details: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor leads the countdown, with the possibility of witnessing faux snow. Free. Contact: 813-242-4660.
2. Holiday Happening: Hyde Park Christmas Tree Lighting (Tampa)
   • Date: Nov. 16, 5-9 p.m.
   • Location: Hyde Park Village Stage, 742 S. Village Circle, Tampa.
   • Details: Enjoy music by The Danny Bub Combo, stilt walkers, aerial performances, face painting, illusions, and Santa visits. Free.
3. City of South Pasadena Holiday Tree Lighting
   • Date: Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.
   • Location: Bay View Park, 7054 Sunset Drive S., South Pasadena.
   • Details: Mayor Arthur Penny illuminates the tree and park with music, refreshments, and festive cheer. Free.
4. Santa Parade and Tree Lighting (St. Petersburg)
   • Date: Nov. 25, 6:30 p.m.
   • Location: Albert Whitted Park, 107 Eighth Ave. SE, St. Petersburg.
   • Details: The 95th annual Santa Parade followed by a tree lighting in North Straub Park. Free. Contact: 727-893-7441.
5. Zephyrhills Christmas Tree Lighting
   • Date: Nov. 27, 8 p.m.
   • Location: Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St.
   • Details: Join the city for the annual Christmas tree lighting. Free. Contact: 813-780-0000.
6. MacWonderland (Tampa)
   • Date: Dec. 1, 5-9 p.m.
   • Location: Breakaway Event Center, 7315 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa.
   • Details: Exclusive to MacDill, enjoy treats, face painting, a tree lighting, crafts, games, live reindeer, and Santa photos. Free. Contact: 813-840-2020.
7. City of St. Pete Beach Holiday Boat Parade and Tree Lighting
   • Date: Dec. 1, 6 p.m.
   • Location: Horan Park, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach.
   • Details: Witness the boat parade, meet Santa, and enjoy music at the tree lighting ceremony. Free. Contact: 727-363-9232.
8. Tree Lighting (Safety Harbor)
   • Date: Dec. 1, 6-7:30 p.m.
   • Location: 750 Main St., Safety Harbor.
   • Details: Safety Harbor lights the giant Christmas tree with choirs and a Santa visit. Free. Contact: 727-724-1555.
9. Lealman Christmas Tree Lighting (St. Petersburg)
   • Date: Dec. 1, 6:30-8 p.m.
   • Location: 3875 54th Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
   • Details: Enjoy hot dogs, sweet treats, hot cocoa, a snow slide, bounce house, games, and performances. Free.
10. Tampa Holiday Events
    • Date: Dec. 2, 1 p.m.
    • Location: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa.
    • Details: Parade, SantaFest, tree lighting, and a holiday classic movie. Free.
11. Tree Lighting Celebration (Tierra Verde)
    • Date: Dec. 2, 4-8 p.m.
    • Location: Downtown Tierra Verde, 1110 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde.
    • Details: Join Tierra Verde’s downtown businesses to light the town’s holiday tree. Free. Contact: 727-867-9362.
12. Church Tree Lighting Ceremony and Festival (St. Petersburg)
    • Date: Dec. 2, 6 p.m.
    • Location: City on a Hill Church, 4265 13th Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
    • Details: The public is invited to the lighting ceremony for the fully decorated 16-foot Christmas tree. The festival includes a trackless Christmas train, photos with Santa, Christmas treats, shepherds with live Nativity animals, stilt-walking toy soldiers, and a balloon-twisting elf. Free. Contact: 727-851-9999.
13. Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting (Largo)
    • Date: Dec. 2, 6-9 p.m.
    • Location: Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, Largo.
    • Details: Stroll through Largo’s light display and watch various performers. The tree lighting is at 6 p.m., and Santa arrives for free photos starting at 6:30 p.m. Free. Contact: 727-587-6740, ext. 5014.
14. Holiday Boat Parade and Tree Lighting (Dunedin)
    • Date: Dec. 2, 6-9 p.m.
    • Location: Dunedin Marina, 51 Main St.
    • Details: Dunedin kicks off the holiday season with a parade of whimsically decorated and illuminated boats. It ends with the arrival of Santa, who will greet children of all ages. Also includes greetings from city dignitaries, holiday music, food by Olde Bay Café, s’mores, and the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree. Free. Contact: 727-738-2920.
15. Pasco Tree Lighting (New Port Richey)
    • Date: Dec. 2, 6-9 p.m.
    • Location: Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, 5433 Main St., New Port Richey.
    • Details: Wear Santa hats and decorate Christmas cookies at this community block party celebrating the lighting of the town’s tree. Free.
16. Tree Lighting (St. Petersburg)
    • Date: Dec. 5, 5-7 p.m.
    • Location: Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, 355 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg.
    • Details: The museum invites the public to sing carols with the St. Petersburg High School chorus and enjoy holiday-themed art making, docent-guided tours, coffee, cocoa, pastries, and the lighting of their holiday tree. $10, members free. Contact: 727-440-4859.
17. Christmas on Main: Brooksville Tree Lighting
    • Date: Dec. 7, 5-9 p.m.
    • Location: Main Street, downtown Brooksville.
    • Details: Brooksville celebrates the tree lighting with 100 artisan vendors, visits with Santa, food trucks, and entertainment by Live Oak Theatre. Free (food additional).
18. Holiday Winterfest and Tree Lighting (Seminole)
    • Date: Dec. 8, 5:30 p.m.
    • Location: Seminole Recreation Center, 9100 113th St. N.
    • Details: The city of Seminole celebrates the lighting of its Christmas tree at this festival with make-and-take crafts, a craft market, live entertainment, snow sledding, visits with Santa, and a bounce house. Free, $7 for sledding and bounce house. Contact: 727-391-8345.

Continue the festive spirit with these diverse tree lightings, exploring and enjoying the magic of the season!