10+ Best Places to see Christmas Lights in Tampa Bay in 2025

Attending a Christmas light event in Tampa Bay Is a fun winter activity to add to your holiday bucket list. There is something magical about the entire city being decorated in bright lights! Plan a romantic date night or bring along the entire family for a night of fun. I’ve rounded up the best places to see Christmas Lights in Tampa Bay for the 2025 season!

1. Victorian Christmas Stroll

The Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry Plant Museum is located on the University of Tampa’s campus near downtown. This annual event runs from November 28th through December 31st (closed December 24-26). Each room is decorated with multiple Christmas trees in various themes. This is a fun indoor Christmas lights viewing opportunity that can be visited day or night!

Hours and Pricing

• Dates: November 28th through December 31st
  • Closed December 24th to 26th
• Sunday to Thursday: 10 AM to 5 PM
• Friday and Saturday: 10 AM to 8 PM
• Cost:
  • Adults $20 per person ($2 discount for 65 years and older)
  • Youth $14 per person (Free for children age 0 to 3 years)

2. Holiday Spectacular on the Tampa Riverwalk

Take a stroll along the popular Tampa Riverwalk and enjoy the annual display of lights at the Holiday Spectacular. You can stop for food or drinks along the way at many places including Armature Works, The Sail Pavilion, and Anchor & Brine. This event runs from November 30th to January 2nd for the 2025 season and is free to visit!

For an extra special celebration, consider attending the Tampa Riverwalk Tree Lighting held on Sunday, November 30th from 4-7 PM. The tree lighting will occur at 6:30 PM near the Tampa Convention Center and The Sail Plaza.

3. Tampa Bay Festival of Lights

Tampa Bay Festival of Lights and Santa’s Village at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds is one of the first Holiday light events I attended in Florida. This 2 mile drive thru light display is sure to provide a magical evening for the entire family. We brought our dog along for the car ride, packed hot cocoa in mugs, and played festive music to make the night extra special! This annual festive event runs night from November 27th to December 28th.

Please note that dogs are only allowed at Santa’s Village on select special event nights for “Paws & Claus” which are December 4th and 11th this year. Otherwise if you want to bring your dog you will have to stick to the drive thru light display only and forgo Santa’s Village.

Hours and Pricing

• Dates: November 27th to December 28th
  • Santa’s Village is only open select nights
• Hours: Gates open at 6 PM
• Cost: $32 per car with a $2 discount if paying with cash
  • $5 discount per car when Santa’s Village is not open
  • Attractions, food, and activities in Santa’s Village are available for an additional fee

Tickets and more information can be found here!

4. North Boulevard in Tampa

If you are in South Tampa around the holidays, I highly recommend you take a detour down North Boulevard! This neighborhood street is guaranteed to have houses decked out with holiday lights. In addition to North Boulevard, many of the surrounding streets have joined in on the Tampa holiday tradition with a different theme for each street. This is a quick, but memorable pit stop you can make after dinner one night or on your way to another holiday light event on this list!

5. Christmas in the Wild at Zoo Tampa

Christmas in the Wild at Zoo Tampa is an event that is fun for the entire family! Anyone with a zoo membership or a pay for a day ticket can enjoy this annual event at no additional cost. In addition to viewing the animals at the zoo there are special holiday encounters, Christmas light displays, and festive holiday treats. The event is held on select nights starting November 28th (members only preview day) throughout December.

Hours and Pricing

• Regular Zoo Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM
• Event Nights (through December 23rd): 4 PM to 10 PM
• Event Nights (December 26th to 30th): 4 PM to 8 PM
• Members or Pay for a Day Ticketholders: Free
• Early bird admission: $30 per person
  • Rates will increase after November 28th

6. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens is a family friendly annual event for thrill seekers! Enjoy the amusement park rides along with special holiday activities and decorations. Eat and drink festive food and beverages, enjoy special shows and entertainment, or just take in the many Christmas lights on display. This annual event runs on select days from November 14th through January 5th. Annual pass holders can enjoy this event at no additional cost.

Hours and Pricing

• Dates: Select nights November 14^th through January 5th
• Hours: Vary by date (I recommend double checking the park hours!)
  • Opens at 10 AM daily with exception between December 20th to 31^st open at 9 AM
  • Closing hours vary from 8 to 10 PM
  • Non event days park is open regular hours from 10 AM to 6 PM
• Cost:
  • Christmas Town is included with park admission
  • Single day ticket $145 per person 

7. Pirate Water Taxi River of Lights

A unique opportunity to take in the lights along the Tampa Riverwalk is to take a water taxi ride along the Hillsborough River! This 45-minute cruise departs from Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park and provides on-board entertainment with a snow flurry finale. Extra special opportunities for kids include dropping off their letter to Santa off at the floating mail buoy and receiving a present at the Elf on a Barge stop! Tours begin on November 21^st departing 3 times nightly Thursday through Sunday. River of Lights runs nightly from December 18^th through January 4^th (closed Christmas Day). Tickets can be pre-booked online to ensure a seat is available.

Hours and Pricing

• Dates: Select nights November 21^st through January 4^th
• Hours: Tours depart at 6:15 PM, 7:15 PM, and 8:15 PM
• Cost:
  • Adults: $35/person
  • Children: $25/person

8. Holiday Lights in the Gardens

The Holiday Lights in the Gardens at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo is one of our favorite events each year! Come experience the magic yourself and take in the over 1 million lights on display throughout the gardens. One reason we have always enjoyed this event is because leashed pets are welcome. We’ve brought our dog multiple times, and it’s always a memorable night!

In addition to the light display throughout the gardens there is a concession stand with food and beverages available for purchase. One attraction you want to be sure you don’t miss is the singing tree!

Hours and Pricing

• Dates: Open November 28th through January 3rd
• Hours: 5:30 to 9:30 PM
• Cost: Donation of $10 per person 12 years and older is recommended

9. Lights of Lake Park Estates

We visited the Lights of Lake Park Estates for the first time in 2024, and my husband has already requested we go back again this year! Enjoy the 3.2 mile route along this neighborhood holiday lights display in Largo. The annual event collects donations for Suncoast Hospice with over $1 million dollars raised since the event began in 1993. The neighborhood is only located 10 minutes from the Florida Botanical Gardens so it is the perfect stop on your way home after you visit the botanical gardens.

Hours and Pricing

• Dates: December 1st to 31st
• Hours: 6 PM to 10 PM
• Cost: Free, but donations are appreciated

Donations are accepted at the Suncoast Hospice Cart located in front of one of the homes along the holiday lights display. Additionally, donations can be made online or mailed directly to the Suncoast Hospice Foundation.

10. Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park

Winter Village is an annual event held at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa. The event runs from November 21^st through January 4th. It is free to visit Winter Village with activities available for purchase. Ride along the Winter Village Express on the TECO Line Streetcar on select nights for a 50 minute family friendly excursion! Another popular activity at the Winter Village is ice skating! You can even attend an ice skating show on select weekend evenings. Pick up a last minute gift at The Shops of Winter Village or grab food and beverages at the cafe before taking a stroll along the Tampa Riverwalk! 

Hours and Pricing

• Dates: November 21^st through January 4^th
• Cost: Free to attend
  • Ice skating $17 per person (75 minutes of skate time)
  • Ice rink hours vary by day and tickets get be purchased ahead online 
  • Winter Village Express $10 per person (free for children under 1 year of age)
    • Available on select days: 11/23. 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, and 12/21 only

Looking for more places to see Christmas Lights in Tampa Bay?

Check out a few more holiday light events in the Tampa Bay area listed below!

• Water Street Tampa – Enjoy over 300,000 lights on display throughout the holiday season. The Season Spectacular is an annual event which occurred on November 14th.
• Oakdale Christmas Display – Another annual neighborhood holiday lights event started in 1977 in this St. Petersburg neighborhood.
• St. Pete Pier – Walk along the waterfront and enjoy thousands of lights on display between November 29th and January 1st
• Winter Wonderland in Clearwater – A free event throughout December in Clearwater. Don’t forget to bring nonperishable food or an unwrapped tour to benefit the community!
• Chick-Fil-A – More than just a fast food chain around the holidays. Last year the location on Waters Avenue in Tampa went viral for their impressive Christmas lights display including over 1 million lights. I am curious to see if this becomes a popular trend for multiple Chick-Fil-A locations. I noticed an impressive lights display at the Ehrlich and Dale Mabry location in Carrollwood recently!