11 Christmas Light Displays in Tampa Bay for 2026
Tampa Bay's 2026 Christmas lights start in mid November. Water Street lights up on November 12, Christmas Town at Busch Gardens opens November 13, and Largo Central Park begins its nightly lights on November 26.
This list mixes free walks, ticketed attractions and a trolley tour across Tampa, St. Petersburg, Largo and Wesley Chapel. Dates and hours come from each organizer's own page, and some calendars are still being posted.
1.Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Nearly 70 miles of lights, live shows and Santa, included with park admission.
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens fills the park with what the park describes as nearly 70 miles of glittering lights. Shows include Lights of Wonder and A Very Merry Cirque!, and you can visit Santa's Workshop and ride the Holly Jolly Express train.
- Know before you go
- Christmas Town is included with Busch Gardens admission. Priority Access and other extras are sold separately.
- Best time
- Select dates from November 13, 2026 through January 4, 2027. The tree lighting ceremony is November 13, with the lighting at 7 PM.
- Local tip
- The park lists select operating days, so check its schedule for the exact night before you drive.
2.ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Christmas in the Wild lights up the zoo after dark with displays, music and Santa photos.
Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa adds light displays, holiday music, family shows and a chance to get your picture with Santa. The zoo also lists winter themed animal experiences and seasonal food and drinks.
- Know before you go
- The event runs rain or shine and can be cancelled for weather that is a safety hazard. Children 2 and under are admitted free.
- Best time
- Select nights from November 27 to December 30, 2026. Admission is after 4 PM, and November 27 is a member preview night.
- Local tip
- The public night calendar is posted as an image on the zoo's page, so check it before planning a specific date.
3.Florida Botanical Gardens
A walk through more than a million LED lights in a botanical garden, with lasers and live music.
Holiday Lights in the Gardens in Largo turns the garden into a nightly light walk, with more than a million lights, laser projections and lighted figures. Food and non alcoholic drinks are sold at the Palm Pavilion and a gift shop opens nightly.
- Know before you go
- There are no tickets and a donation is requested. The foundation's page shows January 2 and January 3 as the last night in different places, so confirm the closing date.
- Best time
- Nightly from November 27, 2026 into early January 2027, 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
- Local tip
- The foundation lists separate parking lots on Ulmerton Road and Walsingham Road, so check which entrance you want before you go.
4.Largo Central Park
Free to park and walk the lights nightly, with a carousel and Ferris wheel.
Holiday Lights at Largo Central Park is a walk through the park's lights, with food, drink and market vendors on site. A carousel and Ferris wheel run until 10 PM, and leashed dogs are welcome.
- Know before you go
- Entry is free. Rides need a ticket, and the carousel has a 36 inch minimum height. Walking only: no golf carts or unauthorized vehicles.
- Best time
- Nightly November 26, 2026 through January 3, 2027, 5 to 10 PM.
- Local tip
- Parking is free, except on December 5 when there is paid parking for the Holiday Tree Lighting and Stroll.
5.North Straub Park
The city's waterfront lights run through North and South Straub Parks, Pioneer Park and the Pier.
The City of St. Petersburg lists Holiday Lights and Displays as a waterfront stroll with thousands of holiday lights and decorations. It spans North Straub Park, South Straub Park, Pioneer Park and the St. Pete Pier.
- Know before you go
- The city page does not list hours or a cost for the lights.
- Best time
- November 28, 2026 through January 1, 2027.
- Local tip
- The Santa Parade and tree lighting on November 28 start the season in the same parks, so that night pairs well with a lights walk.
6.Tropicana Field
Enchant bills itself as the world's largest Christmas light maze, with Santa and a village.
Enchant Christmas St. Petersburg is set up at Tropicana Field with a light maze, a shopping village with photo moments, Santa visits, live entertainment and caroling. Ice skating is sold as an add on.
See Enchant dates, official tickets and resale options on Wayfind
- Know before you go
- Skating, parking and a Ferris wheel are add ons. Children under 5 must skate with a parent or guardian.
- Best time
- Nov 20 through Dec 27, 2026. Theme nights include Country Christmas on December 4 and Paws and Claus on December 6.
- Local tip
- Tickets have an arrival window. You can stay as long as you like once inside, but Enchant asks guests to arrive close to their window.
7.Water Street
Season Spectacular lights up the neighborhood with about 500,000 lights and a 35 foot tree.
Water Street's fifth annual Season Spectacular is the official lighting of the neighborhood and the start of the holiday season. It features a 35 foot tree, a 24 foot tree in the Heron area, Santa photos and a Holiday Serenade.
- Know before you go
- Free. This is a one night lighting, so the lights are the main draw rather than a season long walk.
- Best time
- Thursday, November 12, 2026, 5 to 9 PM.
- Local tip
- The event is at 971 Water St. A portion of bar sales benefits the Children's Dream Fund.
8.Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Winter Village is free to walk through, with an ice rink, cafe and streetcar rides to Ybor.
Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park sets up an outdoor ice rink, a cafe and the Winter Village Express, a 50 minute round trip on the TECO Line Streetcar to Ybor. The park sits on the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa.
- Know before you go
- Winter Village is free to attend and open to all ages. The ice rink requires paid admission. Rink hours were not posted yet.
- Best time
- November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027.
- Local tip
- Skate sessions are 75 minutes and need a reservation online or by the on site QR codes. Tickets go live November 6, 2026.
9.Star Trolley St. Pete Holiday Lights Tour
A guided trolley ride past St. Pete neighborhood displays, with a 21 and over late departure.
Star Trolley's St. Pete Holiday Lights Trolley leaves from ArtsXchange in the Warehouse Arts District on a route of neighborhood displays. Rides run 60 to 90 minutes.
- Know before you go
- Seats are limited and the page urges advance reservations. The 10 PM ride uses a separate reservation link. Specific calendar dates were not listed on the page.
- Best time
- December 2026, with departures at 6 PM, 8 PM and 10 PM. The 6 and 8 PM rides are for all ages, and the 10 PM Jingle Juice Express is 21 and over with BYOB beer and wine.
- Local tip
- Check in opens 30 minutes before departure. Boarding is at 2215 6th Avenue South.
10.The Shops at Wiregrass
Symphony in Lights opens with a 300 drone show, then runs synchronized light shows nightly.
The Symphony in Lights kickoff in Wesley Chapel includes Santa arriving on a fire truck, a 300 drone show followed by a tree lighting, a holiday market and live big band music. The organizer says musical light shows then run nightly at 6, 7, 8 and 9 PM.
- Know before you go
- The page does not say whether the kickoff or any activity has a charge.
- Best time
- Kickoff Saturday, November 14, 2026, 5 to 9:30 PM. Nightly light shows from November 15 through December 31.
- Local tip
- The kickoff is listed as mall wide, with two 50 foot alpine tubing slides on the schedule.
11.Williams Park
Winter Wonder puts an open air ice rink under holiday lights in downtown St. Pete.
Winter Wonder in Williams Park calls itself Tampa Bay's only open air ice skating rink, set among holiday lights, with a curated market of local small businesses.
- Know before you go
- Skate reservations must be made online or by scanning on site QR codes. The page does not say whether general entry is free.
- Best time
- November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Monday to Wednesday is skating only, 6 to 10 PM. Thursday and Friday are 6 to 10 PM, Saturday and Sunday 2 to 10 PM.
- Local tip
- Extended hours with the market and food open run November 23 to 27 and December 21 to January 3, 2 to 10 PM.
Wayfind keeps a running guide to Florida holiday events at Christmas in Florida. Confirm hours with the organizer before you go, since several displays post new details through the season.
Frequently asked questions
When do Christmas lights start in Tampa Bay in 2026?
Water Street's Season Spectacular lighting is November 12, and Christmas Town at Busch Gardens opens November 13. Largo Central Park starts November 26, and Florida Botanical Gardens and ZooTampa's Christmas in the Wild begin November 27.
Which Tampa Bay light displays have free entry?
Largo Central Park says entry is free and parking is free except on December 5. Water Street's Season Spectacular lists itself as free, and Winter Village is free to attend, though its ice rink is not.
Are there Christmas lights you can see from a vehicle or trolley?
Star Trolley runs a St. Pete holiday lights trolley tour in December 2026 with departures at 6, 8 and 10 PM. Reservations are advised.
Do the lights run every night?
Largo Central Park lists nightly lights, and Florida Botanical Gardens lists nightly illumination. Christmas Town and Christmas in the Wild run on select dates, so check each calendar.
Where can I see lights in downtown St. Petersburg?
The city lists Holiday Lights and Displays from November 28 to January 1 in North Straub Park, South Straub Park, Pioneer Park and the St. Pete Pier. Winter Wonder at Williams Park also runs from November 20 to January 3.
