As Christmas inches closer and closer, the looming question starts to appear in your head, “How am I supposed to get into the holiday spirit when I live in Florida?” You might think of Florida as a summer-exclusive state with constant heat and palm trees shoved into your face. Although we may not have the freezing temperature and snowfall, you would be surprised by how many Christmas activities there are to do here, especially in the Tampa area. I am here to give you five different events during these next couple of months that are guaranteed to get you in that holly jolly spirit.
Snowcat Ridge
27839 Saint Joe Rd. Dade City, FL 33525 USA
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas… Yes, it’s a white Christmas here in Florida. You may ask yourself, “Where in Florida is there snow?” Look no further than Snowcat Mountain, where you can tube down a snow-filled mountain, stroll through an Alpine Village while sampling holiday treats, and shop down Santa’s Christmas Lane. Maybe you enjoy the quintessential winter pastime of ice skating through the ice skating ribbon, or maybe you just want to build a traditional snowman in the attic igloo play area that also includes a snowball-throwing target area.
Enchant
1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Located in the heart of St. Pete, Enchant is a month-long (November 24th – December 31st) holiday experience where you can view dazzling lights, ice skate through beautifully lit-up scenery, and stroll through the village browsing through an assortment of holiday-themed goodies. Walk through a gigantic light maze as you search for Santa’s reindeer’s magic bells that a group of forest animal friends stole to save Christmas! Through the maze, you will find large light-up reindeer that are great for photo ops. After the maze, you also have the opportunity to go ice skating through a beautiful forest of Christmas lights. Suppose those types of things aren’t your thing, then fear not, because you can also shop through the variety of vendors filled with specialty crafts, artwork, and boutique items. You can even visit Santa and capture the memory with the professional photography offered. If you are a college student like me, then be sure to attend on either December 15th or December 28th, with the opportunity to represent your school and win some cool prizes in the process!
ZooTampa
1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
If a Nature Christmas is more your style, then look no further than ZooTampa with the return of Christmas in the Wild, showcasing one of the biggest light displays in Tampa Bay, delicious Christmas treats, breathtaking wildlife, and brand-new joyful experiences. With delightful entertainment, this year is sure to be bigger, better, and brighter than before! So put your Santa hat on, grab some hot chocolate, and stroll through all of the holiday festivities.
Holiday Spectacular
Riverwalk Tampa Bay
From November all the way through January, walk alongside the Tampa Riverwalk and enjoy the plethora of festive holiday lights for public viewing. See the thirty-five-foot tall Christmas tree that floats in the harbor, or take pictures at the holiday selfie station at the pirate water taxi ticket booth. This multi-month-long viewing event will leave you in that Christmas spirit as you stroll through the many different sights.
Christmas Town
10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612From November 11th all the way through January 7th, celebrate the holidays at Busch Gardens with fun rides, animal exhibits, specialty treats, and festive shows. Enjoy the park brightly lit with lights of every color as you explore the winter wonderland created to bring magic to your visit. Then, after a night of thrill and fun, sit back and enjoy a fireworks show or see an ice show called Christmas on Ice, where you can see many talented performers. You also have the opportunity to say hello to some of your favorite holiday characters like Santa and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. There’s something for everyone here and for people of all ages.