With the holidays come lots of dazzling light displays, shows, and festive cheer! While light displays are often up throughout the entire season, many locations host tree lighting ceremonies as a single evening celebration to kick off the start of the season.

If you're looking for Christmas lights, free holiday events, or even holiday performances, don't worry! We've got you covered in our other holiday blogs, so you don't have to go hunting for all the dazzling details!

Keep on reading for all the details you'll need to know for some of the best tree lighting ceremonies in the Tampa Bay Area!

Tree Lighting Ceremonies for A Great Family Experience

Riverwalk Tree Lightning

Sunday, November 30, 2025, 4 pm-7 pm
Tampa Convention Center

Celebrate the start of the holidays with the Riverwalk Tree Lighting Ceremony featuring a stage performance, Santa, a DJ, and a holiday vendor market! The official tree lighting begins at 6:30 pm.

Tree Lighting Ceremony at Winter Wonder Wharf

Friday, November 14, 2025, 5 pm-9pm
Sparkman Wharf

Gather the family for an evening of fun at Winter Wonder Wharf for the lighting of their iconic 30-foot Christmas tree! The will light up at 7 pm. Guests will also be able to enjoy plenty of entertainment, photo ops, crafts, and more!

Water Street Season Spectacular Lighting

Friday, November 14, 2025, 5 pm-9 pm
971 Water Street, Tampa

Don't miss out on the kickoff for the 4th annual Season Spectacular, where multiple trees will be lit up for the season! Be sure to check out the 35-foot Christmas tree with thousands of lights and hundreds of pine cones, and the 24-foot Christmas tree featuring warm white dancing lights!

1st Annual Christmas Tree Lightning Ceremony

Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 6 pm-9 pm
2130 W. Main Street, Tampa

The West Tampa Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 1st Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony this year! Don't miss out on the start of a wonderful new holiday tradition.

Centro Ybor Winter Spectacular Tree Lightning Ceremony

Thursday, November 20, 2025, 5 pm-9 pm
1600 East 8th Ave., Tampa

The holidays are taking over Ybor! Partake in a festively fun night for the whole family with a Santa experience, snowfall, a holiday night market and more! The tree lighting ceremony will officially begin at 7:30 pm.

Holiday Happening Tree Lighting

Thursday, November 20, 2025, 5:30 pm-8 pm
Hyde Park Village

Celebrate the season at Hyde Park Village for their annual Tree Lighting! Enjoy live music, a Nutcracker-inspired dance performance by the Tampa City Ballet, and a special visit from Santa. The tree will be lit at 7:55 pm.

The Heights District 8th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

Saturday, November 22, 2025, 5 pm-9 pm
1910 North Ola Ave., Tampa

Deck the halls on Saturday, December 22, for the 8th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting in the Heights District! This special event will be full of fun surprises featuring our friends from the North Pole, live performances, a holiday market, and more. Seasonal drinks will be available for purchase for 21+ attendees.

The Don CeSar Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Friday, November 28, 2025, 6 pm
The Don CeSar

Kick off the holiday season in style at The Don CeSar’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, where the Pink Palace transforms into a winter wonderland filled with sparkling lights and festive décor, including the lighting of their Christmas tree!

Lights of Love Tree Lighting

Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm
McCall Park, Downtown Plant City

The 27th annual tree lighting ceremony marks the start of the holiday season with a 25-foot Christmas tree adorned with lights “purchased” by individuals, families, and businesses in honor or memory of friends and loved ones. This year's beneficiary is the Foundation South Florida Baptist Hospital's new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Tampa's Santa Fest & Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 6, 2025
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

Join in on the holiday fun with the 2025 Santa Fest & Tree Lightning at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park! The official tree lightning will begin at 6 pm. with dancers, entertainment, music, and more! Admission is free.

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Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremonies Around Tampa Bay