Our Favorite Things to Do Thanksgiving Break in Tampa Bay
Thanksgiving break is growing nearer, and we can hardly believe it! If you're thinking about staying home for the Thanksgiving week, don't fret. We'll be sharing some awesome things to do during Thanksgiving Break in Tampa Bay soon!
While we have details about some fun events for this year, we are still waiting on quite a few. Be sure to check back often as our list of events and activities will be updated as information becomes available!
Updated by Hailea Boykin, October 2025
Go to Camp! Thanksgiving Week Camps for Kids in Tampa Bay are ready to entertain!
If you need a day to prepare or still need to head into the office, it’s not too late to register your child or children for a fun day camp at some of our favorite places like Glazer Children's Museum, MOSI, and more! We've got a full list of Thanksgiving break camps in Tampa Bay here.
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Race in a Local Turkey Trot
Pre-burn all of those Thanksgiving calories and race in a local Turkey Trot! There are several on schedule in Tampa Bay including the YMCA's Turkey Gobble. We're sharing some of our favorite Turkey Trots in Tampa Bay here.
Get into the holiday spirit in Tampa Bay:
Don't forget to explore our top picks of the BEST Christmas Events in Tampa Bay!
Snap a photo with Santa Claus!Â
We’re sharing some of our favorite spots to snap photos with Santa including local shopping centers like International Plaza, and Bass Pro Shops, and special events like Christmas Town at Busch Gardens and Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa. See our complete list of where to take pictures with Santa in Tampa Bay here.
Admire the twinkling holiday lights at displays throughout Tampa Bay
There are several beautiful holiday light displays in Tampa Bay with some spots offering drive-thru opportunities so you don’t have to get out of your car like the Chick-fil-A on Waters Avenue in Tampa and the Wonderland of Christmas Lights at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover. We have 18+ holiday light events to discover in Tampa Bay here.
‘Tis the Season at Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa
When: Select Dates from November 28 through December 31, 2025
ZooTampa lights up with holiday magic during this year’s modified event! Make an online reservation to attend Christmas in the Wild. This year’s Christmas in the Wild promises to be the biggest and brightest yet! They’re not only adding new animal light sculptures, but you’ll still get to enjoy returning favorites like the illuminated Ice Cavern. Kids will also love exploring Gingerbread Jubilee, meeting Rudolph in person at Rudolph’s Reindeer Games, getting silly in the land of Ticky Tacky Christmas, and more! Â
Explore Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
When: Select dates from November 14, 2025 to January 5, 2026
Walk among the millions of twinkling lights while making contact-free visits with holiday characters like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa! The ice-skating show will be performed outdoors and there’s even a new fireworks display. Don’t forget to hop aboard the holiday train to sing along to your favorite Christmas tunes while at Christmas Town.
Cut down your own Florida Christmas Tree at Ergle Tree Farm
When: Open 7 days a week from 9 am-7 pm, November 15-December 21, 2025
Yes, you can absolutely cut down your own Christmas Tree and it’s an easy drive away from Tampa at Ergle Tree Farm in Dade City. If you still love the look of the trees from up north, they have a tree lot too! This is something you have to do at least once in Florida because…why not??
Go Ice-Skating at Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park in TampaÂ
When: November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026
WinterVillage at Curtis Hixon Park is scheduled to return to downtown Tampa! The outdoor ice-skating rink is back and like last year, you'll want to book your reservation ahead of time to guarantee a spot on the ice. The park will be illuminated with beautiful lights and you can even shop locally at the outdoor market featuring local small businesses and artisans. Be sure to check out holiday-themed ice skating shows on select nights!
Holidays at LEGOLAND
When: Select days December 6-31 ,2025
Have some LEGO-loving kids (and kids at heart) in the family? Take them to LEGOLAND Resort to celebrate the holidays! Holidays at LEGOLAND will be celebrated on select dates from December 6 to December 31! This BRICKtacular event features unforgettable seasonal shows, LEGO holiday character experiences, sweet treats, and special activities. Light displays will twinkle throughout the park and a giant LEGO Christmas tree is sure to mesmerize guests with its 360-degree light show.
Visit Gingerbread Village at the Glazer Children’s Museum
When: 2025 TBA
Head up to the second floor of the museum to step foot into a gingerbread-inspired wonderland kicking off on November 2 and running through the end of December. Your kiddos can build their very own gingerbread house out of recycled materials like cardboard, pipe cleaners, and more and then add their creation to the village.
Volunteer your time or give back to help other families:
Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent
Metropolitan Ministries is seeing an increased need in our community due to the high cost of living and expects to serve 30,000+ families in Tampa Bay this holiday season. You can help local families by making food donations and even toy donations for the holidays. Kids as young as 8 may volunteer in the Holiday Tents with their families. There is a great need for volunteers to give their time this year. Learn more here.
Feeding Tampa Bay
Feeding Tampa Bay recently opened a brand-new facility to help assist more families in need. Did you know kids as young as 5 can volunteer with their parents at Feeding Tampa Bay? If you are not able to attend a volunteer event in person, your donations are needed now more than ever. Take the kids along on a shopping trip to help fulfill the needs at Feeding Tampa Bay. Learn more about how your family can help.
More Ways Your Family Can Support Those In Need:
- 12+ Places to Donate New Toys in Tampa Bay
- A Season of Giving: 10 Ways Your Family Can Give Back in Tampa Bay
- Paws for Literacy and other cool volunteer programs for kids at the Humane Society
Explore Tampa Bay with your friends and family:
Here are some of our favorite features about local things to do around Tampa Bay that aren’t holiday-related.
- Explore Awesome NEW Parks: Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland and Coachman Park in Clearwater
- Our Favorite Family-Friendly Beaches in Tampa Bay
- Swim with Manatees in Crystal RiverÂ
Check out cool exhibits on display now in Tampa Bay:
There are some pretty amazing exhibits that will be open, so Thanksgiving break is the perfect time to experience what's NEW in our area with your family and guests!
Experience the Exhibits at Glazer Children's Museum
From dinosaur bones, to pretending to be a firefighter, Glazer Children's Museum is a great places for the kids to learn and experience while having fun! Here they can make and cook the best pizza at the Pizza Place, steer a mini tugboat at Tugboat Tots, build forts, pretend to be a vet at the Vet Clic, and so much more.
Mote Marine Aquarium
Meet sharks, sea turtles, otters, and more at the BRAND NEW Mote SEA Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota! Families can have fun exploring and interacting at the facility, or check out some of their education programs that include summer camps, dip netting, and private kayak tours.
LEGO Ferrari Race & Build Experience at LEGOLAND FloridaÂ
Sit inside a life-sized Ferrari made out of LEGO bricks! While you're there, build your own race car from LEGO bricks and give it a spin on different courses.
TECO Manatee Viewing Center | Opening November 1, 2025
This is a wonderful outdoor adventure for the entire family! You can walk the stroller-friendly boardwalks to view the manatees as they seek the warmth of the clean water coming from the B Bend Power Station. There is also an observation tower along the trail and plenty of spaces to enjoy an outdoor picnic and it's FREE. We're sharing more details about the TECO Manatee Viewing Center and what to expect when you go.
FloridaRAMA| Open Thursday-Monday
FloridaRAMA (formerly Fairgrounds St. Pete) is an immersive art experience that has made its mark in Tampa Bay! Fairgrounds St. Pete is art an exhibit like you've never seen, heard, or even smelled before. More than 60 artists were commissioned to bring it together.
Celebrate the Holidays on the Farm
A few local farms will be opening for the holiday season during Thanksgiving Break! HarvestMoon Fun Farm in Masaryktown and Raprager Family Farm in Odessa both have scheduled openings after Thanksgiving Day. We're dishing on the details here.