20+ FUN Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend
It's another busy weekend with tons of awesome things to do in Tampa Bay with the kids!
The holiday season is officially in full swing, which means it's time to start filling up your calendar with all the awesome holiday events, Santa sightings, and more around town with our guide to the Best Holiday Events in Tampa Bay for Families!
But, before we dive into our list of Weekend Top Picks of Things to Do in Tampa Bay This Weekend– here's how we've set it up to make it easier for you to find an event on a day that works best for your family: Featured Events that make this page possible, More Awesome Things to Do, What's on Exhibit, Save the Date, and more.
Happy weekend exploring!
Featured Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend
We're giving the following events an extra shout-out since their support helps us provide this amazing weekend guide to you for free!
Sesame Street Live! Elmo & Friends Say Hello!
Date: Sunday, December 7
Location: Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater
Come sing, dance, and play alongside your favorite furry friends, all while you follow Elmo’s puppy, Tango, in a fun game of hide & seek. So put on your dancing shoes and make your way to where the air is sweet for this all-new celebration on Sesame Street! Coming to the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater at 2pm on Sunday, December 7!
Holidays at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Dates: Kicks off on Saturday, December 6, and will be celebrated on select days
Location: LEGOLAND Florida in Winter Haven
Celebrate during this BRICKtastic holiday event that kicks off this Saturday with your favorite LEGO characters, shows, tasty treats, holiday builds, and more! You can even be there as The Space Gal, Emily Calandrelli, helps light the big LEGO Christmas Tree during a special tree lighting ceremony with Blue Origin's Club for the Future–all in celebration of the new ride, Galacticoaster, opening at LEGOLAND in early 2026.
Tampa Bay Festival of Lights & Santa’s Village
Dates: Through December 28
Location: Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, Dover
Lighting up the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds with over 1 million lights this 2-mile drive-thru features an expanded Santa’s Winter Woodlands and favorites like Under the Sea and Pirates of Tampa. In Santa’s Village, enjoy festive shows, children’s activities, visits with Santa and Tiny the Tanker, seasonal rides, animal encounters, s’mores by the fire and more! Check hillsboroughcountyfair.com for entry times, prices, special events and to buy tickets.
Annual Yule Cactus Lighting
Date: Tuesday, December 2, from 6 pm to 8 pm
Location: The James Museum, St. Pete
Kick off the holiday season with the annual lighting of The James Museum’s 10-foot Yule Cactus! Free events throughout the evening include family-friendly art making and photos with Cowboy Santa. The event takes place on the museum’s first floor, and it is free to attend. Museum admission is needed for gallery access upstairs. Advance online registration is highly recommended!
SkyWatch at MOSI
Date: Friday, December 5, from 7 pm to 9 pm
Where: MOSI in Tampa
Throughout the evening, expert astronomers will guide you in viewing the stars, planets, and celestial wonders through telescopes. From the ground level of the outdoor Science Park to the top of the iconic MOSI Dome, they’ll have telescopes set up to give you the best view of the night sky. Take in the breathtaking beauty of constellations, distant galaxies, and more while MOSI's astronomers provide fascinating insights about the cosmos.
Sensory Saturday at MOSI
Date: Saturday, December 6, from 8 am to 10 am
Where: Tampa
MOSI’s next Sensory Saturday is created in partnership with C.A.R.D. at USF to welcome guests with sensory differences into a calm, supportive museum experience. For this special morning, MOSI opens early and transforms into a sensory-friendly environment with lowered lights, reduced noise, and a relaxed pace.
Tampa Bay Bucs Game
Date: Sunday, December 7 at 1 pm
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Cheer on the Bucs as they take on the New Orleans Saints!
Sesame Street Live at the Mahaffey Theater
Date: Sunday, December 7 at 2 pm
Location: Clearwater
Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends from Sesame Street are coming to St. Petersburg to say hello! At Elmo and Friends Say Hello, sing, dance, and play alongside your favorite furry friends, all while you follow Elmo’s puppy, Tango, in a fun game of hide and seek. So put on your dancing shoes and make your way to where the air is sweet for this all-new celebration on Sesame Street!
Tampa Theatre Holiday Classics: Sing-Along WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)
Dates: Sundays, showtime at 3 pm
Location: Tampa Theatre, Downtown Tampa
It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Tampa Theatre! Enjoy timeless Holiday Classics like “Miracle on 34th Street”, “Elf” , and “It’s a Wonderful Life” every Sunday afternoon. Choose “naughty or nice” with late-night Friday REWIND hits like “Die Hard” and “Gremlins”, or Wednesday night Big Pictures like “The Muppet Christmas Carol”. And all are welcome for a FREE community screening of “Saint Nick of Bethlehem” on December 6! For tickets, ornaments, gift ideas, and more, visit TampaTheatre.org/holidays
A Whoville Holiday at The BayCare Sound
Date: Sunday, December 7, at 4 pm
Location: The BayCare Sound: 255 Drew St, Clearwater
Celebrate the holiday season in Downtown Clearwater for A Whoville Holiday at The BayCare Sound! This FREE family-friendly event offers falling snow, hot chocolate, a live holiday performance by the students of the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts at Ruth Eckerd Hall, plus your chance to meet The Grinch, and then end the night with a screening of the 2018 animated film “Dr. Seuss's The Grinch”.
ZooTampa Christmas in the Wild in Tampa
Dates: Select nights through December 31, 2025
Location: 1101 W. Sligh Ave, Tampa
ZooTampa'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 Randolph the reindeer in person at Randolph’s Reindeer Games, getting silly in the land of Ticky Tacky Christmas, and more! Santa also has a new house at the Zoo, and Mrs. Claus has a new kitchen for cookie decorating in North Pole Lane!
Holiday Spectacular at Zubrick Magic Theater
Dates: Now through January 4, 2026
Location: 1211 1st Ave N, Suite 101, St. Petersburg
Experience the magic of the season at the Zubrick Magic Theatre's “Holiday Spectacular”. This award-winning performance blends grand illusion, festive surprises, and heartwarming holiday cheer into one unforgettable evening for the entire family. Seating is limited, and performances will sell out fast—so don’t wait! Visit zubrickmagic.com to secure your tickets and make this holiday truly magical!
Set Sail on The Lost Pearl's “A Pirate's Christmas Cruise”
Dates: Select nights in December
Location: Tampa Convention Center
December brings an extra sprinkle of holiday magic with “A Pirate’s Christmas.” Families can join White Beard and his jolly pirate crew for a festive 1-hour cruise full of games, sing-alongs, and even “snow” on the high seas. Kids will love writing letters to Santa and mailing them at Tampa’s only floating North Pole buoy, while every child receives a gift from the treasure chest.
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Tampa
Dates: Through January 5, 2026
Location: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens is a park-wide festive fun at this award-winning holiday event. The park becomes filled with holiday cheer, and guests can enjoy holiday traditions with a twist. Ride the Holly Jolly Express train, view millions of twinkling lights from the top of a roller coaster, visit Santa in his workshop, and spend time with Rudolph and his friends from the classic holiday movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Guests can also enjoy festive live shows and take part in special holiday dining and shopping. Christmas Town is included with admission.
Ananda Farm’s 2nd Annual Holiday Festival
Date: Through December 21, 2025
Location: Ananda Farm in Terra Ceia
From November 21–December 21, families can enjoy a classic Christmas experience on Ananda Farm in Terra Ceia—complete with festive lights, holiday décor, daily live music, seasonal food & drinks, arts and crafts, and Santa meet-and-greets on select days. Discover holiday magic for all ages and save 15% on admission with code HOLIDAY at checkout.
Lucy Sparrow's Quick Shop at FloridaRAMA
Dates: Now until the exhibit sells out of the felt art creations
Location: St. Pete
World-renowned artist Lucy Sparrow is bringing her incredible felt artwork back to Tampa Bay in a 700-square-foot exhibit at FloridaRAMA called Lucy Sparrow's Quick Shop. The whimsical exhibit is filled with thousands of handmade felt art creations inspired by the everyday items you would find at the market, including produce, seafood, laundry detergent, and more. And here's what's really cool–you can purchase the artwork, too. FloridaRAMA is also decorated for the holidays!
Gingerbread Village at Glazer Children's Museum
Dates: Now open!
Location: Glazer Children's Museum in Tampa
Step into Gingerbread Village in GCM's MakeSpace exhibit, where creativity, collaboration, and winter wonders come to life. In Gingerbread Village, you can tinker away at creating imaginative gingerbread-inspired houses and structures to add to their growing village. Work together as a family to design and build miniature creations using recyclable materials like cardboard, pipe cleaners, bottle caps, and more everyday items.
YMCA Neighbor to Neighbor Christmas Program
Dates: Events all month long in December
Location: YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg locations
Join hundreds of donors, volunteers, and staff to help provide the magic and nostalgia of the Christmas season to nearly 400 families and 1,000 children in our community. Families receive a live Christmas tree, ornaments, a holiday dinner, books and toys, plus a season of youth sports at the Y. Volunteer opportunities include delivering Christmas trees, organizing toy drives, helping families “shop” for toys, and more.
WORTH THE DRIVE: ICE! Featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™
Dates: Through January 7, 2026
Location: Gaylord Palms Resort
For the very first time, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ will be featured at Gaylord Palms Resort in 2 million pounds of intricately carved ice sculptures in ICE!, the resort's signature holiday attraction. Strike a pose with Santa and Rudolph in one of the longest ice carvings measuring over 32 feet long, crawl into whimsical photo setups, or become one of the misfit toys in this winter wonderland made for memory-making. Experience the splendor of the holiday season at Gaylord Palms.
MORE Awesome Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend
Winter Village in Downtown Tampa
Now open through January 4, 2026
Location: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Winter Village is celebrating its 10th year with the return of outdoor ice skating on real ice, local shopping, yummy treats, and more! Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is also the NEW location where Pirate Water Taxi's River of Lights Boat Tours will depart. It is free to go to Winter Village, but you can pay $17 to ice skate, which includes ice skate rental.
Amazing Athletes at Armature Works
Date: Friday, December 5, from 9:30 am to 10:50 am
Location: Armature Works in Tampa
In partnership with Amazing Athletes, kids ages 18 months to 5 years old are invited to participate in Amazing Athletes, the premier developmental sports and physical fitness program. Kids are empowered through positive movement experiences with a focus on meeting their motor-development milestones! There are two classes offered, Amazing Tots (18 months to 3 years old: 9:30 am – 10:00 am) and Amazing Athletes (3 to 5 years old: 10:05 am – 10:50 am).
Fun & Furious Friday at Midtown Tampa
Date: Friday, December 5, from 6 pm to 10 pm
Location: Midtown in Tampa
Kick fun into high gear for a Friday full of games, treats, and exotic cars! Meet in the middle for larger-than-life yard games, live music, and treats from your favorite Midtown retailers. Then take a walk around the community to see Corsa Car Rally’s showcase of luxury and sports cars on display.
The Grinch's Indoor Snowball Fight at United Skates of America
Date: Friday, December 5, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Location: Tampa
Go skating and enjoy an indoor snowball fight featuring a meet and greet with The Grinch! $16 per person (includes rentals) or $11 with your own skates. Get 4 admissions, 4 rentals, plus a large cheese pizza and a pitcher of soda for just $60.
Friday Night Meltdown Public Skate at AdventHealth Center Ice
Date: Friday, December 5, from 7:45 pm to 9:45 pm
Location: AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel
Start your weekend off on the right skate on the ice for a 2-hour public skate session! There will be a live DJ, colored lights and so much more!
Kids Workshop at Home Depot
Date: Saturday, December 6, from 9 am to 12 pm
Location: Various Locations
Head to your local Home Depot for a free DIY craft! All supplies included (while supplies last). This month, you can create your own hot cocoa mug!
Bricks 4 Kidz Weekend Workshop
Date: Saturday, December 6, from 10 am to 1 pm
Location: Bricks 4 Kidz in South Tampa
Unleash your creativity at Bricks 4 Kidz Weekend Workshop! Use STEM techniques to create the perfect themed build. Each child will make and take home a custom LEGO minifigure at the end of each workshop. This week, the theme is LEGO Jurassic World!
City of Tampa Santa Fest Parade and Festivities
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 1 pm
Location: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
The parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. at Morgan Street and Madison Street and then travels west on Madison Street to Ashley Drive before turning north and ending at Ashley Drive and Cass Street. The best viewing is along Madison Street. After the parade, head to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for Santa Fest entertainment and activities from 1 pm-4 pm, which will be followed by the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 pm with Mayor Castor!
Cyber Bowling Kid's Matinee at Pin Chasers
Dates: Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, from 12 pm to 4 pm
Locations: Various Pin Chasers Locations
Cyber Bowling is the fusion of high-energy entertainment and bowling, where anything is possible! Your favorite music and club lighting create a glowing, family-friendly club-like atmosphere while you bowl. At Veterans, Midtown, Brandon, and East Pasco locations.
Esports Open Play at Emanuel P. Johnson Rec Center
Date: Saturday, December 6, from 1 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: Emanuel Johnson Rec Center in Tampa
The Esports lounges are staffed with Esports specialists who inspire and encourage new social skills, help develop gaming fundamentals, and set a safe, inclusive, and positive social environment. Our coaches are Esports competitors who have the skills and experience to help any player develop and grow their skills to perform better in competitions. In addition to developing Esports skills, participants socialize with like-minded competitors and make new friends in a high-energy environment.
Ugly Sweater Public Skate at AdventHealth Center Ice
Date: Saturday, December 6, from 5:15 pm to 7:15 pm
Location: Wesley Chapel
It’s time to get out your ugliest holiday sweater and go ice skating this holiday season!! Head to AdventHealth Center Ice to see who has the ugliest sweater!
Tampa Bay Sun Football Club Game
Date: Saturday, December 6, at 7:30 pm
Location: Tampa
Come cheer on the Tampa Bay Sun Football Club as they take on the Sporting Jax! This is also Holiday in the Sun Night!
Sensory Sensitive Sunday at Chuck E Cheese
Date: Sunday, December 7, from 9 am to 11 am
Location: Various Locations
Through their Sensory Sensitive Sundays program, participating locations open two hours early on the first Sunday of the month. They offer a quieter environment, dimmed lighting, and a trained and caring staff to ensure each guest has a safe, fun-filled visit.
Dueling Pianos for Kids at Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant
Date: Sunday, December 7, from 4 pm to 7 pm
Location: Treble Makers in Wesley Chapel
Fun for the Whole Family! Entertainment is focused on music for the kids, from favorite pop songs, movies, and shows as requested by the audience!
MORE THINGS TO DO: See What’s on Exhibit in Tampa Bay
Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine exhibit at MOSI
Location: MOSI in Tampa
Can a machine think like you? Learn like you? Paint your portrait like Picasso? Starting September 6, visitors at MOSI, Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry, can find out in a brand-new way with the opening of Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine, a hands-on exhibit that makes the world of AI exciting, accessible, and unforgettable.
Science LIVE! All-New Science Demos | Daily at 2 p.m.
Location: MOSI, Raymond James Amphitheatre
Watch a MOSI educator bring science to life with exciting, hands-on demos. Each show lasts about 15 minutes and features fun experiments in chemistry, physics, biology, and more. You’ll see colorful reactions, cool demos, and amazing science in action. MOSI makes science easy to understand, and even easier to get excited about!
Wild Oasis at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Location: Busch Gardens-Tampa
The Wild Oasis Realm is finally open at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! There's a new ride, a splash pad, and so many ways to climb and play!
SEA LIFE Florida at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Location: LEGOLAND Florida-Winter Haven
Get ready for this under-the-sea adventure at this all-new indoor attraction! You can expect to see more than 3,000 sea creatures and even walk through a 180-degree underwater tunnel! We'll be there for the official opening on Friday morning!
Forts Exhibit at Glazer Children's Museum
Location: Downtown Tampa
The beloved FORTS exhibit returns to Glazer Children's Museum this weekend in its newly expanded and permanent home on the second floor, just in time for spring break! You'll find it on the second floor, where kids can use their imaginations to build an epic fort!
Let's See at Glazer Children's Museum
Location: Glazer Children's Museum-Tampa
This colorful, bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibit, created in partnership with the Glazer Vision Foundation, invites families to explore the science of vision through hands-on, mind-bending experiences. Discover how your eyes work with playful interactives that bring light, color, and perspective to life. Mix colors on spinning wheels, walk into a giant kaleidoscope, and cast dazzling colored shadows. Peer through a water sphere to see the world flipped upside down – just like your eyes do before your brain flips it back! Try on glasses, test for color blindness, and watch your pupils dilate as you explore how we see the world.
Wonders of Wetlands at Great Explorations Children's Museum
Location: St. Pete
This new permanent exhibit, created in partnership with Tampa Bay Water, was designed to engage young minds and spark environmental curiosity. The immersive experience brings one of Florida’s most vital ecosystems to life inside the museum, and kids can even go face-to-face with some of the creatures that call our wetlands home, like turtles, lizards, and a snake!
See the World’s Largest Triceratops at Glazer Children’s Museum
Location: Tampa
Big John, the world’s largest fossil triceratops, is now on display at the Glazer Children’s Museum for a three-year exhibition. For the first time, the museum is waiving its requirement that adults attend the museum with a child, to ensure everyone has a chance to see Big John nose to snout for themselves. While you do not need a reservation to go to the museum, you will need to book a timeslot to see Big John. This will eliminate crowds so you can make the most out of the experience. Learn more about how to plan your day to see Big John the Triceratops here.
FloridaRAMA – Open Thursday-Sunday
Location: St. Pete
FloridaRAMA (formerly Fairgrounds St. Pete) is an immersive art experience has made its mark in Tampa Bay! There are more than 70 artists featured. You can go and simply enjoy the whimsical art that celebrates weird, wacky, wonderful Florida or choose a different adventure and try to crack the codes and mysteries you’ll find throughout.
Paws for Literacy at Humane Society of Tampa Bay | Tuesdays and Thursdays
Location: Tampa
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay gives children who love animals a chance to spend time with them while catching up on their reading or improving their reading skills. Children are paired with homeless pets who love to hear the stories and look at the pictures. The program is offered for children ages 5 and up. They’ll provide reading stools, books, and treats (for the animals), but children are welcome to bring their own books if they wish. Books provided include animal tales, stories of the animal-human bond, and books that teach empathy to young readers. Supervised by a Florida state certified teacher.
Ruskin Family Drive-In | Wednesdays-Sundays
The Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre has over 50 years of continuous service to the Ruskin and South Hillsborough County. It’s been a community gathering place since its first movie, “Singing in the Rain” played in 1952. They offer great movies, good food, and peace and quiet on a continuous basis with a 2000 square foot screen, clean restrooms, snack bar, and clean parking lot. Please note: you must bring a portable radio with you or use the radio in your car to hear the movie. There will be no showings on Monday and Tuesday.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE AWESOME EVENTS IN TAMPA BAY:
The Rudolph Limited Mini Train Rides with Largo Central Railroad
Dates: December 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21, 2025
Location: 225 Central Park Dr., Largo
Largo Central Railroad is offering its themed “The Rudolph Limited” mini-train rides that take you and the kids on a beautiful ride through the park that is lit and decorated for the holidays. Tickets are $10 each if paid in cash.
Merry Maker’s Market at MOSI
Date: December 13, from 10 am-2 pm
Location: MOSI
A festive shopping experience including with museum admission, shop the Merry Maker’s Market for a diverse selection of vendors showcasing their finest work, from handmade jewelry and artwork to specialty home décor and more. Support local artisans and small businesses while selecting meaningful gifts that carry a personal touch.
Santa’s Scientific Workshop at MOSI
Date: December 13, from 6-9pm
Location: MOSI
Explore festive science experiments that bring holiday magic to life and take part in a dazzling planetarium show to journey through the stars. You can also meet Santa Claus and capture a special photo to remember the evening, plus, write letters to Santa and send your wishes straight to the North Pole with MOSI’s Magical Mailbox! Even better, enjoy delicious, sweet holiday treats along the way.
NGB Nutcracker
Dates: December 19 – 23
Location: Straz Center, Downtown Tampa
Enter Clara and Drosselmeyer's fantastical world of dancing sweets, sword-fighting rodents and some of ballet's most famous music. Next Generation Ballet’s Nutcracker features award-winning young dancers from NGB alongside guest star dancers from New York City Ballet, Isabella LaFreniere and Jovani Furlan. This glittering Tampa holiday tradition should not be missed.
Holiday Sparkle
Dates: December 19-21, showtimes at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Location: Palladium, 253 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg
Get ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a festive evening of music and merriment! Holiday Sparkle brings together dazzling vocalists, spirited dancers, and 40-piece orchestra for a heartwarming celebration of the season. From beloved carols and timeless classics to show-stopping dance performances that light up the stage, you’ll be swept away by the spirit of the season. An unforgettable evening that captures the sparkle and warmth of the holiday season.
Movies on the Pier
Date: Friday, December 19th at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Family Park, St. Pete Pier
Start a new St. Pete tradition! Join in every third Friday on the Pier for an outdoor movie. VIP upgrades are available for premium reserved seating, two drink tickets, and one popcorn. This month’s feature is The King of Kings (PG).
Breakfast With Santa
Dates: December 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Enjoy a memorable morning filled with holiday spirit, delicious food, festive crafts, and a chance to meet Santa himself on December 20th! Whether you’re crafting ornaments, sipping hot cocoa, or taking photos with Santa, there’s holiday cheer for everyone. Make lasting memories in this enchanting holiday setting at Clearwater Marine Aquarium!
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents The Greatest Show On Earth®
Dates: January 2-4th, 2026, various showtimes
Location: Benchmark International Arena
Step inside The Greatest Party On Earth! The 150+ year-old beloved circus is back and reimagined for a new generation. This larger-than-life production bursts back into Tampa for the launch of the National U.S. tour. Get tickets now for the Circus Party of the Year, featuring two hours of high-energy, family fun with over 65 world-class performers and beats that get you out of your seat!