Tampa's Santa Fest is Saturday, Dec. 5: the parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Madison Street, then Santa Fest at Curtis Hixon Park and the tree lighting at 6 p.m.
Tampa’s Santa Fest and Tree Lighting is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. at Morgan and Madison streets, Santa Fest fills Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park from 1 to 5 p.m., and the mayor lights the park’s seven Christmas trees at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Updated Oct. 15: Friends of Tampa Recreation has posted the 2026 date and schedule, and the Tampa Downtown Partnership has posted the parade route. The Riverwalk tree lighting and the neighborhood park lightings are not announced yet.
Last checked Oct. 15, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Friends of Tampa Recreation Santa Fest page, the Winter Village page of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, the city’s Santa Fest page (still showing 2025), and the city’s 2025 announcements: Parks and Recreation’s holiday lineup and the Tampa Convention Center’s waterfront events.
Who to call
- Santa Fest sponsorship and vendors: Friends of Tampa Recreation, 813-966-5505
- City of Tampa Parks and Recreation events: City of Tampa, 813-274-8211, and the city calendar
- Tampa Convention Center events: the convention center’s event calendar
- Road closures: one.network
Santa Fest 2026: the schedule
Friends of Tampa Recreation runs Santa Fest for the city on the first Saturday of December. Its 2026 schedule:
| Time, Saturday, Dec. 5 | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 p.m. | Santa Fest parade | Starts at Morgan and Madison streets |
| 1 to 5 p.m. | Santa Fest: crafts, games, entertainment, free photos with Santa | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive |
| 6 to 6:30 p.m. | Tree lighting: the mayor leads the countdown and lights seven Christmas trees | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park |
| 6:45 p.m. | Free holiday movie on the lawn | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park |
Admission is free. Blankets, low-back chairs and leashed dogs are welcome, and food and drinks are sold on site, the organizer says. The movie title has not been announced.
The parade route
The Tampa Downtown Partnership’s Winter Village page gives the route, the same one the city published in 2025:
- Start: Morgan Street and Madison Street, 1 p.m.
- Route: west along Madison Street, then north on Ashley Drive
- Finish: Ashley Drive and Cass Street, beside Curtis Hixon Park
- Best viewing: along Madison Street
Expect marching bands, floats, dance groups and Santa at the end. The city has not yet published closure times for the route; we will add them, with any detours, when it does. Check our road construction and closures page the week before.
Parking and getting there
- Garages: the William F. Poe Parking Garage is just north of Curtis Hixon Park, and the organizer points to other city garages and lots within a short walk. Downtown meters run 8 a.m. to midnight seven days; see our getting around guide.
- Free streetcar and water taxi: the TECO Line Streetcar and the Pirate Water Taxi both serve downtown, and Curtis Hixon Park is on the Riverwalk.
- Arrive early: the parade route on Madison Street and Ashley Drive cuts across the streets to the park’s west side.
Winter Village and other Curtis Hixon events
The park also hosts Winter Village, the downtown ice rink and holiday shops, through the season. Dates, skating prices and parking are on our Winter Village ice skating page.
The rest of the season: still to be announced
The city has not posted its 2026 Riverwalk tree lighting or neighborhood lightings. Here is how they ran in 2025, from the city’s announcements:
| Date (2025) | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Nov. 30, 4 to 7 p.m. | Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Tree Lighting; tree lit at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Jane Castor | Outside the Tampa Convention Center, The Sail Plaza and Big Ray’s Fish Camp on the Riverwalk |
| Wednesday, Dec. 3, 6 p.m. | New Tampa tree lighting with a parking lot parade and dance performances, hosted by council member Luis Viera | New Tampa Recreation Center, 17302 Commerce Park Blvd. |
| Thursday, Dec. 4, 6 p.m. | Tree lighting with hot chocolate, cookies and photos with Santa | Forest Hills Recreation Center, 724 W. 109th Ave. |
| Friday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m. | Tree lighting with games, crafts and cheerleaders | Cole’s Pond, 4100 N. 17th St. |
| Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7, 3 to 5 p.m. | Santa and Mrs. Claus meet-and-greet | The Sail Plaza and Big Ray’s Fish Camp Riverwalk |
Santa Calling
At Santa Fest, parents can sign their child up for Santa Calling, a free Parks and Recreation program in which Santa phones the child at home “from the North Pole.” In 2025 the calls were made on Dec. 10 and 11.
Getting downtown for the Riverwalk tree lighting
From the city’s 2025 notice:
- Closest city garages: the Tampa Convention Center garage on Brorein Street, the Pam Iorio garage on Channelside Drive and the Fort Brooke garage on Whiting Street.
- TECO Line Streetcar: free, linking Ybor City, Channelside and downtown. The Dick Greco Station stop is next to the convention center.
- Pirate Water Taxi: stops along the river, including one at the convention center.
Holiday trash and Christmas trees
City trash pickup shifts around Christmas and New Year’s Day, and the city collects Christmas trees curbside for two weeks after the holiday; trees up to 6 feet, with no decorations, go out with yard waste. Last year’s tree collection notice gave the dates. See our trash and recycling guide for the holiday schedule.
What this means for you
- Put Saturday, Dec. 5, on the calendar: parade at 1 p.m., trees at 6 p.m., all free.
- Watch the parade from Madison Street, then walk to Curtis Hixon Park.
- Sign up for Santa Calling at Santa Fest if you have young children.
- Bring a blanket or low-back chair for the tree lighting and the movie.
Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, the Nutcracker in Tampa, things to do this month and parks and trails in Tampa.
Frequently asked questions
When is Tampa’s Santa Fest and tree lighting in 2026?
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The parade steps off at 1 p.m., Santa Fest runs from 1 to 5 p.m., the tree lighting is from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and a free holiday movie starts at 6:45 p.m., according to Friends of Tampa Recreation, which runs the event.
Does Tampa have a Christmas parade?
Yes. The Santa Fest parade, with marching bands, floats, dance groups and Santa, steps off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Morgan and Madison streets. It runs west on Madison Street, north on Ashley Drive and ends at Ashley Drive and Cass Street. Madison Street is the best place to watch.
Is Santa Fest free?
Yes. Admission is free, and so are photos with Santa. Food and drinks are sold on site. Blankets, low-back chairs and leashed dogs are welcome, the organizer says.
When is the Tampa Riverwalk tree lighting?
The 2026 date has not been announced. In 2025 the Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Tree Lighting was Sunday, Nov. 30, outside the Tampa Convention Center.
What is Santa Calling in Tampa?
A free City of Tampa Parks and Recreation program: parents sign up at Santa Fest, and Santa calls the child at home from the North Pole. In 2025 the calls went out Dec. 10 and 11.
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