Wonderful holiday (and lots of other) happenings continue! Be sure to check out previous Top 10s for all the ongoing holiday festivities. https://registrytampabay.com
Thursday and Beyond
Christmas Town
Busch Gardens, Tampa
Here’s another wonderful ongoing holiday experience for you and your friends and family. Experience the joy of the season up close with animal encounters, thrilling rides, holiday inspired culinary delights and festive shows like Christmas on Ice. Keep the holiday spirit shining bright from day to night with twinkling lights of every color and dazzling fireworks, plus heartwarming moments with Santa and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
Now Through January 7th, 2024
Find tickets, event schedules, and more information HERE.
Next Generation Ballet’s Nutcracker
Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
Now a glittering holiday tradition for all of Tampa Bay, Next Generation Ballet®’s Nutcracker takes audiences into a fantastical world of dazzling dancing sweets, sword-fighting rodents and timeless ballet music. Featuring Next Generation Ballet’s award-winning young dancers alongside guest principal dancers from powerhouse companies across the nation, this family-favorite ballet is not one to be missed. There are only five performances, so don’t miss out!
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, December 21st, 22nd, & 23rd
Find tickets, performance schedules, and more information HERE.
Ongoing – Tampa Theatre’s Holiday Classic Series
Historic Tampa Theatre, Tampa
Here’s a wonderful opportunity to see your favorite classic holiday movies on the big screen in the incredible vintage historic theater that is Tampa Theatre. It’s a Wonderful Life, the Frank Cappra classic with Jimmy Stewart, screens until today, followed by a Christmas Eve matinee screening of White Christmas starring Bing Crosby. RENT will screen on New Year’s Eve. Sounds like a perfect holiday outing and a special way to view the holiday movies you love.
Now through New Year’s Eve
Find tickets, screening schedules, and more information HERE.
Friday
Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Two big events at RayJay this weekend including this major college bowl game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Florida’s own UCF Knights – University of Central Florida. GT comes in at fourth in the Atlantic Coast Division with a 6-6 record. The Knights have the same record in the Big 12. It’s always a fun and festive atmosphere, and the holiday season and some fun tailgating just makes it more so.
Friday, December 22nd @6:30pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Candlelight Jazz: Holiday Classics
Coastal Creative, St. Pete
Here is a lovely idea for your holiday weekend. Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in St. Petersburg, FL. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Holiday Classics at Coastal Creative under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Friday, December, 22nd @6:30pm – 8:30pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
**Registry Spotlight Event**
What could be better than combining holiday magic with Cirque magic? I ask you. That’s why Cirque Musica at Ruth Eckerd Hall shines in the #RegistrySpotlight
Cirque Musica: Holiday Wonderland
Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Featuring the talented cast of Cirque Musica, spectators will be dazzled by the acrobats, aerialists, hilarious hijinks and holiday cheer. The show blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with a musical mix of timeless seasonal favorites played LIVE. Cirque Musica: Holiday Wonderland is an unforgettable experience for the entire family to enjoy a world-class circus experience infused with the holiday classics we all love.
Friday, December 22nd @ 7pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Last Chance: A Christmas Carol Gets Decked
Carrollwood Players, Tampa
Get more of your holiday theatre on…This fresh and outrageously funny take on the Charles Dickens classic asks the question “What would happen if everything that could go wrong with a community theatre production of A Christmas Carol – did go wrong? In the spirit of wildly popular shows like The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and other comedy “disaster” plays, A Christmas Carol Gets Decked is a gut-bustingly fun opportunity for community theatre to poke fun at itself with apologies to Mr. Dickens!
Friday & Saturday, December 22nd & 23rd
Find tickets, performance schedules, and more information HERE.
Saturday
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Amalie Arena, Tampa
Prepare for a musical journey like no other this winter as Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is set to spread rock vibes throughout its spectacular annual holiday tour. The multi-platinum rock group, which has consistently hit the upper-reaches of the touring charts for the past 15 years, unveiled the exciting details of their highly anticipated 2023 winter tour, titled “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – the Best of TSO & More.” This year’s tour promises a new and larger presentation of the beloved holiday tradition, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” which has captured the hearts of multiple generations.
Saturday, December 23rd @
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Sunday – Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve Family & Candlelight Services
First Presbyterian Church, St. Pete
If you’re looking for a lovely Christmas Eve service to attend, look no further than beautiful Beach Drive in DTSP. First Presbyterian is a truly stunning place to behold on any given day, but especially so at Christmas time. The 4pm service will feature caroling and a re-telling of the Christmas Story with kids participating in the presentation. The candlelight service will feature music, caroling, and a candlelight rendition of Silent Night. A little holiday salve for the soul is never a bad idea, no matter your affiliation.
Sunday, December 24th @4pm (family) and 7pm (candlelight)
Find more information HERE.
NFL – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Believe it or not, our Bucs are in first place in the NFC South division and will face a tough AFC interstate foe in the Jags. The Jags are coming off several losses, including their last outing to the Ravens. They come into RayJay out to throttle their opponent, but Baker Mayfield and company are playing pretty well of late, so it should be a great game. Christmas and the NFL – what a wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve!
Sunday, December 24th @4:05pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all.
Cindy
Please send your events to: cstovall5@gmail.com