As temperatures drop and festive cheer rises, St. Pete Beach becomes a charming holiday haven for visitors and locals. From vibrant light displays to boat parades, the winter season here is packed with unforgettable events.
If you are planning a trip to this area, you are in for a treat. December evenings on the Gulf Coast are mild enough for an outdoor stroll in a light sweater, which makes it the perfect time for parades on the water and miles of lights.
Below are the best holiday events in and around St. Pete Beach for 2026, with dates, times and places confirmed with the organizers, and how far each is from Clearwater Beach. Dates do shift with weather, so tap the link under each event for the latest before you head out.
| Event | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| St. Pete Beach Boat Parade | Fri Dec 18 | Horan Park, St. Pete Beach |
| Mistletoe Market | Sat Dec 12 | Horan Park, St. Pete Beach |
| Downtown St. Pete Boat Parade | Sat Dec 12 | St. Pete waterfront |
| Holiday Lights in the Gardens | Nov 27 to Jan 3 | Largo |
| Lights of Lake Park Estates | Dec 1 to 31 | Seminole area |
St. Pete Beach Boat Parade and Tree Lighting
One of the most anticipated events of the winter season is the St. Pete Beach Boat Parade. Picture boats of every size, decked out in dazzling holiday lights, gliding along the water. Grab a warm drink, find a cozy spot and revel in the holiday spirit as the boats pass by, twinkling against the night sky.
In 2026 the parade is on Friday, December 18, starting at 6 pm. It is run by the City of St. Pete Beach and the Bay to Bay Foundation, and the official viewing party is at Horan Park, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, from 6 to 9 pm, together with the city’s tree lighting ceremony. Expect free live entertainment, food and drinks from local vendors, holiday activities for kids and a chance to hand Santa a wish list.
If Horan Park is busy, you can also watch from Egan Park at 9101 Blind Pass Road or from the pedestrian walkway on the Corey Causeway between South Pasadena and St. Pete Beach. Horan Park has its own parking area, and the Suncoast Beach Trolley and SunRunner bus stop along 75th Avenue and Blind Pass Road, a short walk away.
Good to know: Fri Dec 18, 2026, parade from 6 pm; viewing party 6 to 9 pm at Horan Park. Free. City of St. Pete Beach and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. About 20 miles from Pier 60.
Mistletoe Market
For holiday shopping with a beach town feel, the city’s Mistletoe Market returns to Horan Park on December 12 from 10 am to 2 pm. There are arts and crafts vendors, food, music and activities, and the Festival of Trees to wander while you are there. It is a lovely way to pick up gifts made by local artists rather than another mall run. Mistletoe Market.
Downtown St. Pete Lighted Christmas Boat Parade
St. Pete Beach is not the only place with a boat parade, and the two are easy to mix up. The bigger downtown St. Petersburg parade runs along the city’s waterfront on Tampa Bay, about half an hour across the county from the beaches.
In 2026 it sets off at 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 12, from the St. Pete Municipal Marina. The best views are near the St. Pete Pier, the Vinoy yacht basin, North Shore Park and Flora Wylie Park. It is free; there is free street parking and some lot parking near North Shore Park and Vinoy Park, metered lots at the Pier, and several garages within walking distance, or you can take the free downtown Looper trolley. Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.
December 12 is a big night: the downtown St. Pete parade and Clearwater’s own Holiday Lighted Boat Parade both run that Saturday evening. If you are staying in Clearwater Beach, the Clearwater Yacht Club parade starts at 6 pm and passes close by, so you can watch without the drive. Shop the Mistletoe Market in the morning and you have filled the day.
Holiday Lights in the Gardens
Stroll through the gardens aglow with a million twinkling LED lights. This enchanting experience is only possible at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. The gardens transform into a winter wonderland, captivating visitors of all ages with vibrant laser lights, lighted figures and live entertainment every night. Beyond the lights, the gardens offer a serene escape where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll, surrounded by nature’s beauty enhanced by the festival’s glow.
For 2026 it runs nightly from November 27 to January 3, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. No ticket is needed; a donation of $10 per person over 12 is suggested to support the gardens, so children 12 and under are free. Parking is free at 12520 Ulmerton Road, the paths suit strollers and wheelchairs, and leashed pets are welcome. Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation.
Good to know: About 11 miles from Pier 60, roughly 20 minutes by car, which makes it the closest of these events to Clearwater Beach.
The Lights of Lake Park Estates
For those who love grand neighborhood festivities, the Lights of Lake Park Estates is an event that will warm your heart. Every year the neighborhood goes all out, adorning homes and yards with over three miles of Christmas lights and decorations.
The tradition began in 1993 to celebrate the life of a neighbor and has run for more than three decades. It now spans the central Pinellas neighborhoods of Lake Park Estates, Wieker, Lakeside Estates and Lake Seminole Village, and it supports Suncoast Hospice, Pinellas County’s only not for profit provider of end of life care. Donations are collected at the Suncoast Hospice cart along the route, and every dollar goes to the hospice; the event has raised more than $1 million so far.
The lights are on every night from December 1 to 31, 6 to 10 pm. There is no admission charge because these are public neighborhood streets. Drive or walk the route, use the main event entrance, and keep intersections clear so residents can get home. Suncoast Hospice Foundation; directions and FAQ.
Where to stay for the holidays
After enjoying the holiday events, retreat to one of our vacation rentals. If St. Pete Beach is your focus, staying on the central beaches keeps both it and Clearwater Beach within easy reach. Here are four of ours on that stretch of coast.
Sunset Corner is a one bedroom home in Redington Beach with a pool on site. Coastal Escape is a two bedroom, two bath home in Indian Rocks Beach with a dock on the water. Coastal Dream in Indian Shores sleeps seven, and Water Lover’s Paradise in Indian Rocks Beach has a waterfront pool deck and dock. For more festive ideas, see our guides to Christmas lights near Clearwater Beach and Christmas in Clearwater Beach.
Sunset Corner
Coastal Escape
Coastal Dream
Water Lover's Paradise
Questions we get asked
When is the St. Pete Beach boat parade in 2026?
Friday, December 18, 2026. The parade starts at 6 pm, and the official viewing party and tree lighting run from 6 to 9 pm at Horan Park, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive.
Is the St. Pete Beach boat parade the same as the downtown St. Pete parade?
No. The downtown St. Petersburg Lighted Christmas Boat Parade is on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 6:30 pm, along the downtown waterfront near the St. Pete Pier and the Vinoy.
How much is Holiday Lights in the Gardens?
No ticket is needed. The gardens suggest a $10 donation per person over 12, and children 12 and under are free. It runs nightly from November 27, 2026, to January 3, 2027, 5:30 to 9:30 pm.
Is there a charge to see the Lights of Lake Park Estates?
No. It is free, on public neighborhood streets, every night from December 1 to 31, 6 to 10 pm. Donations to Suncoast Hospice are welcome.
Let’s plan it
Plan Your Visit
Experience the joy of the holiday season around St. Pete Beach, and let Sunny Orange Stays provide you with the ideal home away from home.
See you on the sand.