Christmas on Clearwater Beach comes with a twist: you can spend the afternoon barefoot on the sand and the evening walking under millions of holiday lights, all without packing a coat.
Pinellas County goes all in for the season. Two of the biggest walk through displays in the area sit in Largo, a short drive inland, and the waterfront in downtown Clearwater hosts a tree lighting, a lantern festival and a parade of lit up boats. Add Dunedin’s old fashioned street party and a handful of big names across the bay, and you have more than enough to fill a December week.
We live and work here, so this is the list we give our own guests. Every date below comes straight from the organizer, and we have linked each one so you can double check before you go. Distances are by road from Pier 60.
| Display | Dates | Cost | From Pier 60 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Lights, Largo Central Park | Nov 26 to Jan 3 | Free | 7 mi |
| Holiday Lights in the Gardens | Nov 27 to Jan 3 | $10 suggested donation | 9 mi |
| Clearwater Tree Lighting | Sun Nov 29 | Free | 3 mi |
| Illuminations Lantern Festival | Sun Dec 6 | Free | 3 mi |
| Holiday Lighted Boat Parade | Sat Dec 12 | Free | Ends on the beach |
| Dunedin Holiday Parade | Sat Dec 12 | Free | 7 mi |
| Enchant St. Petersburg | Nov 20 to Dec 27 | Ticketed | 22 mi |
| St. Pete waterfront lights | Nov 28 to Jan 1 | Public parks | 23 mi |
| Christmas Town, Busch Gardens | Select dates, Nov 13 to Jan 4 | Park admission | 31 mi |
The two big displays in Largo
If you only make one trip off the beach for lights, make it to Largo. The city’s park and the county’s botanical garden sit about four miles apart, both run nightly from Thanksgiving weekend into the new year, and neither needs a ticket.
Holiday Lights at Largo Central Park
This is the one locals talk about. The City of Largo wraps Largo Central Park in more than 2.5 million LED lights and turns the paths into a walking tour, with food, drinks and market vendors along the way. It feels like a small town holiday fair, and it is easy to lose an hour or two wandering.
Walking the lights costs nothing; the carousel and Ferris wheel rides are the main extra, and kids tend to make a beeline for them. Dogs on a leash are welcome, so the whole family can come along.
Go on a weeknight if you can, and plan around Saturday, December 5. That is the night of the city’s Holiday Tree Lighting and Stroll, and it is the one evening when parking is paid.
Good to know: Nightly, November 26, 2026 to January 3, 2027, 5 to 10 pm. Free to park and walk; rides are $6 each or 10 for $50. About 7 miles from Pier 60. City of Largo details.
Holiday Lights in the Gardens
A few minutes away, the Florida Botanical Gardens fills its 100 acre grounds with over a million lights, laser projections and live entertainment every night. It is the calmer, prettier of the two, with the lights woven through palms and planted beds rather than strung around a park.
The paths are stroller and wheelchair friendly, and well behaved pets on a 6 foot leash are welcome. There are no tickets; the Foundation asks for a $10 suggested donation per person over 12. Parking is free at 12520 Ulmerton Road and 12211 Walsingham Road.
Good to know: Nightly, November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027, 5:30 to 9:30 pm. About 9 miles from Pier 60. Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation.
Do both in one night. Start at the Gardens when the lights come on at 5:30 pm, then drive the four miles to Largo Central Park, which stays lit until 10 pm. Dinner from the vendors there saves a restaurant stop.
Closer to the beach: Clearwater and Dunedin
Some of the best moments of the season happen within a few miles of the sand. Downtown Clearwater’s Coachman Park is just over the causeway, and two of these events need no driving at all if you are happy to watch from the waterfront.
Clearwater’s Bright and Beautiful Tree Lighting
The city kicks off the season at Coachman Park with carolers, food trucks, a snow machine and photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. For kids who have never seen snow, a Florida flurry next to the bay is a memory that sticks. Arrive early for the best spot near the tree.
Good to know: Sunday, November 29, 2026, 5 to 9 pm, Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland Street. Free. About 3 miles from Pier 60. City of Clearwater.
Clearwater Illuminations Lantern Festival
A week later the same park glows with Japanese lanterns, inspired by a tradition from Nagano. You can make your own lantern to add to the display, then browse the international night market. It is a gentle, different kind of holiday evening, and a nice change of pace from the big light shows.
Good to know: Sunday, December 6, 2026, Coachman Park. Free. Visit St. Pete/Clearwater listing.
The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
This is the one we would not miss. The Clearwater Yacht Club’s 52nd annual parade sends a line of lit up boats from north of the Mandalay Channel Bridge around Island Estates, past Coachman Park and the yacht club, and on to Clearwater Beach Marina, where the judging happens.
Families gather all along the waterfront to watch. If you are staying on the beach, you can simply walk to the marina, find a spot by the water and let the parade come to you.
Good to know: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 6 pm. Free to watch. Route from the Clearwater Yacht Club.
Dunedin Holiday Parade and Old Fashioned Christmas
Earlier that same afternoon, Dunedin throws its parade through downtown, then keeps the party going with carriage rides, ice skating, a snow slide and snow flurries on Main Street. The town is walkable and full of places to eat, so it is easy to make an afternoon of it. Our guide to Dunedin has ideas.
Good to know: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 3:30 pm, Main Street and Douglas Avenue. Free; donations welcome at activity areas. About 7 miles from Pier 60. City of Dunedin.
December 12 is a double. Catch the Dunedin parade at 3:30 pm, then head back to Clearwater Beach Marina for the boat parade at 6 pm. It is only about 6 miles.
Worth the drive across the bay
Three bigger productions sit 20 to 30 miles away. Each makes a good evening out if you have a few nights to fill.
Enchant Christmas, St. Petersburg
Enchant builds a giant Christmas light maze inside Tropicana Field, with a new story this year, plus ice skating, Santa and live entertainment. This is the one that needs a ticket, and the organizer warns that popular weekends and holiday weeks can fill up, so book a weeknight early. Runs November 20 to December 27, 2026, about 22 miles from Pier 60. Enchant St. Petersburg.
St. Pete waterfront holiday lights
From November 28 to January 1, St. Petersburg lights up North and South Straub Park, Pioneer Park and the St. Pete Pier, made for a slow evening stroll along the water. The Santa Parade and Tree Lighting is Saturday, November 28 at 6:30 pm. The city says more 2026 details are coming, so check before you go. Enchant is only about 2 miles away, so the two pair well. St. Pete Parks and Recreation.
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Nearly 70 miles of lights cover the whole park, along with holiday shows and Santa’s Workshop. It is included with park admission and runs on select dates from November 13, 2026 to January 4, 2027, so check the calendar first. About 31 miles from Pier 60. Busch Gardens.
How to plan your lights night
Keep it simple. Spend the day on the beach, eat an early dinner, and head out as the sun goes down. The lights start between 5 and 5:30 pm at the Largo displays, so a sunset at Pier 60 followed by a short drive inland is a lovely way to do it.
Weeknights are calmer almost everywhere, and Enchant says its weekends and holiday weeks sell out first. Bring a light jacket for the evening, comfortable shoes for the walking displays, and a leash if the dog is coming. Then drive back to the beach for hot cocoa on the patio, or a quiet walk on the sand under the stars. Our trip planner can help you fit it all around the rest of your week.
Where to stay for a lights trip
A home of your own makes a holiday trip easier: room to spread out, a kitchen for the big family breakfast and a place to come back to after a late night. Here are four of ours that suit a December lights trip.
Bayway Luxury Waterfront Townhome has a rooftop terrace over the Intracoastal and a heated community pool, and Coastal Breeze has a private heated pool a 4 minute walk from the sand. If you would rather be close to the Largo lights, 5 O’Clock Somewhere is about 3 miles from Largo Central Park. For a smaller group, Sandy Shores 2 is a breezy two bedroom beach house steps from the Gulf. Bayway, Coastal Breeze and Sandy Shores 2 are pet friendly, subject to the pet policy.
Questions we get asked
When do the Christmas lights start near Clearwater Beach?
Enchant opens at Tropicana Field on November 20, 2026. Holiday Lights at Largo Central Park starts on Thanksgiving night, November 26, and Holiday Lights in the Gardens follows on November 27. Both Largo displays run nightly until January 3, 2027.
Are the Largo Christmas lights free?
Yes. Holiday Lights at Largo Central Park is free to park and walk, with rides at $6 each or 10 for $50. Holiday Lights in the Gardens needs no ticket and asks for a $10 suggested donation per person over 12.
Can we bring our dog?
Yes, at both Largo displays. Largo Central Park welcomes dogs on a leash, and the Florida Botanical Gardens welcomes well behaved pets on a 6 foot leash. Browse our pet friendly rentals to bring your dog on the trip.
When is the Clearwater boat parade?
The 52nd Holiday Lighted Boat Parade is on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 6 pm. It finishes at Clearwater Beach Marina, where the boats are judged.
Where should we stay to see the lights?
Clearwater Beach puts you about 7 to 9 miles from both Largo displays and right by the boat parade finish. Search your dates online, call us at (727) 449-2700 or email [email protected].
Let’s plan it
Make This the Year of Beach Days and Holiday Lights
Pick your lights nights, book a home with room for everyone, and we will help with the rest. Questions? Email [email protected].
See you on the sand.