Christmas, Hanukkah Events In St. Pete: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — There are plenty of things going on around St. Petersburg to celebrate the 2023 winter holidays.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, starts at sundown on Dec. 7, and ends at nightfall on Dec. 15. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the season.

Menorah lightings in St. Petersburg include:

• Car Menorah Parade, hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center, Dec. 14. The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Greenwise Publix, 3700 4th Street N., and runs to Vinoy Park, where a menorah lighting takes place at 6:30 p.m.
• Congregation B’Nai Israel of St. Petersburg, 300 58th Street N., lights an outdoor menorah every evening starting Dec. 22 and throughout Hanukkah.

Christmas tree lights occur:

• The evening of Nov. 25 following the city’s annual Christmas parade, which starts at 6:30 p.m., Santa will light the tree in North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Drive NE.

Christmas parades, often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands, are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Attending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is a bucket list item for many families. If you can’t be in New York City, the parade will be livestreamed on NBC and Peacock, the network’s streaming service, from 8:30 a.m. to noon Eastern Time.

Parades in St. Petersburg may not be able to match that in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch here at home include:

• The 95th annual Santa Parade, an illuminated night parade that begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday in Albert Whitted Park, 480 Bayshore Drive SE, and travels to Fifth Avenue NE. It’s immediately followed by the tree lighting in North Straub Park.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in St. Petersburg are along the city’s downtown waterfront. Thousands of holiday lights and displays dazzle visitors to North Straub Park, South Straub Park, Pioneer Park, and the St. Pete Pier, and don’t miss the greeting card display along Bayshore Drive at Vinoy Park made by local teens and participants from the city’s recreation centers.

• Snowfest, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in North Straub Park. Enjoy toboggan slides for adults and children, inflatables, arts and crafts tents, food trucks and more. The $5 wristband includes all activities and can be purchased online or at any city recreation center through Dec. 1 at noon. Admission is free. To purchase wristbands, visit stpeteparksrec.org/holidayevents. Wristbands do not include food trucks.
• Meet Santa, Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 15-23, 6 to 9 p.m., at North Straub Park. Visits with Santa are free.
• Holiday Movie in the Park, Dec. 9, Crescent Lake Park, 1320 5th Street N. Holiday activities and photos with Santa and friends begin at 5 p.m.; movie begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
• Cookies with Santa, Dec. 15-16, 5:30 to 8 p.m., at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 3010 31st Street S. Decorate holiday cookies, meet Santa, and purchase small gifts for family and friends. Admission is $5 per person. Registration required. Reserve your spot at stpeteparksrec.org/holidayevents.