Whether you’re looking for something fun for the family to do, you want to share the magic of the holidays with someone special, or you’d like to entertain out-of-town company, there are plenty of choices across The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area.
We’ve compiled some of your options and share them here.
Land O’ Lakes and Lutz
22nd Annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School
When: Dec. 6, Dec. 8, Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 26, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 in Lutz
Cost: Free
Details: Guests can enjoy nightly entertainment inside the historic school, which will be dressed up for the holidays, and have trains and refreshments. Children also can enjoy breakfast with Santa on Dec. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tickets for that event are $4 each.
Info: Contact Stephanie Ensor at (813) 244-2256 or .
This Christmas, This Peace
When: Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
Where: Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz
Cost: Tickets for reserved seating are $10, $15 and $20
Details: The church will offer live performances with a choir, orchestra and nativity scene.
Info: Call Idlewild Baptist Church at (813) 264- 8707, or visit Idlewild.org.
Beyond the Noise
When: Dec. 16 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz
Cost: Free
Details: The church’s choir and drama team will put on a cantata, conveying Christmas through the eyes of a young girl.
Info: Call Keystone Community Church at (813) 948-4522, or visit KeystoneCommunityChurch.org.
Traditions on the Green Holiday Concert
When: Dec. 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Free
Details: Live performances from local school bands and choirs, a tree lighting ceremony and refreshments served.
Info: Call Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park at (813) 929-1229.
A Journey Through Bethlehem (for kindergarten through fifth grade)
When: Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Children asked to bring a canned good item for admission
Details: Harvester United takes kindergarten through fifth-graders on a tour that’s 2,000 years back in time, to experience the food and drinks, marketplaces, shepherds and the birth of baby Jesus.
Info: Call Harvester United at (813) 948-2311.
Pancakes, PJ’s and Putt-Putt
When: Dec. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Tickets are $10 for those age 13 and older; $8 for ages 4 to 12; free for ages 3 and younger.
Details: Enjoy a pancake breakfast while in your pajamas, indulge in arts and crafts as well as golf activities, and take snapshots with holiday characters.
Info: To purchase tickets, call (813) 331-5579.
The Mercy Manger
When: Dec. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to noon
Where: Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Riegler Road in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Free
Details: The Myrtle Lake Baptist Church invites the public to listen to their adult choir’s performance, “The Mercy Manger,” to help usher in the holiday.
Info: Call Myrtle Lake Baptist Church at (813) 949-5516.
Lutz, Odessa, San Antonio, St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor
Tampa Bay Tour De Clay
When: Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Studio stops include (each studio will have a kiln opening on Dec. 8):
- Schiemann Pottery, 4635 Eighth Ave., St. Petersburg (MatthewSchiemmanPottery.com); 9 a.m. kiln opening
- Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogie Lane, Palm Harbor (PotteryBoys.com); 11:30 a.m. kiln opening
- Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchison Road, Odessa (HiddenLakePottery.com); 1:30 p.m. kiln opening
- Wellman & Welsh Pottery, 17202 Whirley Road, Lutz (WellmanAndWelsch.com); 3 p.m. kiln opening.
- San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., San Antonio (SanAntonioPottery.net); 5 p.m. kiln opening (studio will stay open until 8 p.m.)
Cost: Free
Details: Studios offer demonstrations, an opportunity to purchase pottery, chance drawings, refreshments and more.
Info: Call (813) 961-7106, or visit TampaTourDeClay.com.
Wesley Chapel
Symphony in Lights
When: Through Dec. 31, on the hour, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel
Cost: Free
Details: The event features a giant Christmas tree with holiday lights synchronized to music, along with special guest performances.
Info: Call (813) 994-4010.
Avalon Aglow
When: Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Avalon Park West Community Center, 5227 Autumn Ridge Drive, in Wesley Chapel
Cost: Free
Details: Take pictures with Santa under a large Christmas tree, enjoy a bounce house, and fireworks. Vendors will offer food and hot chocolate.
Info: Call Avalon Park West at (813) 783-1515.
Zephyrhills, San Antonio, Dade City
34th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
When: Dec. 2 from noon to 7 p.m.
Where: Front lawn of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills
Cost: Free
Details: The event will have the decorating and lighting of more than 50 trees, bounce houses, games, a visit from Santa, fireworks, and food trucks with refreshments.
Info: Call Florida Hospital Zephyrhills at (813) 788-0411.
Christmas in the Park
When: Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
Where: San Antonio City Park, 32819 Pennsylvania Ave., San Antonio
Cost: Free
Details: Enlarged Christmas cards will be lit and performances will be given by the Piney Grove Baptist Church choir, and Dennis Devine and Friends. There will be a chance drawing for gift baskets, with tickets selling for $1 each.
Info: Call Donna Swart at (352) 588-3631.
Zephyrhills Festival of Lights
When: Dec. 8 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Historic Downtown Zephyrhills, 38537 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills
Cost: Free
Details: In addition to the parade, there will be refreshments, craft vendors, snapshots with Santa and a drawing for a child to win a free bicycle.
Info: Call Main Street Zephyrhills at (813) 780-1414.
Magical Night Christmas Parade
When: Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Where: Historic Downtown Dade City on Seventh Street in Dade City
Cost: Free
Details: Decorated floats, dancers, marching bands and Santa Claus will make their way down the parade route.
Info: Call the Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769.
Country Christmas and Vintage Market
When: Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for students or those who bring a toy donation; free for those younger than age 5
Details: There will be free photos with Santa from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; opportunities to purchase presents from vendors; food trucks; a petting zoo; and, live entertainment.
Info: Call Brenda Minton at (352) 206-8889, or visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.
33rd Annual Country Christmas Stroll
When: Dec. 8 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Downtown Dade City, Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue in Dade City
Cost: Free
Details: Local restaurants and shops will be open, and there will be vendors selling items. There also will be musical performances, cookie samples and a visit from Santa.
Info: Call the Dade City Merchant’s Association at (352) 424-0601.
Dade City Symphony: ‘Tis the Season to be Jolly’
When: Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
Where: Pasco Middle School Auditorium, 13925 14th St., in Dade City
Cost: Free
Details: The Dade City Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Jennifer Regal Ferguson will perform.
Info: Call the Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769, or visit DadeCitySymphony.com.
Church Street Christmas
When: Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Church Avenue in Dade City (the avenue will be closed starting at 6 p.m.)
Cost: Free admission and free parking
Details: Stroll along Church Avenue to see decorated homes and Christmas cards, with nightly entertainment by area church groups and musicians. Guests can park at First United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church or First Presbyterian Church, all on Church Avenue.
Info: Visit ChurchStreetChristmas.org.
Published November 28, 2018
