Pasco County Events: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

PASCO COUNTY, FL -- Here are some events that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Dade City Holiday Light Tour

The Dade City Merchants Association will host its Holiday Light Tour Friday, Dec. 14 from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Dade City. Enjoy an old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon ride around Agnes Lamb Park and down historic Church Avenue to view historic homes decorated for the holidays. Restaurants and shops will be open during event hours.

Celebration Of Lights

The Celebration of Lights at The Concourse/Rotary Pavilion in Shady Hills continues nightly through Dec.. 23. at 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Spring Hill. Presented by FastMD, the holiday display can be viewed Sundays through Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m.. The one-mile drive-through exhibit features colorful custom light displays. The cost is $10 per car, $40 per passenger van and $7 per person on a tour bus.

While you're there, check out the miniature train rides by the Grand Concourse Railroad on Fridays and Saturdays at Safety Town. Various vendors will be on hand. Joy FM will provide holiday music. Santa will be available from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost is $4. For more details, click here.

Symphony In Lights

The Shops at Wiregrass at 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel, will host a Symphony in Lights each night from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring entertainment by local church and school groups.

Breakfast With Santa

Breakfast with Santa will take place Friday, Dec. 14 from 10:15 a.m. to noon at the Land O' Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway. Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a light breakfast, crafts and a photo op. Pictures will be taken by staff and posted on the library's Facebook page.

Chick-fil-A Oldsmar at 3740 Tampa Road will host Breakfast With Santa Saturday, Dec. 15 from 9 to 10 a.m.

Purchase discount tickets in advance for $6 at the Cypress Forest Rec Center, 650 Pine Ave. N. or State Street Center, 127 State St. W. Tickets at the door are $8. Tickets include a kid's meal, picture with Santa and a gift from Santa.

Call 813-749-1152 for more information.

Chick-fil-A Oldsmar will also host a Christmas Craft Night Tuesday, Dec. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. Kids will make their own pine cone Christmas tree and receive a kid's meal deal.

Christmas Cantata

First Baptist Church of Land O' Lakes and Land O' Lakes Christian School will host a Classical Christmas Program Friday, Dec. 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the school, 5105 School Road, Land O' Lakes. The junior and senior high handbell choirs and choirs and the fourth- through 12th-grade band and strings will perform.

Then return on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. for the First Baptist Church's Christmas Cantata featuring choirs, the drama team and the chamber orchestra.

Christmas Train

All aboard the Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad Christmas Train Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Crews Lake Wilderness Park, 6739 Crews Lake Drive, Spring Hill.

Visitors can ride the train through the scenic park, take photos with Santa at the North Pole and explore vendor booths. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. The cost is $6 with kids 12 months and younger admitted for free.

Live Nativity

Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, will host a live nativity Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. There will be refreshments afterward.

Mistletoe Market

Atria Windsor Woods will host a Mistletoe Market Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 13707 Dallas Drive, Hudson.

There will be craft and other local vendors as well as raffles.

All donations will go to Wreaths Across America.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Pasco Youth Haven will host an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Saturday, Dec. 15 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Faith Deliverance Outreach Ministries Inc., 11251 Little Road, New Port Richey. Children of all ages are welcome. There will be prizes for the ugliest sweaters.

Winter Wonderland

Land O Lakes Recreation Complex and Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources will host a free Winter Wonderland Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway.

There will be a moon walk, stations where children can create crafts and decorations, a cookie-decorating station, and refreshments. Those attending should bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots. Call (813) 929-1220.

Sweets And Treats With Santa

Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road, Hudson, will host Sweets and Treats with Santa Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Children will enjoy some tasty treats, make a craft and visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Everyone who visits Santa will receive a free digital download and a 5-by-7 print. The library is also offering free pet photos (registration required) with Santa in the afternoon on Saturday.

Santa's Fun Day

J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd., Holiday will host a Santa's Fun Day Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The event will include arts and crafts, games, raffles and photos with Santa.
Call 727.942.7439 for more information.

Christmas Toy Giveaway

Calvary Chapel Worship Center, 6825 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, will host a Christmas event and toy giveaway Sunday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m.

No registration is required. Toys will be distributed to children present in Sunday school class during service times at 8:10, 9:45 and 11:25 a.m. Toys will be distributed at 1 p.m. and children will have an opportunity to make real snow balls.

Deck A Golf Cart

New Port Richey will host its golf cart Christmas Light Caravan Sunday, Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in downtown New Port Richey.

The parade begins at Sip, 6231 Grand Blvd., and follows a route through and around downtown New Port Richey.

2nd Annual Wassail About Town

The second annual Wassail About Town will take place Monday, Dec. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 5742 Main St., New Port Richey.

Enjoy wassail (spiced ale or mulled wine) while caroling along Main Street.

Run, Run Rudolph Run

The Irish 3.1 Run Club will host a Run, Run Rudolph walk/run Wednesday, Dec. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Irish 31 Wiregrass, 28358 Willet Way, Wesley Chapel.

Wear your ugliest, fanciest, loudest or most festive holiday sweater/outfit, and make sure your ensemble includes lights because, just like Rudolph, runners and walkers will light up the night. All run participants donning at least some sort of light will be entered to win the grand prize of the TRACER360.

Church Street Christmas

Everyone is invited to participate in a Dade City Tradition -- Church Street Christmas -- Dec. 21-23 from 7 to 9 p.m. Church Street Christmas features the sights and sounds of the holidays along Church Street in Dade City with nightly entertainment by musicians, dancers, carolers, choirs and school groups while enjoying a stroll down sidewalks lit by luminarias to see the historic decorated homes, a live nativity, giant Christmas cards and visit with Santa from 17th Street to 9th Street.

Parking is free and available at the churches on Church Street including the First United Methodist Church, at 37628 Church Ave., First Baptist Church, 37511 Church Ave. and First Presbyterian Church, 37412 Church Ave.

Christmas At Old McMicky's Farm

Christmas at Old McMicky's Farm will take place Friday, Dec. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the farm, 9612 Crescent Drive, Odessa.

Children can visit with Santa, pet the ponies in their reindeer gear and receive a special reindeer gift, explore the barn maze decorated with Christmas lights, decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus, make crafts in the Elves Workshop, toast marshmallows on an open fire, participate in a holiday scavenger hunt and enjoy bounce houses. Food, drinks and hot cocoa will be available for purchase.

The United States Marines in their dress blues will be accepting canned food donations.

The cost is $10 for adults, $7 for children and free for kids under 2. Click here for tickets.

Drag Queen Christmas Story Hour

Pasco Pride welcomes drag queen Stephanie Stuart for a story hour featuring holiday favorites on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. at The Paperback Exchange Bookstore, 5412 Ridge Road, Port Richey. This is a family-friendly event. RSVP by clicking here.

If you have a Pasco County holiday event to add to this list, send it to editor D'Ann Lawrence White at dann.white@patch.com.

Image via Church Street Christmas

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