Pinellas Events Sure To Get You In The Christmas Spirit

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -- Revelers of all ages will celebrate the holiday season in Pinellas County as venues host lights, parades, caroling, visits with Santa and other seasonal events.

Lights Of Lake Park

Lights of Lake Park will continue nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. through Dec. 31 at Lake Park Estates, 109th Avenue North and Lake Park Drive in Largo. Click here for maps.

Visitors can walk or drive through. There will be candy canes for the kids and dog treats for furry friends.

Benefiting Suncoast Hospice, the Lights of Lake Park has raised more than $845,000 in donations since 1993 when it began to celebrate the life of neighbor Ruby Dow and the care she received from Suncoast Hospice.

South Dunedin Golf Cart Parade

The South Dunedin Christmas Golf Cart Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 22 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the VFW Post 2550, 360 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. There will be prizes and raffles. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at 4 p.m. Participating golf carts should arrive by 6 p.m. Judging takes place at 7 p.m. and the parade to Bauser's kicks off at 8 p.m.

Register online by clicking here.

Oakdale Christmas Light Display

The 41st annual Oakdale Christmas Light Display will continue nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 3 .at the Oakdale Christmas House, 2719 Oakdale St. S., St. Petersburg. It features more than 500,000 lights, a manger scene with 150 pieces visible from Bethel Avenue and a walking yard tour of the half-acre property that includes several waterfalls, fountains, an 18-train HO scale railroad and 16 carnival rides and animated figures.

The display is free and open to the public.

Holiday Lights In the Garden

The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation and Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources is hosting the 18th annual Holiday Lights in the Garden event at Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo.

Santa will visit regularly throughout the event through Dec. 23, but families looking to get a picture should call in advance to see which night he'll attend.Each evening of Holiday Lights in the Gardens includes food, drinks and ice cream. Fun seasonal items will be available from the Botanical Bounty Gift Cart, located on the main plaza, while all types of seasonal gifts and décor will be available in the Botanical Bounty Gift Shop, located in the main building. Both will be open nightly.

The family-friendly event will run through Sunday, Dec. 31, from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m., weather permitting. A donation of $5 per person is suggested for guests over the age of 13.

Event updates will available via the "Holiday Lights in the Gardens" Hotline: (727) 582-5800 or by clicking here.

Clearwater Holiday Extravaganza

Downtown Clearwater is celebrating he holiday season with its inaugural Holiday Extravaganza that will bring more than a month of shopping, dining and events designed for the entire family.

Downtown Clearwater's Cleveland Street has been transformed during the Holiday Extravaganza into a holiday destination with colorful lights, festive decorations, music and activities.

The events run through Dec. 23, and each day downtown Clearwater will offer a unique holiday experience, including specialty shops for holiday shopping, holiday celebrations, a tree-lighting ceremony, carnival fun with rides, games and music, holiday concerts, holiday movies and visits from Santa Claus.

Events schedule:

Through Dec. 23 -- Pop-Up Market with unique specialty shops at Second Century Studios, 331 Cleveland St. The shops will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and will offer an assortment of items for holiday shopping, including jewelry, handmade purses, clothing, artisan soaps, hand-painted wood and canvases, body care, gourmet popcorn, home decor and lighting and more. The Pop-Up Market will feature different vendors each week, so visit each week to meet the different vendors and discover new gift ideas.

Dec. 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. -- Fifth Annual Santa & Suds 5K Run or Walk and Fun Street Party at 418 Cleveland St. Register by clicking here or the day of the race beginning at 2 p.m.

Dec. 23 at 6 p.m. -- Holiday Movie Night with the delightful movie "Polar Express" at Station Square Park, 612 Cleveland St. The movie night will feature a special guest, the one and only Santa Claus, who will host a meet and greet with the children. Holiday treats and snacks will be available. Free event.

Park for free all day on weekends and after 6 p.m. on weekdays at city parking garages and on-street parking. For parking information, click here or call (727) 562-4704 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Images via Pinellas County organizations

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