Last checked: September 2026. Dates, hours and prices come from the organizers’ own listings and can change, so confirm before you drive.
If you are searching for Christmas lights in St Pete and Clearwater, here is what we tell our guests: the two biggest light shows in Pinellas County are actually in Largo, downtown St. Petersburg has a free waterfront walk, and downtown Clearwater has a small, free holiday village. Below you will find the displays worth an evening, what each one costs, how to park, and two easy routes that keep the night relaxed instead of rushed.
Christmas lights in Pinellas County at a glance
| Display | Where | 2026 dates and hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Lights in the Gardens | Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Rd, Largo | Nov 27, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027, 5:30 to 9:30 pm nightly | Suggested donation of $10 per person for guests over 12; free parking |
| Holiday Lights & Carnival Rides | Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Dr, Largo | Nov 26 to Dec 27, 2026, 5 to 10 pm nightly | Free to park and walk; rides $6 each or $50 for 10 |
| Waterfront lights | Downtown St. Petersburg parks and the St. Pete Pier | 2026 dates not yet posted by the city; recent years ran from late November into early January | Free to enter the Pier District; parking is paid |
| Winter Wonderland | Downtown Clearwater | Runs several weeks each December; the 2025 run was Nov 29 to Dec 23 | Free; donations of food or unwrapped toys encouraged |
Sources: Visit St. Pete/Clearwater event listings for the two Largo displays, the St. Pete Pier FAQ, and the Clearwater Community Volunteers page. The St. Petersburg and Clearwater 2026 dates were not confirmed when we checked.
The two big Christmas light shows in Largo
Holiday Lights in the Gardens
Florida Botanical Gardens lists more than one million lights plus laser projections. Parking is free in two lots (12520 Ulmerton Rd and 12211 Walsingham Rd), and guests get a colored sticker to match their exit gate. Leashed pets are welcome, and the garden trails are ADA-accessible, though there are no wheelchairs or scooters to rent on site. Entertainment such as dancers, magicians, live music and kid activities is scheduled on Thursday and Sunday evenings, and a gift and plant sale runs December 5 and 6.
What we tell guests: go on a weeknight when you can, arrive near opening, and wear real walking shoes. It is a 100 acre garden, and you will walk more than you expect.
Holiday Lights & Carnival Rides at Largo Central Park
The City of Largo lists more than two million LED lights, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, a campfire and food vendors. You can park and walk the lights for free. Rides are $6 for one or $50 for ten. Paid parking applies on December 6, 2026 for the Holiday Tree Lighting and Stroll. Leashed dogs are welcome.
It works well for mixed groups: teenagers ride, grandparents stroll, toddlers watch the carousel. If your group is large, decide up front how many ride tickets you will buy so the night does not turn into a negotiation.
Christmas lights in St. Petersburg
Downtown St. Pete lights up its waterfront parks and the Pier District in the holiday season. The city had not posted 2026 dates when we checked, so look at the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation holiday page or call them before you plan around a specific night.
Logistics we have checked on the official Pier FAQ: the Pier District has no entry charge, and the Pier opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes at 11 pm. Weekday lots run about $2 an hour for the first four hours, and weekend lots about $2.50 an hour. The Downtown Looper trolley is free and stops right at the entrance to the Pier District, and there is a free tram from 9 am to 11 pm. Dogs are welcome on a leash up to 6 feet, but not on the splash pad or Spa Beach.
If you want a full St. Pete day around the lights, our guide to things to do in St Pete has museums, the market and beach ideas.
Drive times from our homes to the St. Pete Pier
| Home | Area | Typical drive to the St. Pete Pier |
|---|---|---|
| Hibiscus House | Pinellas Park | 23 minutes |
| Tortuga Hideaway | Largo | 25 minutes |
| On the Creek | Largo | 27 minutes |
| The Salty Parrot | St. Petersburg | 29 minutes |
| Indian Shores Family Oasis | Seminole | 31 minutes |
| Goodtimes Waterfront | Largo | 36 minutes |
| Casa Blue Horizon | Indian Rocks Beach | 40 minutes |
Drive times are the typical minutes listed on each home’s page; evening traffic can add time.
Christmas lights in Clearwater
Downtown Clearwater’s Winter Wonderland is a free holiday village that has been a community tradition since 1993. It has a stage, Santa photos, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, a hot chocolate shop and a Holiday Express train, plus pony rides and bounce houses in past years. It runs for several weeks each December, and visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food or an unwrapped toy for local charities. In 2025 it was held at Fort Harrison Ave and Drew St; confirm this year’s location and dates with the organizers.
The City of Clearwater’s 2026 Coachman Park calendar also lists Clearwater’s Bright and Beautiful Tree Lighting on November 29. Check the city page for the time and details.
Think of Winter Wonderland as a one hour stop, not a whole evening. If you are also planning a mild December beach walk, our Clearwater beach guide will help.
Two easy routes
A Largo night
- Arrive at Largo Central Park at 5 pm and ride the Ferris wheel first.
- Walk the lights, then eat from the vendors or head home for dinner.
- Save Holiday Lights in the Gardens for another evening, and check a maps app for the drive that day.
A St. Pete waterfront evening
- Park once at the Pier or ride the free Looper trolley.
- Walk the waterfront parks, then loop the Pier District.
- Head home before the late crowds; it is a flat walk that suits strollers.
Where to stay for holiday lights
Our Largo vacation rentals put you close to the two biggest displays. On the Creek sleeps 10 with a heated pool and the backyard, and Goodtimes Waterfront sleeps 16 with a fire pit and dock. Heating is included in the rate at our heated pool homes, and our heat season runs October through April, though a cold snap can limit how warm any pool gets. For the St. Pete side, The Salty Parrot sleeps 10 and is near, not on, the waterfront, so plan on a drive of about 29 minutes to the Pier. See all St. Petersburg vacation rentals.
For daytime, our parks and nature guide covers gardens and walks.
Quick answers
The two largest displays are in Largo: Holiday Lights in the Gardens at Florida Botanical Gardens and Holiday Lights & Carnival Rides at Largo Central Park.
Largo Central Park is free to park and walk, with rides sold separately. The Botanical Gardens asks for a suggested $10 donation per person for guests over 12.
Yes. The waterfront parks and the Pier are usually lit from late November, but the city had not posted 2026 dates when we checked.
Leashed dogs are welcome at both Largo displays and at the St. Pete Pier, except on the splash pad and Spa Beach.
Yes. Winter Wonderland in downtown Clearwater has been free, with a request to bring a non-perishable food item or an unwrapped toy.
Keep planning
Ready to plan a lights weekend? Pick your dates, see the total price with taxes before you pay, and remember there is no service fee when you book direct. Questions? Call or text us at +1 727-295-2319.