Feast and Fun: Upcoming Activities to Spice up Your Thanksgiving in Tampa Bay
Curtis Hixon Park During Christmas Credits: Matthew Paulson
By Tampa Bay Living Magazine staff
When you spend Thanksgiving in Tampa Bay, you'll discover much more than just a fantastic feast.
To make your Thanksgiving day plans easier, consider Del Frisco's Grille, which offers classic Thanksgiving dinners with favorites such as herb and citrus butter roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy. Seasons 52 serves traditional roasted turkey and pan gravy with mashed butternut squash, herb stuffing and a pumpkin pie indulgence.
Start the season with Florida ice skating at Tampa's Winter Village, an impressive ice skating rink that attracts many residents and visitors each year. After twirling on the ice, visit the cafe for holiday-themed snacks and drinks.
Credits: ZooTampa at Lowry Park
The Florida Aquarium is expanding its “Snow Days” event, offering more opportunities for visitors to experience the chill of real snow. The event will be held from Nov. 25–Dec. 24, with activities such as a snow maze, snow painting and snowball toss, all included with admission. The event will be held during aquarium hours and daily from Dec. 26–31.
Every season, ZooTampa transforms with thousands of twinkling holiday lights and displays for its annual “Christmas in the Wild” event.
The Hillsborough County Fairgrounds are loaded with family fun for Thanksgiving, with horse-drawn carriage rides through a Christmas village, dozens of animated and still-light displays, and so much more. There's plenty of delicious holiday food to eat, games to play and crafts to make with your loved ones. You can also meet Santa, help paint a holiday mural, and even let the kids ride a camel or pony.
Credits: Hyde Park Village
Busch Gardens will open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, featuring its Christmas Town entertainment lineup. “The Christmas on Ice” holiday ice skating show will have four performances in the Moroccan Palace Theater. Check out the park’s Tampa Bay's Christmas Town to have an unforgettable experience. As you walk through this winter wonderland, you and the family can meet Santa and his reindeer, ride a holiday train while singing along to Christmas songs and eat plenty of festive treats.
LEGOLAND Resort is hosting a “Holidays at LEGOLAND” event from Nov. 24-Dec. 31. The event features seasonal shows, LEGO holiday character experiences, sweet treats and special activities. Light displays twinkle throughout the park, and a giant LEGO Christmas tree with a 360-degree light show will be on display.
Lastly, Hyde Park Village, a major shopping destination in Tampa, offers a mix of local and name-brand retailers, restaurants and shops. Its open-air layout allows for easy strolling between outlets, with laidback settings and a garden and fountain area hosting public events.