Tampa's historic district kicked off the winter holidays with a tree lighting ceremony in Centro Ybor Wednesday night.
"We really do it because any major city that has a nationally recognized historic district such as Savannah, or Charleston or even Saint Augustine, have award-winning holiday programs so we're hoping to be on their level this year,” said Mathieu Stanoch, who spearheaded the event, and several others in Ybor City.
This event featured free photos with Santa, hot chocolate and cookies, and several activities for kids.
Wade Preston lives in Ybor and has made the tree lighting ceremony an annual tradition.
“We came out here last year,” Preston said. “It's kind of a tradition for us, to come out for the Christmas tree lighting, get in the spirit, get pumped up.”
The 34-foot tree will stay up until Jan. 7, 2017.
The next holiday event in Ybor City is the 5th Annual Snow on 7th Holiday Parade Dec. 3.
Stanoch said attendees can expect to see 58 “snow” machines lining the 7th Avenue balconies, plus several marching bands, floats and dance groups.
Here are some other holiday events happening throughout the Tampa Bay area:
Nov. 19 – Tampa’s Hyde Park: Enchanted Tree Lighting
Dec. 2 – New Port Richey: River Lights Boat Parade & Festival
Dec. 9 - Plant City: Yulefest 2016
Dec. 10 – St. Pete: Victorian Steampunk Christmas Show
Dec. 10 – Tampa: 2nd Annual Krampusnacht
Dec. 15 – Palm Harbor: 1ST Annual Holiday BASH!
Dec. 16 – 18 – St Pete: GSG Yule Festival
Dec. 17 – New Port Richey: Winter Fest
Dec. 21 – Odessa: Yule Ritual
Did we miss one? Email Daylina Miller at daylinamiller@wusf.org with the subject line “Holiday Event.”
