TAMPA -- The holiday season is well underway with Christmas in less than three week and that means time with family and friends. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than loading the family in the car and checking out the festive lights in the Tampa Bay Area.
The Tampa Bay Times have put together a list of home that you'll want to check out.
Holiday Lights in the Gardens: Twinkly lights, lasers, Florida-style displays, animated figures, visits with Santa and entertainers lining the pathways.
$4, 12 and younger free.
Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. (727) 582-5800. 5:30-9:30 p.m. daily.
Wonderland of Lights: Featuring horse-drawn wagon rides, North Pole train ride, amusement rides, food and crafts.
Runs through Dec. 31. $20-$35.
Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, Corner of Sydney Washer Road and Hwy 60, Brandon. (813) 737-3247. 6-9 p.m. today, 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday.
Kresge Mega Light Display: Tons of lights, an 18-train HO scale model railroad, inflatables, bubble machines, and window cabinet displays.
Free.
South St. Petersburg MegaLight Display, 2719 Oakdale St. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 896-6500. Open nightly 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 3.
Symphony in Lights: More than 250,000 LED lights choreographed to holiday favorites chosen
Free.
The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel. (813) 994-2242. Shows at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31.
Lights of Lake Park Display: Elaborately decorated homes spanning a three-mile route through the Lake Park Estates
Free, but donations are accepted along the route.
Wieker, Lakeside Estates, and Lake Seminole Village neighborhoods. 6 to 10 p.m., Dec. 1 to Dec. 31. Begin route at 10742 95th Street N., Seminole.
St. Petersburg Waterfront Light Display: See thousands of lights and decorations including snowflake lights and a giant greeting card display.
Free.
Straub Park, at Beach Drive and Fifth Avenue NE, St. Petersburg. (727) 893-7441. 5-11 p.m. daily.
Chick-fil-A Christmas Lights: Annual lights display and Christmas decorations.
The lights come on nightly at sundown throughout the holiday season, and stay on until closing time at 10 p.m.
Chik-fil-a, 6299 W. Waters Avenue, Tampa.
Wilderness Wonderland: Lights dancing to holiday music and snow flurries.Tune radios to 89.5 FM to listen to the music.
$2 per vehicle.
6 p.m., Dec. 9 to 11 and 15 to 18. J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., New Port Richey.
Largo's Holiday Stroll: Two million LED lights brighten the park every night this holiday season. Campfire and s'mores after strolling. A carousel and Ferris wheel will be open nightly.
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. through Jan. 2. Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, Largo. (727)586-7415
Streamside Drive Lights: 55,000 LED lights synchronized to music that's played over your car radio. Tune to 88.3 FM
Free.
6 to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 6 to 10 p.m., Friday to Sunday. 11048 Streamside Drive, Tampa.
Bella Garden Lane Light Show: More than 35,000 lights dancing to music on two homes.
Free.
Begins at sundown, through Dec. 31. 3212 Bella Garden Lane, Plant City.
