There’s nothing like the Florida holidays – who wouldn’t want to spend their winter months with perfect weather and glimmering water? Well, you can experience all of that and more because, between ice skating on the pier, the Santa Parade, and the big Christmas tree lighting, this year’s Downtown is once again full of traditions and activity!
This year’s Winter Beach Festival runs from mid-November to mid-January. One of the festival’s main attractions is the Santa Parade, which provides the perfect opportunity for St. Petersburg families to show their holiday cheer and come together for a night of fun! This parade features floats decorated by organizations, groups, and companies who want to participate and show their spirit. Chelsea Brown, a St. Petersburg High School senior and girl scout who paraded the streets with her troop, spoke about her experience. Chelsea believes this type of celebration is necessary because it “brings happiness to people and their children, and you can come back to it if you’ve been to it before.” She states, “[downtown] is a popular area; it’s something that joins us as a community.” Whether you decide to participate in the parade or come with friends and family to watch, this is an experience that you’ll be able to look back on with fondness, remembering the holiday season.
It’s important that we hear about our local holiday traditions and celebrations because it allows us to be more involved and connected with our community. It also gives us something to look forward to and be proud of when we think of St. Petersburg! It doesn’t matter who you are; St. Petersburg’s Winter Beach Festival is open to everyone as we bring 2023 to a close. It is not only a tradition of holiday spirit but one of making memories and coming together. Between the ceremonial lighting up of the Christmas tree and festivities like the Santa Parade and ice skating rink, you can find plenty of Holiday Spirit right by the water for a true Florida Christmas!
