There are several events happening this year at local farms from single day special events to family-friendly holiday events on the farms on weekends. There is so much to explore and experience! Check out our list of the best picks to celebrate a festive country-style Christmas!
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Wonderland of Christmas Lights & Santa’s Christmas Village in Auburndale
November 25, 2021-January 2, 2022
*New location for 2021!* This is a drive through Christmas lights event in Tampa! First, you and your family will drive through Christmas lights for a mile to experience spectacular lights, and next if you choose, after seeing the drive through Christmas lights you can make a visit at Santa’s Village at the end of the drive through Christmas lights! Santa’s Village features rides, entertainment, a visit with Santa, Holiday activities for children and adults of all ages! The International Market World, 1052 US-92 in Auburndale. Thewonderlandoflights.comÂ
Christmas Under the Moon at HarvestMoon Fun Farm in Masaryktown
Select dates beginning November 26, 2021
Head to HarvestMoon Fun Farm for their very first dazzling Christmas light display! You can also take a stroll down Christmas Tree Lane, visit with the animals in the petting farm, sip on some Hot Chocolate, munch on some Kettle Corn and more! Tickets are $10 per person for ages 3 and up. Kids ages 2 and under are free. Activities included with admission: Jumping Pillow, Petting Farm, Cow Train, Ball Zone, Hill Slide, Swings, Arts & Crafts, Photo Ops, and a NEW ATTRACTION, an enchanted hay ride. harvestmoonfl.com
Raprager Family Farms Winter Festival and Christmas Extravaganza
Select dates November 26-December 28, 2021
Raprager Family Farm is exploding with Christmas cheer! Lights and decorations blanket the farm. Go on a holiday hayride and take a picture inside a giant inflatable snow globe. Check out the lighted gingerbread village, hear stories from Mrs. Claus and pay a visit to Santa and take pictures with him at his workshop. In addition to holiday-themed attractions, there will be a petting zoo, corn pit, bounce pillow, and crop maze. While you are there, be sure to stop by the Sweet Shop for some warm cinnamon roasted nuts, hot cocoa, and Christmas fudge. rapragerfamilyfarms.com/christmas
DK Farm’s Christmas at The FarmÂ
Select nights December 1-26, 2021
Enjoy the farm in a whole new perspective! There will be tons of entertainment designed for all ages. Activities include a petting zoo, games and activities, photo ops with Santa (weekends only), campfires, hayrides, bounce house, snow machine, and more. Do some holiday shopping at the Holiday Market, sip on fresh lemonade and hot chocolate and roast up some s’mores. $10 per guest over 30″ tall. Bundle packages are available online only. pinellasfarm.com/christmas-at-the-farm
Harbor Holiday Nights at Folly Farm in Safety Harbor
Select Nights: December 10, 11, 17, and 18, 2021 from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm
Head over to Folly Farm to enjoy holiday lights, a campfire, children’s activities, a trolley light tour, shopping, crafts, and more! Harbor Holiday Nights is a free event. The Trolley Light Tour has a ticket fee of $5 per person. Register here.
Hunsader Farms Country Christmas in Bradenton
Select nights December 10-19, 2021 from 6:00 pm-10:00 pm
Enjoy an old-fashioned country Christmas as the farm lights up in a dazzling display of over 300,000 lights. Enjoy activities such as hayrides, train rides, campfires, Christmas music, snow tubing, and a display Christmas village. Watch Christmas movies on the big screen, say hello to Santa, and warm up with hot chocolate and s’mores. Parking is free and tickets are $10 per person. Kids 5 and younger are free. hunsaderfarms.com
Christmas On The Farm Fundraiser at HorsePower for KidsÂ
December 10-11, 6:00-9:00 pm
Celebrate a country style Christmas with a horse-drawn hayride, pony rides, petting zoo, and bonfire. Visit the animals on the facility, from farm animals to unique species like the Zorse (a zebra/horse!). Proceeds go toward the rescue and rehab of all the animals on the farm. Santa may even make an appearance! $10 per person. Babies 12 months and under are free. horsepowerforkids.com
2021 info TBD:
Shimmering Lights Winter Festival at Sun Kissed Acres in Dover
This is an outdoor walking trail on a working fish farm that’s about 1/4 mile long, filled with shimmering lights, outdoor movies, games and holiday music. There will even be visits with Santa. They ask you to wear comfortable close toed shoes, a face mask for when it gets busy, and bug spray just in case the mosquitoes come out. Tickets are $7 for everyone 3 and older. thesunkissedacres.com
Last year, Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine writer, Tara Payor and her kiddos made the drive to central Florida to check out Mount Dora’s Lil’ Bit of Life Farm. She’s sharing her experience:
Farms nourish the soul. Since COVID-19 hit, it’s been a welcome activity with the kids. We are in wide open spaces, distanced, and connected with each other (and with lots of cute animals, too).
After doing the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive (a must do for gator enthusiasts), we visited Mount Dora’s Lil’ Bit of Life Farm. It was nostalgic and what Christmas-on-the- farm-dreams are made of.
We interacted with horses, goats, pigs, bunnies, chickens, and more. There was a hayride, small train ride, and a craft station. The farm has adorable photo opportunities—primarily, an amazing Santa! My kids commented several times on his authenticity.
I bought 15 tickets (think old fashioned carnival style tickets) for $20. After all we did, including roasting s’mores and hot dogs for two tickets each, we left with two still in my purse. A totally budget friendly experience. While I didn’t make an online reservation ahead of our visit, that’s not a bad idea these days.
Stations were run by 4-H members (adult supervision, of course), and it was a treat to see such leadership and work ethic in kids.
Farm adventures are fantastic escapes from life’s hustle and bustle.
