Features

Celebrate the Holidays at Santa Fest - December 6

Centennial Park is transformed into a winter wonderland. Watch holiday entertainment, slide down the giant snow slide, tour the Ybor City State Museum, make a holiday craft and get your photo taken with Kris Kringle. Festival hours are 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and all activities are free.

The annual Santa Fest Parade steps off at 4 p.m. Best viewing for the parade is on 7th Avenue between 14th and 19th Streets and on 19th Street between 7th and 9th Avenues. Download the event flyer for more details.

Santa is Calling Program

Santa and his elves would like to add something extra to your child's holiday season through the Santa Calling program. Santa will be calling good little girls and boys, ages 4 - 9, from his workshop at the North Pole on December 9, 10 and 11 between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. If your child would like to talk with Santa, please download the Santa Calling form and return it by December 6 to the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department.

No School? No Problem! Winter Break Holiday Camp

Children 5-14 years old are invited to spend their winter school break at one of the nine Holiday Camps the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department is offering. Programs include arts & crafts, sports, computers, field trips and more! Please download the flyer and call the individual centers for specific information.

Walking with the Mayor -- Keeping Tampa Fit

Mayor Iorio invites you to join her on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Al Lopez Park for a fitness walk and free health screenings. All registered walkers receive a free T-shirt. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. and the walk will begin at 7:30 a.m. The Mayor will walk four miles, but you can do as much or as little as you like. Don't wait in line, pre-register now by downloading the Authorization Form and mailing it to: Walking with the Mayor, 1420 N. Tampa Street, Tampa, FL 33602.

Learn about Benefits of Tampa's Urban Forest

What's the value of the trees in Tampa? Tampa boasts over 7.8 million trees. Trees -- and, collectively, the urban forest -- are important assets that require care and maintenance the same as other public property. Trees are on the job 24 hours every day working for all of us to improve our environment and quality of life. View Tampa's tree study.