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    Hillsborough County Fair

    3.2 (20 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    Jennifer B.

    Came here for "Tampa Bay's Festival of Lights and Santa's Village" on the Sunday night before Christmas. It's a drive-thru experience and my friend with the sun roof drove us through, which made for great photo opportunities out of every window. There were all sorts of light displays-more than I expected, actually. And there's a Santa's village set up, where you can park and see Santa-plus ride live camels and try other family activities. I think there might be food, too-but I'm not sure since we didn't stop. It's probably really fun for families-as this whole event is-but the entry process is not for the faint of heart-or those short in holiday spirit. We paid ahead online-$30 per carload (which isn't bad if you have a full vehicle and split that cost). You can also pay once you're in the experience, which slows down the entry for everyone-and that's once you get *off SR 60 and onto fairgrounds property. We waited an hour and 45 minutes on 60, to make that turn. Thats a long wait-and there was no one directing traffic along the interstate-just one deputy sitting in their cruiser with lights on, not involved in the safe entry process. My two dear friends and I made the most of the time together-but I can imagine it was hard for families with young, antsy children. The drive-thru is one lane-you follow the leader until you're done. There was a port-o-let or two near the entrance where you can pull over and there may have been bathrooms at/near the Santa's Village area. Other than that spot, there's really no stopping. And there's only one way out. It took us about 35 minutes to make our way through. It's pretty-in a unique setting-and we had fun riding through in our jammies listening to Christmas music. But be forewarned about that long wait to get in. They probably should set up a reservations-only process-but I don't know if even that would help. The event ran from 6pm to 9pm the night we were there-and if you're in before nine, you can finish the trail.

    Nishant N.

    We had heard about the Festival of Lights being held at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, so we decided to visit the fair on Sunday evening to experience the festive atmosphere. Upon arrival, we noticed a long queue at the entrance, which was a bit of a hassle as we had to wait quite a while to get in. The ticket price was $30 per person, which we found to be on the expensive side. Once inside, the fair was beautifully decorated with thousands of twinkling lights, creating a magical and festive atmosphere. It was truly a visual treat for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit. One of the highlights was the Santa Village, where visitors could click photos with Santa, making it a great spot for families and kids to create holiday memories. However, the experience leading up to the fair left much to be desired. From the entrance to the parking lot, the flow of cars was extremely slow, moving at less than 10 mph. It felt frustrating and monotonous, especially with an infant in the car. Adding to this, there was no quick exit available, which turned into a major inconvenience for us. Our baby started crying for milk, and despite needing to leave urgently, we had no option but to patiently wait until we reached the parking lot. While the lights and festive decorations were undoubtedly beautiful and worth seeing, the logistical challenges--long queues, slow-moving traffic, and lack of a quick exit--somewhat overshadowed the experience.

    Rebecca G.

    We bought our pass online in advance for the holiday light show and waited in line for 1.5+ hours to get in. It is 8:35pm and it closes at 9pm. We still haven't been inside. Definitely a sht show as someone else mentioned. Wish we had looked for reviews before hand. There is a deputy outside who is not directing traffic. Ok... once in it is cool. We got in just after 9pm. We did not do Santa's Village but the lights are cool. However, we won't do again because of the hassle getting in.

    Sharon B.

    We came for the festival of lights. Everyone was very nice, but I don't think it was worth $30 for a very short ride. We didn't go into Santa's village because we have 2 dogs and we were told they couldn't come in. So on a regular night (not santa's village), the drive thru is $25 which still seems overpriced. Grateful for the lights in the area, but overpriced.

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    Ji C.

    We attended the Tampa Rodeo at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover, Florida on Saturday, July 20th, and it was a sold-out event. The gates opened at 5:00 PM, with the rodeo kicking off at 7:30 PM. Parking filled up quickly, but we lucked out and found a spot near the entrance. Although everyone had tickets in advance, there was a long line to get wristbands upon entry, which slowed down the process. Just past the entrance, we encountered a vendor loudly handing out what appeared to be raffle tickets--but it turned out to be a timeshare promotion disguised as a chance to win a Publix gift card. It felt misleading and took away from the event vibe. There was an animal exhibit area with elephants, camels, and goats. For $5, you could feed the goats, and there were photo opportunities with the elephant--though it was clearly a setup for quick posed pictures at an additional fee. There was no signage about camel rides, and the overall animal experience felt more like a sideshow. Unfortunately, restroom conditions were rough. When we arrived, they were closed, and once opened, there was a notice about septic issues: no flushing allowed and no running water, which meant no handwashing--a definite hygiene concern, especially during a large public event in the heat. An indoor vendor market was available, but it had no electricity, leaving it hot and dimly lit. Most people bypassed it altogether. The extreme heat took a toll, and we saw paramedics arrive after attendees began to faint--an unfortunate reminder of how brutal Florida in July can be. Be sure to bring bug spray, so many bugs! Couple food vendors and the beer barn, long lines. The rodeo itself was just okay. Most of the action took place on the far side of the arena, making it difficult to see from our section. Since the event was so packed, it ended up being mostly standing room only, and finding decent seating was nearly impossible. While we were glad to experience the rodeo and the energy of a sold-out crowd, the logistics, conditions, and visibility left a lot to be desired. If you plan to go in the future, come prepared for heat, crowds, and limited facilities--and try to arrive as early as possible for better parking and a good spot.

    Jezrael D.

    Came here on Date night. Wanted to bring my new lady friend somewhere public n safe. Give her a space to feel content n just open possibilities to create beautiful memories. I have never come here for the fair event. But i remember the Magic lights event during xmas. The place got bigger than i am normally used to. They have Huuuge parking now n its free. Gate was $11 just to go in. Staff up front cake with little square points n helped us get faster access with card. It was well executed. My only biggie was No map, i know the fair is smaller than the bigger ones like strawberry festival. But we walked around for hours cuz we would stuff by accident. The closest remote to a map was a event board. With a simplistic map ish. Just open gps better. Has rides for teenagers and a whole area for kids also. Food was kabobs, pizza and bbq. I introduced my lady friend to arepas. She loved them as much as i do. Same vendors i like that come to all florida fairs. Their kabob, street corn and arepa game is the best. I tried their mango in a cup treat and its worth it if u like the chili n tamarin in it. I love that stuff! Vendors were all over, we almost missed some. The jerky tent had high end jerky. We did business there. I also bought from the freeze dried tent. I bought the biggest lemonade cup. Its a freaking bucket! Lol they told us to bring it back on other fairs to get discount refills. Staff was friendly n kind. I had a beautiful time talking to the Apiary gentleman inside the club house. He brought live bees in a cell with honey. We got lucky and watched the limber jack show and part of the circus stuff, missed the car stuff but no biggie. The animals n farm stuff was nice to watch or pet. We both had a great time. Just a huge heads up during the night. The mosquito situation was brutal! O_o wear thick leggings or long pants. Bring a hoodie for night time mosquito battle. Definitely for teens and kids. I did not see alcohol no where! Its ok, it was clean fair type. We loved it. Bring about $100 bucks per head. Ride band is worth it for kids. The per ticket was like arcade rules. $1.50 per ticket but rides were 4+ tickets per ride. Just get the band for the teens. Food was $10 up a pop for individual stuff. I could've snuck food in my panties. Security didn't patted me. I just didn't play the brat games lol you could definitely hide burgers in your bra n undies no joke. They just looked at my bag. I would definitely come back for fair in future. I will be back for the light show next month.

    Glenn V.

    Entering the fairgrounds we were greeted by over a million lights (an actual posted statistic) as we drove the 2 miles of seasonally themed Tampa Florida bright light displays in a cozy neighborhood environment. We made s'mores at a fire pit - we are corn dogs while walking around the perimeter and spiralled into the kernel of the rides and displays where Dennis Lee and his band were playing music . However, for me, the highlight of the evening was spending time with Mr. Grinch and interestingly enough - on my beloved father's birthday 12/16. Mr. Grinch was by far his favorite Christmas character, wearing his Grinch tie at the head of the table. He and I would always watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) every year together. Below are a few of his favorite lyrics to the song: "Your as charming as a , your as cuddly as an eel - Mr. Grinch" "You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile - Mr. Grinch" And a few other takes from the movie: "Nobody should be alone for Christmas" Cindy Lou Who "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe perhaps Christmas means a bit more " Mr. Grinch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Merry Christmas to one and All - Me.. Melr Charming Mr. Alarming

    Jen C.

    Went for the drive thru Christmas lights. It was crazy busy but there were police officers directing traffic and making sure everyone could turn in. You can buy tickets ahead of time or pay on arrival. Price is per carload. There was a nice selection of light displays. It's a 2 mile loop. There's an area with rides for kids at the end but since our group was adults only we skipped this part and just headed out.

    Lights are not all that Bought my ticket online charge 25 plus 4 tax More for family and small children

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    Ask the Community - Hillsborough County Fair

    Review Highlights - Hillsborough County Fair

    This one in Tampa became our date night.

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    Florida Strawberry Festival - Strawberry Festival fun with the kids (they grow up fast).

    Florida Strawberry Festival

    3.4(269 reviews)
    6.4 mi

    I look forward to the Strawberry Festival in Plant city every year now !…read more The fair runs from Late February into the second week of March every year and offers discounted tickets at local Publix stores. It goes back to late 1930 when local members of the newly organized Plant City Lions club has the idea of an event to celebrate the bountiful harvest of strawberries and boy am I glad they did ! There is strawberry everything at this fair - from popcorn to strawberry shortcakes , ice cream , donuts and even fresh picked strawberries for purchase to take home ! There are a ton of rides, food vendors , Local vendors and live animals for all ages to enjoy! I loved the pig races and eating all the delicious fairy food . I really wanted a pair of red cowboy boots ( yes they have retail vendors on site ) but left without them darn it . Parking is not so fun as there is no designated lot so you have to find a lot to park in and ranges from $10-30. This was my 3rd time coming and I will definitely come back with the family and friends to enjoy fun moments .

    I'm glad we went to get the Strawberry Fest (the shortcake was DELICOUS) you had me a shortcakes!…read more The livestock was small and hard to locate. The midway was HUGE! The crowd was WALMART ON STEROIDS! The parking was ok...we got lucky on a spot. Vendor area was like a Flea market. I can't say we will every go back but we survived. See u Soon!

    Photos
    Florida Strawberry Festival - Seats for The Offspring

    Seats for The Offspring

    Florida Strawberry Festival - Chocolate covered lemonade

    Chocolate covered lemonade

    Florida Strawberry Festival - Corn dog

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    Corn dog

    Keel Farms

    Keel Farms

    4.0(857 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Live music

    Went here for the Blueberry Festival! A lot of the event was super lively; people could shop from…read morevendors, pick blueberries, drink blueberry adjacent wines and beers, and have foods with a blueberry twist on them. Luckily there was a lot of outdoor seating, so it wasn't too difficult to find a seat. I ended up getting the sweet blueberry wine, blueberry flatbread (had caramelized onions, arugula, and prosciutto with a blueberries glaze drizzle), and the blueberry shortcake. The wine was lightly sweet and not dry. The blueberry flatbread tasted more of the caramelized onions and the blueberry drizzle added a little hint of sweetness and tartness. My favorite though was the blueberry shortcake. It was soft and the blueberry compote was absolutely delicious. Although it was rich, it didn't feel heavy. I wish I had gotten another slice. In general, I've been here before and it's nice and cozy inside with great service! I love trying all the flavors available with their wine and beer flights (some are seasonal). Honestly, sometimes I buy their wine by the bottle in stores because it's actually just that good.

    Continues to be my favorite winery around. Made reservations with hubs to have a wine lunch then…read morestrawberry shortcake down the road. We chose to sit out on the patio. Service was great and so was the food. I got the sangria and the wine burger. Hubs got the tacos. Love their French fries too! The crispiness and the seasoning on them is just plain good. The wine burger was delicious and probably my fav entree they have.

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    Keel Farms - Outdoor eating

    Outdoor eating

    Keel Farms - Flight of beers and ciders

    Flight of beers and ciders

    Keel Farms

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    Nights of Shimmering Lights - Underwater tunnel

    Nights of Shimmering Lights

    5.0(1 review)
    2.9 mi

    Such a beautiful place and a really nice experience for all ages…read more My friend and I went there last night to visit and absolutely loved it. The admittance is $8/adults and kids under 2 get in for free. It's a small area but so festive. There is a 1/4 mile trail of walking around to see various light displays and characters. They have a scavenger hunt paper for kids to fill out while walking, but we enjoyed it as well. There is also a little maze to go through - super cute! After the light displays you can get a free gift at the concessions. There are a variety of food options (I recommend the fresh donuts and hot chocolate) that are very reasonably priced. You can tell it's more about the family friendly feel than the profit. Around the area they play Christmas movies for kids and have tons of games to keep them occupied - duck races, connect-4, coloring, letters to Santa, photograph area, and ping-pong. I highly recommend for all ages to enjoy as it is really a nice outing if you are looking to experience something some small town festivities for the holidays.

    From the owner: Nights of Shimmering Lights has joined with Sun-Kissed Acres to bring a series of unique events to…read moreTampa Bay. Our winter event features a ¼-mile walking trail through the shimmering lights dancing to music. Walk at your own pace and stop as often as you like. Enjoy Winterland full of penguins, bears, old man winter and other favorite scenes. Don't miss the Nativity scene in our religious area. See Santa and the reindeer in the Toyland area. Rest on one of the many benches conveniently placed along the trail or take selfies at one of our photo stops. Get in the holiday mood with seasonal music and themed areas. This is an unpaved walking trail and ground can be uneven in places, wear appropriate footwear and use caution. Sorry, it is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs at this time.

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    Nights of Shimmering Lights
    Nights of Shimmering Lights
    Nights of Shimmering Lights - Dancing rainbow tree lane

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    Dancing rainbow tree lane

    Hillsborough County Fair - festivals - Updated May 2026

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