December in St. Pete moves fast. One moment you are easing out of Thanksgiving leftovers, and the next you are searching for real local markets instead of scrolling through the same recycled holiday roundups. The city does not run on one big festival. It runs on a full month of holiday events and recurring markets that carry the community. By the time the first week hits, the pace shifts, the lights come out, and suddenly every neighborhood feels like it is hosting its own piece of the season. It is the one time of year when all those makers, bakers, artists and creatives you see throughout the year stack together into a full holiday circuit, one that feels a lot more authentic than anything you’ll find in a mall!

December 3rd: St. Pete Night Market Ignites the Season

The spark that kicks everything off lands on Wednesday the 3rd from 6pm-10pm at Ferg’s Sports Bar. Once the sun sets, the walkways and patios fill with local makers, artists, food vendors and families drifting through string lights with music echoing from every direction. It feels like the city waking itself up for the holidays.

Night Market has the perfect early-December energy. It is lively without being overwhelming, festive without feeling forced and exactly the kind of place where you can grab a drink, shop, talk to vendors and actually enjoy yourself before the weekend chaos hits.

December 5th: Grand Central Turns Into a Christmas Block Party

Two nights later, on Friday the 5th from 5pm-10pm, the Grand Central District shuts down the 2300 and 2400 blocks of Central Avenue for one of the most visually iconic nights of the month. With traffic cleared, the stretch becomes a glowing holiday street market filled with vendors, food trucks, open shops, performers and a steady flow of people weaving from sidewalk to sidewalk.

There is something uniquely St. Pete about Grand Central under holiday lights. It is energetic, warm and neighborhood-driven, the kind of night where the district feels like a main character in its own Christmas story.

December 6th: Holiday Village Brings the Cheer to Carrollwood

The next afternoon, on Saturday the 6th from 11am-6pm, the Carrollwood Cultural Center transforms into Holiday Village. The event is community-run, full of vendors, food, crafts and performances and has a cozy, neighborhood festival feel that makes it a great weekend outing on the Tampa side of the bridge.

It has a different rhythm from St. Pete’s markets, which is exactly why it fits so well into the December circuit. It is festive, relaxed and easy to enjoy without rushing from one booth to the next.

December 7th: Brewers Market Keeps Pinellas Park in the Mix

Sunday the 7th from 12pm-4pm brings the holiday momentum back to Pee-Pa’s Garage for Brewers Market. It is one of the most grounded markets of the month, with brewery energy, good food, friendly vendors and a crowd that tends to stay a while instead of just passing through.

This is where you start seeing familiar vendor faces from earlier in the month, which gives Brewers Market a sense of continuity that feels very “Pinellas.” It is the kind of Sunday afternoon that reminds you December does not have to feel rushed.

December 12th: Tarpon Springs Goes All-In on Holiday Magic

Friday the 12th from 5pm-10pm turns downtown Tarpon Springs into a full Christmas attraction. “There’s Snow Place Like Tarpon Springs” brings holiday shopping, a Christmas tree lighting at 6 pm, live entertainment, kids’ activities and the 36th Annual Holiday Boat Parade drifting across the bay later in the evening.

It feels like a small city fully committing to the season. With Tarpon Avenue lit up and people walking between shops and tents, it is a refreshing detour that keeps things local without overlapping with St. Pete’s core market scene.

December 12th and 13th: Madeira Beach Lights Up ROC Park

That same weekend, Madeira Beach hosts the Merry Beach Holiday Market at ROC Park on Friday(12th) 5pm-9pm and Saturday(13th) 2pm-8pm.. With more than one hundred fifty vendors, food, drinks, live entertainment and a fireworks display on Friday, this coastal event pulls a big crowd without cutting into any St. Pete or Pinellas Park traffic.

Saturday pairs the market with the Lighted Boat Parade, turning the shoreline into one of the most festive scenes in the area. If you want a beach-themed holiday moment, this is the one.

December 15th: Gift Grab Takes Over Ferg’s for One Night Only

Monday the 15th from 5pm-9pm brings in the people who swore they were going to shop early and very much did not. St. Pete Gift Grab takes over Ferg’s with quick-grab gifts, stocking stuffers, art, small accessories, ceramics, sauces, plants and local merch that hits the sweet spot for last-minute shopping.

Instead of panic-ordering online and hoping your packages show up, you can walk through the market, talk to vendors and leave with everything you need in under an hour. It is the definition of a holiday rescue mission.

December 20th: Mezzo Market Sets Up for the Final Weekend Push

On Saturday the 20th from 11am-4pm, Mezzo Market brings its holiday edition to the EDGE District’s 600 Block. This market always leans more curated and arts-forward, and the December version lands at the perfect moment for anyone who needs gifts that feel personal rather than predictable.

Vintage finds, candles, handcrafted jewelry, small-batch accessories and prints fill the block, creating a shopping experience that still feels fresh even this late in the month. Mezzo always hits a little differently, and it is one of the final great chances to pick up something thoughtful before the Sunday finale.

December 21st: St. Pete Sunday Market Closes the Season at Pee-Pa’s Garage

The final stop of the month arrives on Sunday the 21st from 11am-4pm, and for December it takes place at Pee-Pa’s Garage instead of the Museum of History. The brewery transforms into a warm, covered holiday market space packed with makers, bakers, artists and locals who are ready to finish their lists without the pressure of big-box chaos.

One of the best parts of this market is the chance to sip and shop your way through the last stretch of the season. By the time the 21st rolls around, most people are carrying some holiday burnout. Being able to walk through rows of vendors, beer in hand, turns the final shopping push into something closer to blowing off steam than running errands.

You can grab a drink, chat with vendors, cross off the last names on your list and actually enjoy the last Sunday before Christmas instead of fighting for mall parking. It is the most relaxed way to wrap up the holiday circuit and a perfect reminder of why local markets are the backbone of December in St. Pete.