TAMPA, Fla. — From the Epiphany cross diving in Tarpon Springs to Valentine’s Day nuptials at the former Cypress Gardens’ gazebo in Winter Haven, a traveling exhibit currently at the Tampa Bay History Center focuses on holidays in Florida.

What You Need To Know

  • Holiday traditions in Florida in today's On the Town

  • It's at the Tampa Bay History Center

  • LOCATION: 801 Water St., Tampa

  • Open through Feb. 2025

And the Tampa Bay area shines.

“In addition to these Florida holidays, there is a part of the exhibit that focuses on one holiday that only happened once in 1958,” said Rodney Kite-Powell. “And it was ‘The Great Tampa Snow Show.'”

It was a marketing event plagued with problems like the unusually warm November temperatures and a massive Christmas tree that crashed through the street and into a sewer line.

“As disastrous as it was, it was successful. The shoppers came back downtown. The merchants made a lot of money,” said Kite-Powell, “and we had publicity literally across the country and even around places internationally about the “Snow Show.”

The exhibit is open through February.