On December 1, The Vinoy will light its Christmas tree in the Grand Ballroom Foyer with hot chocolate, passed hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine. The resort's booking page states that the event is open only to hotel guests and club members.
The doors open to the public on a different day of the week. On the third Sunday of each month, the resort sets up a free market on its waterfront front drive and runs it from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., according to I Love the Burg. The next two dates are November 15 and December 20. For a neighbor in Snell Isle, the Vinoy's centennial holidays run on Sunday mornings.
The Evenings Belong to Guests and Members
The Vinoy is celebrating its 100th anniversary across 2026, and its December calendar is full. The three marquee holiday gatherings on the resort's seasonal booking page each carry the same note about who can attend.
| Date | Event | Time and place | Who can attend |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2026 | Christmas Tree Lighting | 6 to 7 p.m., Grand Ballroom Foyer; tree lit at 6:30 | Hotel guests and club members only |
| December 7, 2026 | Menorah Lighting | 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Mezzanine | Hotel guests and club members only |
| December 24, 2026 | 'Twas the Night Before Christmas | 7 to 9:30 p.m., Tea Garden & Lawn; $60++ adults, $45++ children 3 to 12 | Hotel guests and club members only |
Rabbi Phillip Weinstraub will lead the menorah ceremony, with latkes and rugelach passed on the Mezzanine. The Christmas Eve evening includes s'mores by the fire pit, cookie decorating and a storytime with Mrs. Claus. If you want to be at the resort this holiday season without a room key or a membership, the opening is in the daytime.
The Sunday the Resort Opened to Everyone
The Vinoy Sunday Market sets up on the resort's front drive, near the Moke, at 501 5th Avenue Northeast. Entry is free. The resort describes the vendors as local makers, artisans, purveyors and its existing partners. I Love the Burg reported an emphasis on handcrafted goods and "elevated finds," plus a pop-up from Lottie with coffee, drinks and pastries. If you've already made Lottie part of your week since the renovation, as covered in our look at what changed at the Vinoy this year, its pop-up will be the familiar stop at the market.
The resort says the market is built around pace more than size. "The Vinoy Sunday Market gives locals a new reason to gather, linger and connect," the resort said in I Love the Burg's October 15 report, describing a setting that "feels equal parts neighborhood ritual and historic backdrop." The resort's word for it is locals.
What Moved Between the Spring Run and This One
October 18 was presented as a launch, but the market has run before. St. Pete Catalyst reported on February 3, 2026, that the resort would open an outdoor waterfront market on February 22 and hold it on the third Sunday of every month, with "a slower pace designed for lingering - not rushing." The resort's spring listing gave hours of 9 a.m. to noon.
The fall series is the same idea on a longer clock.
| Spring 2026 run | Fall 2026 run | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 9 a.m. to noon | 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
| Length | 3 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Cost to attend | Not listed | Free |
| Lottie pop-up | Yes | Yes |
The fall market opens an hour later and stays open two and a half hours longer. That change matters because of the patio next to it.
The Veranda Reopened Into the Market's New Hours
The Veranda patio reopened on October 1 and is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, with the full Veranda menu plus seasonal specials and drinks. I Love the Burg called it the first reopening since renovations began years ago. In a separate October 13 piece, the same outlet reported that the patio is open to the public, takes no reservations, and serves small plates such as charcuterie and dips.
During the spring run, the Veranda was still closed for renovation and the market ended at noon. Under the fall schedule, the market and the patio are open together from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., three and a half hours each month. The Veranda is also a public table that doesn't depend on the market calendar. It's open every day of the week, including the evenings that are reserved for guests and members inside.
A Third Sunday, Using Only the Posted Hours
Here is how November 15 looks if you plan it around the published times:
- 10 a.m. The market opens on the front drive. Lottie's pop-up covers coffee and pastries.
- 11 a.m. The Veranda opens for the day, with no reservation needed.
- 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The market and the patio are both open.
- 2:30 p.m. The market closes. The Veranda stays open until midnight.
If you'd rather arrive on foot or by bike along the water, our season-by-season guide to the Coffee Pot Bayou loop covers the route north of downtown.
Getting There Without a Hotel Key
The resort's getting-here page lists valet at $50 overnight and doesn't give a rate for market day. For street parking, the City of St. Petersburg notes that downtown spaces can be metered, time-limited or permit-only, and that metered rates run from $1 to $1.50 per hour. Check the posted signs before you leave a car for the full four and a half hours.
The market listings don't say whether pets are allowed. Call the resort at 727-894-1000 before bringing a dog.
The Public Calendar From Here
All dates are third Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., on the waterfront front drive.
| Date | Note |
|---|---|
| November 15, 2026 | First market since the Veranda's opening month |
| December 20, 2026 | Five days before Christmas, and the Vinoy's last market of its centennial year |
| January 17, 2027 | |
| February 21, 2027 | |
| March 21, 2027 | Final listed date |
December 20 is the closest public event at the resort to its guest-only Christmas Eve gathering. The city's own waterfront calendar fills in the weeks before it. The city lists its 98th annual Santa Parade and tree lighting for Saturday, November 28, at 6:30 p.m. downtown, and waterfront holiday lights at North Straub, South Straub and Pioneer parks and the Pier from November 28 through January 1. We covered that Saturday from the Snell Isle end of the route in our Thanksgiving Saturday on Bayshore Drive post. The city also lists a December 12 screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas at Vinoy Park.
After March 21, 2027, the listings show no further market dates.
Pedone Elite tracks openings like the Veranda and calendars like this one because they shape a week on Snell Isle as much as any listing does. If you'd like to talk about how places like the Vinoy factor into owning on the island, Pedone Elite is glad to talk it through. Schedule a Free Consultation.
