Epperson Lagoon in Wesley Chapel is turning summer into a holiday weekend, with a "Christmas in July" celebration running Friday through Sunday, July 24–26, 2026, at 31885 Overpass Road. For local families looking for a cool-off outing they can still catch today and tomorrow, the lineup packs Santa, a balloon twister, an Elf Dance Party, a foam "snow" party and a Grinch meet-and-greet into three days on the water.
The event is part of a wider Christmas in July push by Metro Lagoons across its four Florida lagoons, but the Epperson schedule is its own animal — each day features a different marquee attraction at different times, so it's worth checking the clock before you load up the car.
The Epperson Lagoon weekend schedule
Here's exactly what's happening and when at the Wesley Chapel location, according to the event announcement from Metro Lagoons:
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jul 24 | Santa Comes to Town + balloon twister | 6–9 p.m. |
| Sat, Jul 25 | Elf Dance Party + airbrush artist | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. |
| Sun, Jul 26 | First Snow of Summer foam party | 5–8 p.m. |
| Sun, Jul 26 | Grinch meet-and-greet | 6–7 p.m. |
Friday leans younger-kid-friendly, with photo ops and early wish lists for Santa alongside a balloon twister. Saturday's Elf Dance Party brings music, dancing and interactive fun, with an airbrush artist on hand. Sunday closes things out with the foam party — mountains of frothy "snow" filling the air — followed by an hour with the Grinch, who's reportedly hoping a little summer cheer might grow his heart a few sizes.
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New attractions to check out while you're there
Beyond the holiday programming, the lagoon is showing off some recently added features. Metro Lagoons says Epperson has debuted a brand-new floating obstacle course with jumping spots more than 12 feet tall, plus new slides and monkey bars.
Those join the lagoon's regular draws: acres of clear blue water ringed by sandy beaches and lounge chairs, a resort-style swim-up bar, food trucks, and paddleboard and kayak rentals. In other words, the Christmas theming is the hook, but a normal lagoon day comes with it.
Entry to the lagoon is by day ticket. Metro Lagoons directs guests to its official Christmas in July page for ticket details, pricing and any last-minute schedule updates — a smart check before heading out, especially for the timed activities.
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Planning ahead? A holiday-party discount, too
Metro Lagoons is also tying the summer event to its winter calendar. As part of the Christmas in July promotion, the company is offering a 20% discount on end-of-year holiday party bookings reserved by Oct. 31.
Those waterfront event spaces include private cabanas in Cabana Cove and beachside pavilions, and can be built out with water activities, catering and beverage packages — an option worth noting for local families, groups or offices that host a December gathering.
Why it's worth the trip
Epperson Lagoon is one of Wesley Chapel's signature family attractions, and a themed weekend like this is a relatively rare, low-key way to combine a holiday novelty with a genuine summer cool-off. With the foam party and Grinch both landing Sunday evening, there's still plenty of the weekend left to catch.
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Full ticket and event information is available on the organizer's official page at MetroLagoons.com.
For more local happenings, visit Wesley Chapel Community and browse our latest events coverage and community stories. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and join the conversation in our Community Forum — tell us if you're heading out to the lagoon this weekend.
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