FAQ
EVENT FAQ
What is Hallucination Before Christmas?
Hallucination Before Christmas is where Christmas and Halloween collide in holiday havoc! Jingle janglin' in your area, causin' mass hysteria, we're back with the celebration that will make you wish Christmas came more than once a year.
Over 30 years running, Hallucination Before Christmas is electronic dance music's official holiday event where we all come together to share in the holiday spirit. Hallucination Before Christmas has been dubbed one of the most famous holiday events in the Southeast.
OK but what is the HBC story?
The year, nineteen hundred ninety five, the setting Atlanta Georgia. Longtime friend and cohort of Monk & Hallucination, a family member in so many words had a brainstorm, and started the ball rolling on an event that eventually would take on a life of it's own. The idea, raise some cans of food for the Atlanta Food Bank, while getting friends together to have a good time, and to celebrate the holidays with some good music. The first show setting, a hole in the wall club, that at times, records would skip, and if your pants were dragging on the ground, they were definitely gettin' nasty. Nevertheless, the night went off without a hitch, and we vowed to "do it again the next year". Fast forward, Hallucination Before Christmas 1996, the venue, SOL nightclub and lounge...and the previous dj cast of Richard Leslie, with Monk and Confucius, billed as a Rabbit In The Moon dj set, with a new character, our friend, dj and misfit SANTA "Tommie" SUNSHINE. When we raised at least five times the food as the previous year, Santa Sunshine wreaked havoc with "gifts for kisses with santa", and the place went completely berserk with sick sounds of the massive underground sound...we knew this was the beginning of something special...
In 1997, We decided to move forward with our own "in house" Hallucination Recordings Christmas Party...taking the original concept, and running with it, and bringing it HOME, to Tampa Florida, our home base, with our family and friends.
Each year, Hallucination has stepped up production to new levels with new visuals, Xmas props, new innovative flyer designs and E-Flyers, Websites & Video (with Graphic Designers Monk & CLRH2O, graphic artist Drone, and internet artist Bryan at HALLUCINATION MEDIA, the best in sound with ESI, our vital street team members & volunteers, and to top it off, digital visual graphics, and video from Monk, Monica & Berkeley of Hallucination On Film.
As we stepped up production, so did the excitement. Friends and affiliates of Hallucination from across the country send 1000's of gift giveaways each year and most importantly WE RAISE MORE AND MORE CANS OF FOOD for the less fortunate each year. Over 30 years of tradition in the Tampa Bay area & Southeast, Hallucination before Christmas continues to be the holiday event to which all others set their standards to. Witness the evolution of A HALLUCINATION BEFORE CHRISTMAS, as we invite you to join us with all our love, and best holiday wishes, because "WITH ALL OUR TRICKS, WE'RE MAKING CHRISTMAS"...
When is the event?
Hallucination Before Christmas will take place on Saturday, December 12th, 2026.
Where is the event?
Hallucination Before Christmas takes place at:
THE CASTLE
2004 N 16th St
Ybor City / Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 247-7547
CastleYbor.com
What is the age limit?
Hallucination Before Christmas ages are: 18 to Party – 21 to Drink
What are the door times?
Hallucination Before Christmas doors are from 8pm–3am. We suggest getting there early to avoid the lines.
Are there any VIP tables or sections?
Unfortunately no, All VIP have been claimed and there are no more available
Where can I get tickets?
You can get tickets right from this website. Click here to purchase → hbcparty.com/2026/tickets/
TICKETS FAQ
I ordered tickets, Where are they?
Tickets can be found in the "My Account → Orders" section of this website → hbcparty.com/2026/my-account/orders
I can't attend, can I RETURN my ticket?
Short answer is no. It is stated several times throughout the order process that All Ticket Sales are final.
I can't attend, can I SELL my ticket?
Yes, you can sell your ticket if you wish. In rare circumstances we will change names on the tickets but we cannot change account owners. This means, buyer beware as tickets can only be checked in once. To request a name change on your ticket please email orders@hbcparty.com
Will tickets scan off a phone?
Yes! You can add your ticket directly to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet right from your confirmation email or your account page — just tap "Add to Wallet" and it's ready to scan at the door, no printing needed. You're also welcome to print your ticket instead if you prefer.
Food Drive FAQ
What kind of food should I bring and how much?
On behalf of the thousands of hungry in our community, we at the Feeding America Tampa Bay food bank and Hallucination extend our heartfelt thanks to you, the party people, for your support.
We ask that you bring a minimum of three (3) items each person. As always, if you can bring more than three items, please do so.
With that said, please read the next item on what types of foods to bring.
What types of food are best for a collection drive?
The five (5) top items always most in demand are:– Peanut Butter– Canned Tuna– Canned Vegetables– Canned Fruits– Breakfast Cereal
Here is a more complete list of suggested non-perishable food products that are of most use to the people Feeding America Tampa Bay serves.
PROTEIN: Meals in a can (w/pop top), canned meats/poultry/fish, peanut butter (plastic jars only), dried beans
MILK: Non-fat dry milk, canned evaporated milkCANNED FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND JUICES (in cans or plastic)
GRAINS: Pasta/macaroni, boxed macaroni & cheese, ramen noodles, rice, oatmeal, grain crackers, boxed or bagged cereals
OTHER: Canned stew, spaghetti sauce w/meat, canned soups, canned chili and sloppy joe
HEALTH AND BEAUTY CARE: Deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, bar soap and liquid soap, feminine products, shampoo, baby diapers or baby powder
How is the food used?
Feeding America Tampa Bay is partnered with over 600 charities and churches that distribute this food to the hungry in West Central Florida through their pantry and soup kitchen programs. Through this network of partner agencies, our food bank dispenses the equivalent of over 250,000 meals for the hungry each week. Since we began in 1982, the food bank has distributed over 150 million pounds of food.
Hallucination Recordings, with your help, has raised over a thousand to two thousand pounds of food at each Hallucination before Christmas Party each year.
If I don't bring anything for the food drive, what will happen?
You may be charged more for entry to the party.
Who is required to bring items for the food drive?
Everyone! We ask that even the talent (artists and djs), the staff at the club as well as party-goers ALL do their part.
HOTEL & TRAVEL FAQ
Where can I Park?
Street Parking:Between 17th & 18th St's on 9th Ave.Between 14th & 15th St's on 8th Ave.Between 5th & 6th Ave on 15th St.
Parking lots:There are several parking lots & garages controlled by the City of Tampa which have plenty of parking and are short walks to the venue.
Where can I Stay?
Please visit our HOTELS page for a list of hotels around the venue → hbcparty.com/2026/hotels/
SPONSORSHIP FAQ
Can I Sponsor The EVENT?
We have several sponsorship levels for the event. For all sponsorship opportunities, please email sponsors@hbcparty.com
What is a gift sponsor?
As a tradition, our misfit Santa, and his beautiful Santa's helpers will be giving away gifts from our sponsors and label affiliates at the show. We ask for you to send anything that you feel is appropriate for our target market (50/50 male to female, 18-50 years of age).
Gifts can include, but are not limited to specialty items, compact discs, vinyl records, clothing, stickers, etc. The more the merrier. PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE. Many people forward us promos, and backstock that may not have sold, combining those items with some new releases, products and product lines to show also what they have currently or upcoming.
For More info & demographics, please email sponsors@hbcparty.com
