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Holiday Happenings
The holidays are right around the corner! Plenty of festivities are on tap from family-friendly events like Snowfest to the 25th Annual Old Northeast Holiday Home Tour and much beloved performances of Christmas classics like The Nutcracker and St. Pete Opera’s Holiday Sparkle. The enormous Enchant Christmas experience takes over Tropicana Field opening November 24 and continuing through December 31.
Big news is the return of First Night St. Petersburg! The annual downtown family-friendly alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration was canceled last year due to numerous roadblocks including a lack of funding and volunteers. This year, the Tampa Bay Rays organization has signed on as the presenting sponsor for a scaled-down “Art in the Park” First Night event at North Straub Park.
Take a stroll along the waterfront to see thousands of holiday lights and decorations in North Straub Park, South Straub Park, Pioneer Park, and the St. Pete Pier. It’s a Florida-style Winter Wonderland!
City Events
Sponsored by the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department. For more information on these events, go to stpeteparksrec.org/holidayevents/ or call (727) 893-7326.
Nov. 25 – Santa Parade starts at 6:30 pm at Albert Whitted Park and moves along the waterfront to 5th Ave. NE where the annual Tree Lighting takes place in North Straub Park with Mayor Ken Welch.
Dec. 2 – Snowfest, 9 am to 2 pm. in North Straub Park, toboggan slides for adults and children, inflatables, arts and crafts tents, food trucks and more. A $5 wristband includes all activities.
Dec. 9 – Movie in the Park, 6 pm at Crescent Lake Park. TASCO will be showing a free holiday film at Huggins-Stengel Sports Complex along with family fun activities.
Dec. 9-10 and Dec. 15-23 – Santa in the Park, 6-9 pm in North Straub Park, bring the family for a meet-and-greet with Santa perfect for photos.
Dec. 15-16 – Cookies with Santa, 5:30-8:30 pm at the pole barn at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, $5 per child, parents/ guardians free. Decorate gingerbread cookies, meet Santa and his elves, and purchase small gifts (all items $5 and under). Free gift wrapping. Reservations only, must register online.
HONNA Candlelight Tour of Homes
The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association (HONNA) marks 25 years of the Candlelight Tour of Homes with a “Silver Splendor” theme on Sunday, December 10, from 3 to 8 pm. The eight houses on the self-guided tour will range from historic, 100-year-old homes to new builds that mimic their historic neighbors.
According to Nick Bell, president of HONNA, this year’s tour will include Prairie Style, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, traditional four-square, and Coastal Farmhouse. “With this being our 25th anniversary, we worked hard to line up some extraordinary houses that showcase the array of
In the ‘Hood
Old Northeast architectural styles,” Bell explains. “The sizes range from 3,000 to 5,000 square feet. And because we have eight large homes this year (as opposed to last year’s six homes), we encourage guests to plan on spending several hours on the tour.”
Participants should look for a Refreshment Station at the cordoned off block of Cherry Street between 19th and 20th Avenues NE for a selection of light food and beverages for purchase along with live seasonal music. Tickets are expected to sell out so advance purchase is recommended for $35 online at www.honna.org and at Marion’s (1301 4th Street N.), Sunken Gardens (1825 4th Street N.), and Old Northeast Rally (2131 4th Street N). Cash or check only.
Dec. 17 - “Winter in the ‘Wood,” noon to 5pm at Seminole Park, 2952 3rd Ave. N. in Historic Kenwood; a family-friendly winter celebration with arts and crafts, gift vendors, activities for children and adults, a visit by Santa, live music and more. kenwoodartistenclave.org/winter-in-the-wood
Christmas” contest. The walk-through light display is set on half an acre of land and features 500,000 lights, model trains, inflatables, giant Christmas trees, a bubble machine and a 150-piece manger scene. Tour participants are invited to walk though and take photos. Reservations for the 90-minute tour are required; tours begin Nov. 29 and continue through Dec. 28. Departures at 6 pm and 9 pm; days vary. Cost $49, plus tax and fees.
Star Trolley’s Holiday Lights in the Garden tour provides festive transportation to the Florida Botanical Gardens’ annual “Holiday Lights in the Gardens.” Board the trolley with a complimentary drink and holiday tunes as you are whisked to the Botanical Gardens in Largo where over 1 million LED lights are spread throughout the grounds. Guests are free to wander the gardens, admission to the garden is by donation. Reservations required; depart at 6 pm for the 90-minute excursion. Cost is $49, plus tax and fees (does not include admission to the garden); days vary.
Go to star-trolley.com/tours for more information.
Rolling Into the Holidays
Star Trolley is rolling out some new public tours for the holidays perfect for families, date nights and small groups. Christmas Lights & Bites trolley tours return after a successful season last year, offering passengers a fun and relaxing ride around downtown visiting holiday light displays and stopping at a couple local eateries for delicious bites and sips.
The tour ends with a visit to the Christmas Spectacular House in the Oakdale neighborhood, voted No. 1 in HGTV’s “All Out
On Stage
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts Mahaffey Theater:
Nov. 21 – Cirque Dreams Holidaze, 7:30 pm
Dec. 2 – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 7:30 pm
Dec. 9 - Handel’s Messiah with Florida Orchestra at 8 pm, Michael Francis conducting along with The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay
Dec. 15 – A Very Broadway Christmas, 4 pm and 8 pm
Dec. 16 – Holiday Pops with Florida Orchestra, 2 pm and 8 pm
Dec. 17 – The Illusionists present Magic of the Holidays, 6 pm
Dec. 19 – Il Divo – A New Day Holiday Tour, 8 pm
Dec. 20 – Ericka Dunlap presents A Christmas With Soul, 7 pm
Dec. 30 – Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet; noon, 4 pm and 8 pm
Nov. 19 – Pinellas Youth Symphony Holiday Orchestra Concert at The Palladium, 3 pm
Nov. 24-Dec. 24 – Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio
Play at freeFall Theatre. Original songs and arrangements by Jon Lorenz; times vary.
Dec. 1 – 3 – The St. Petersburg Ballet Company’s production of The Nutcracker, featuring students from the Academy of Ballet Arts, Inc., at The Palladium, times vary.
Dec. 9 - Clara’s New York City Christmas, a timeless classic re-imagined featuring the Gulf Coast Dance Theater at The Palladium, 11 am (children), 2 pm and 7 pm
Dec. 10 – Holiday Sparkle in the Park, presented by the Holiday Sparkle Singers of St. Pete Opera, North Straub Park, 3 pm, VIP seating $35 per person; or bring your own folding chair or blanket and pay what you can.
Dec. 16-17 - Holiday Sparkle presented by St. Petersburg Opera. A Holiday Pops theme promises an array of holiday favorites from the opera’s talented cast members. Shows will be performed at The Palladium on Dec. 16 at 7 pm and
Dec. 17 at 2 pm.
Dec. 21 - Candlelight Concert Holiday Special featuring The Nutcracker and other holiday classics performed by Listeso String Quartet at 6:30 pm. First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg; tickets only available in advance at feverup.com
Dec. 22 – Candlelight Concert Jazz Holiday Classics performed by Fil Lorenz Little Big Band at Coastal Creative, 6:30 pm and 9 pm.; tickets only available in advance at feverup.com
Fairs and Fests
Dec. 31 - First Night St. Petersburg, 4-8 pm at North Straub Park. The Tampa Bay Rays and Hines (developers for the Gas Light District) have stepped up to the plate to sponsor a smaller outdoors-only version of the annual First Night celebration, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Enjoy free family festivities including street performers, a peace flag project, sea creature puppet procession, interactive games and a sing-along, a drum circle, interactive art projects, a Bubble Stomp and more. firstnightstpete.com/event-info/
Nov. 18-19 - Tampa Bay Holiday Market at The Coliseum, 10 am to 5 pm, free admission, free parking. Local vendors provide unique holiday gifts including home essentials, handmade gifts, cosmetics, holiday decor, food, apparel, accessories, and more.
Nov. 25-26 - Shopapalooza Festival at Vinoy Park, 350+ local makers and small businesses present annual shopping extravaganza; food, beer and wine, live entertainment and children’s activities all weekend long. Free admission.
Nov. 24-Dec. 31 - The Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo presents the annual Holiday Lights in the Gardens featuring over 1 million LED lights and other holiday themed decorations. 5:30-9:30 pm nightly; admission by donation.
This listing may be incomplete due to advance deadlines for publication.
