OCTOBER
GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY Typically held in the spring, Gasparilla Music Festival is making its return this month at Curtis Hixon Park Oct. 1-3. GMF is a local non-profit organization that benefits local youth music programs and arts education. The three-day festival highlights Tampa’s music scene and features national headliners and local emerging acts. Tickets can be purchased at gasparillamusic. com and are $30 for ages 13 and up, and free for children 12 and under. Proof of a negative COVID test or vaccine card will be required for entry.
NEW AT ZOOTAMPA: TRAKID
There’s a cool new tech tool for kids and their families to experience at ZooTampa! You can upgrade your day and borrow one of the app-enabled TRAKID wristbands that will take your child on an adventure through the zoo. The Wildlife Explorer Quest wristband acts as a compass to guide you and your child as you learn new things about the animals on the app and earn badges along the way. It’s $9.99 for members and $11.99 for non-members. zootampa.org
photo credit: Caesar Carbajal
ADVENTURE ISLAND OPEN YEAR-ROUND! Summer’s not over at Adventure Island! The water park will now be open year-round with the help of new water heaters in the pools, waterslides and lazy river. And, if you want to keep the summer vibes up through wintertime, the new Hang Ten Tiki Bar offers hand-crafted signature cocktails, local brews, a regional and international rum selection and small bites.
5 CARTOONITO LAUNCHES ON HBO MAX AND CARTOON NETWORK There’s a new streaming service for preschoolers! Cartoonito, a block of programming geared toward preschoolers, is now available on HBO Max and Cartoon Network. It features series such as Ellen DeGeneres’s “Little Ellen,” “The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo,” “Thomas & Friends,” “Tom and Jerry Time,” and more. All Cartoonito content aligns with Humancentric Learning and Cartoon Network’s refreshed brand promise, Redraw Your World, which fosters self-expression and creativity.
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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2021
JOIN THE CHAMPA BAY CLUB:
It’s not too late to sign up to become a part of the Jr. Bucs Fan Club! This is an official fan club of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for kids ages 14 and younger. For $24.99 + fees, kids receive a welcome kit filled with Bucs swag like a Buccaneers hat, football, notebook, lanyard and more. Kids will also receive invites to Jr. Bucs events. It’s a great gift idea for the pintsized Bucs fan in your life! buccaneers.com The Tampa Bay Lightning also has ThunderBug Kids Club as do the Tampa Bay Rays—Rays Rookies.
