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Get Your Holly Jollies
Photo by CLIFF MCBRIDE The Tampa Tribune
Visitors explore the Victorian Christmas Stroll at Henry B. Plant Museum on the University of Tampa campus. The stroll features a number of Christmas trees and rooms decorated with a variety of themes.
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Published: December 19, 2008
Maybe you've got family visiting from out of town. Maybe you're just tired of sitting around looking at your Christmas tree. Maybe you need to get out to prevent Dad from putting any more Christmas lights outside — it's already getting embarrassing. Maybe the kids are getting restless, because the kids are always getting restless.
Whatever the case, we've put together a list of holiday events for this, our final issue before Christmas. Because, as much as we love it, there are so many times you can watch "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" before it's time to shut off the television and get outside.
We've stuck mostly to events in the Tampa Bay area. We've tried to include events unique to the area or Florida (this is aimed at those with out-of-town guests or who just moved here). We've also included a few things over in Orlando, because like it or not, Disney is our neighbor.
Four Twists On A Holiday Classic
It's easy to carry a "Bah, Humbug!" mentality this year with the economy being the way it is, but if you're looking for something to brighten your holiday spirit then Charles Dickens' classic story "A Christmas Carol" might do the trick. Here are four different versions of the traditional tale for your viewing pleasure:
Carrollwood Players: This is the final weekend for The Carrollwood Players Theatre Company's production of "A Dickens' Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts" by Mark Landon Smith. The comedy is about the Styckes Upon Thump Repertory Company, who are out on their 15th tour performing the timeless Dickens' tale when their star diva falls ill and an inexperienced understudy takes over the role. When everything that can go wrong does go wrong, chaos ensues. The show starts at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday, tickets are $12 to $14; (813) 265-4000
Ruth Eckerd Hall: The Nebraska Theater Caravan brings lavish costumes and special effects to its adapted version of "A Christmas Carol" at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The play, adapted by Omaha's Charles Jones in the 1970s, is among the longest-running national tours of "A Christmas Carol." If you have a special holiday outfit, this would be a great place to show it off. You have a choice between two shows, Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Christmas Eve at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $42; (727) 791-7400
St. Pete Little Theatre: Sometimes the intimate setting can tug at the heartstrings even more. The St. Pete Little Theatre presents its annual version of the holiday classic, directed by David Middleton. What makes this performance all the more special is it claims to be the oldest, continuously running community theater company in the state. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 to $20; (813) 866-1973
On Film: If you're looking to avoid cost, The Pinellas Opera League offers a free film screening of "A Christmas Carol" by the Northern Ballet Theater of England. The showing for this unique ballet version takes place on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art Auditorium in St. Petersburg.
Boat Parade
It doesn't get much more Floridian than having your Christmas parade on the water. One of the bigger boat parades is this Saturday in downtown Tampa. The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade leaves Davis Island at 6:30 p.m., passing by Channelside and ending at the Tampa Convention Center. Be along the water at Channelside or the convention center around 7 p.m. to get a good look at the parade.
Nutcrackin' Goodness
What are the holidays without a performance of "The Nutcracker"? We bet the majority of you are saying: "The usual holiday." As numerous as performances of the ballet are this time of year, most people have never seen it. You have multiple chances to correct this oversight this year, including:
If you want to make it a truly unique experience, catch the Moscow Ballet's performance of "The Russian Nutcracker" at Mahaffey Theatre in St. Petersburg tonight , followed by a dinner at St. Petersburg Nights Russian Restaurant and Lounge with the cast from the ballet. The restaurant is putting on a "Russian feast" for the occasion. We're willing to guess this is likely one of your only chances to dine with a member of the Moscow Ballet. Call (727) 363-3832 or go to www.StPetersburgNights.com.
The Moscow Ballet also performs Saturday night at Mahaffey. Tickets are $25 to $85. For ticket information, call 727-892-5767. or go to www.mahaffeytheater.com.
The Orlando Ballet performs "The Nutcracker" on Tuesday in Carol Morsani Hall at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The difference with this performance is that 100 children from the Patel Conservatory will take part in the production. There are two shows, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m, with tickets from $22 to $65. Call (813) 229-7827.
A Throwback Christmas
The Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa is a staple of a Tampa Christmas. The historic building (built in 1891) is festooned with Victorian Era Christmas decorations. You can see something unique and beautiful while learning a thing or two about how much life has changed in a century. The stroll is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $4 to $10, and children under 12 get in free. Call (813) 258-7304.
Ice Skating, Florida-Style
Ice skating is not an activity that Floridians get to do often, if ever. There are a couple of places offering up opportunities. Inexperienced skaters may want to pack extra padding, just in case. North Straub Park in St. Petersburg celebrates the season with holiday lights, a visit from Santa and ice skating on a Glice skating rink. The festivities take place tonight through Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Skating is free, but renting skates costs $5. You can also take to the ice at the Lakeland Civic Center while it offers skating through Jan. 5 with special holiday hours. It may be indoors, but there will be holiday music and refreshments. Tonight's hours are 7 to 10 p.m.; (863) 834-8100.
'A Very Lennon Christmas'
Over at The Lakeland Center, Classic Albums Live is presenting "A Very Lennon Christmas: Imagine There's No Hunger" at 8 p.m. Saturday. The show will help benefit Volunteers In Service to the Elderly, a Lakeland nonprofit group that provides hot meals and groceries to 1,000 senior citizens in the area, allowing them to live independently. Food donations boxes will be placed throughout the arena. Tickets are $10 in advance, $25 day of show.
Wild Wonderland
Santa has lent some of his reindeer to Lowry Park Zoo as it presents its ninth annual Wild Wonderland. It's not just about the reindeer either; the seasonal celebration features plenty of winter wildlife. Have your picture taken with the African penguins, Santa Claus or both. Other attractions include Frosty's Foam Factory, a Jingle Bell narrated horse carriage ride, loads of holiday displays and unlimited rides throughout the park. Dates for the event are tonight through Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Dec. 26 through Dec. 30. Tickets are $11 to $13, children two and younger are free.
Holiday Celebration, Disney Style
Embrace the magic that is Disney as all four parks celebrate the holiday season the only way they know how: gigantic. For some families, it's a necessary holiday tradition. For those who've never experienced the wonderful World of Disney this time of year, then perhaps this will entice you.
At the Magic Kingdom, tonight is the final night to experience Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which includes the special Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, starting at 8 p.m. As you walk around, check out Cinderella's Castle covered in lights, the snowfall along Main Street U.S.A. and a grand firework spectacular. Insider scoop: Take advantage of the complimentary cookies and hot cocoa throughout.
If you happen to be over at the Animal Kingdom, then catch Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade featuring all your favorite characters decked out in holiday attire. This parade starts at 3:45 p.m. daily and runs through Jan. 4.
Get a healthy dose of how different cultures celebrate the holidays at Epcot's Holidays Around the World. Make merry and experience new customs with characters, legends and lore from all around the globe. A nightly candlelight processional takes place at the American Gardens Theatre. The show features the retelling of the Christmas story told by guest celebrity narrators and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. Shows are at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. Tonight's celebrity narrator is Abigail Breslin.
Or you could go for twinkle lights — lots and lots of twinkle lights. Disney's Hollywood Studios is presenting The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. As you stroll down New York Street, millions of lights flash in synchronization to timeless holiday tunes. The display takes place nightly through Jan. 4.
Tickets are $49.95 to 55.95. For information about Disney's holiday celebration, visit www.disneyworld.com or call (407) 934-7639
Ice, Ice Baby
An increasingly popular attraction for the holidays is the Gaylord Palms resort near Orlando, where the Best of Florida Christmas runs from mid-November through Jan. 4. Foremost among the resort's events is Ice!, a walk-through attraction where everything has been carved from nearly 2 million pounds of ice, including a giant slide. Kids like ice, kids like slides — there you go. There are other attractions at the resort for Christmas, including designing your own gingerbread house with a Gaylord pastry chef. Tickets range from $17 to $25 for adults; $10 for children 4 to 12. Children under 3 get in free.
Symphony in Lights
Watch more than a quarter-million holiday lights dance to the music of the Trans Siberian Orchestra at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. Tonight's entertainment offers country Christmas songs with Carol Ann Fazio and a performance by To The Point dancers. For details, call (813) 994-2242.
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