Christmas Activities in the East Tampa Area

This area usually has quite a few different activities for the holiday season. Many of them are already listed and have dates and times. They're included in this article. However some have still not been announced. If you're looking for a specific activity that isn't listed, don't despair, since it's early in the Christmas season. There should be more announcements coming. Some of these entries are also missing some information. Some of them have contact information in their listing. For some of the other listings you'll need to watch for their announcements. Some organizations announce their activities later than others.

Pianos in Ybor

November 14 through to January 9, 2010.
Ybor City is presenting a creative interactive public art exhibit where you get to play the decorated pianos which are displayed on the street in Ybor. They will be auctioned off in January.

This is a video of the finishing of the pianos - http://bit.ly/1pvoDA.
This is the youtube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK92NFg8r3A
http://blog.visittampabay.com/blog/visittampabay

Buckler's Craft Fair / Tampa

November 28 and 29, 2009
State Fairgrounds, Tampa.
http://www.bucklerpromotions.com
bpcrafts@cfl.rr.com
http://festivalnet.com/fairs_and_festivals/index.php?action=view_records&db=featuredopen&uid=default&Sidelined=no&Deleted=no&sb=Show_dates&State_local=FL&S_date_mo=11&City_local=&miles=25&zip=33527&S_date_yr=2009&view_records=Search+Now

Seventh Annual Plant City Pig Jam State BBQ Championship

November 21, 2009 from 10am to 5pm
Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex on 1500 South Park Road in Plant City.
The admission is free but the parking is $5.
There'll be a rib cook-off contest, activities, music and specialty items for purchase.
Website or Map: http://www.plantcity.org; 813-754-3707
http://www.brandtampa.com/events/plant-city-pig-jam-state-bbq

Florida Cattlemen's Association and the Seminole Tribe of Florida Cattle Drive And Exhibit

Saturday, November 21 at 10am; The exhibit is on display through December 19.
The cattle drive will go down Old Water Street from Morgan Street to the Tampa Bay History Center in connection with the History Center's temporary exhibit on Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition.

You can also visit an authentic Cracker Cow Camp set up in Contanchobee Fort Brooke Park.
The cattle drive and the Cow Camp are free. But there's a general admission for the History Center's gallery's exhibit.
www.tampabayhistorycenter.org
http://blog.visittampabay.com/blog/visittampabay

Brandon Thanksgiving Day Dinner/Christmas Day Dinner

The Thanksgiving dinner will be Thursday, November 26 at 11am to 3pm.
The Christmas dinner will be Friday, December 25, from 11am to 3pm.
Both will be at the Boys and Girls Club on 213 N. Knights Ave.in Brandon.
http://www.cityofbrandon.net/httpdocs/2009Christmas.htm

Victorian Christmas Stroll

December 1st to 23rd, 2009, 10:00am to 8:00pm daily.
The Henry Plant Museum will be presenting their 28th annual Victorian Christmas Stroll. There will be a Victorian Christmas Stroll tree in every room, decorated with antique ornaments, flowers, birds, toys, books, fruits, candy and other themes. Free spiced cider and savory cookies will be served on the veranda every day, and each evening, carolers will perform Christmas music.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.
Discount Days are December 1, 7, 8, 14, and 15 when admissions are reduced to $6 for adults and $3 for children.

The Museum Store has an extensive selection of merchandise. They're open from 10:00am to 8:00pm daily with no admission fee.
http://www.plantmuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=47

Plant City Christmas Parade

Friday, December 4, 2009
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Plant-City-holiday-parade-cancelled-due-to-manhunt/BN0XDFuopkaYRHWR20zb2w.cspx?rss=794

Brandon Christmas Parade

Friday, December 4, 2009 at 7:00pm.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
http://www.cityofbrandon.net/httpdocs/2009Christmas.htm

Lowry Park Zoo

"Wild Wonderland"

December 4-5, 10-13, 17-23 and 26-30, from 6 to 9pm.
This event offers free unlimited Zoo rides all evening. Visitors can also play in Frosty's Foam Factory, visit with Santa and take a holiday horse-drawn carriage ride.
Annual Zoo Pass members receive discounted admission.

Noon Year Eve

Thursday, December 31, from 9:30am to 1pm.
There will be games, arts and crafts, live entertainment and educational displays. Visitors can watch a giant clock strike 12pm noon. The activities are included free-of-charge with Zoo admission.
http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/calendar_events.php

Downtown Tampa, Holiday Lighted Boat Parades

Friday, December 4 and Friday, December 18 at 6:30pm.
The parades will go throughout the Downtown Channel District.
http://blog.visittampabay.com/blog/visittampabay

WMNF 88.5 FM Holiday Bazaar, Annual Holiday Bazaar

December 5, 2009
This will be at the Cuban Club in Ybor City.
Contact Carrie Core at wmnf.org.
http://www.floridafairsandfestivals.com/0001258448-wmnf-885-fm-holiday-bazaar-ybor-city-december.html

Ybor City Parades

The Santa Fest will be December 5.
The Outback Bowl Parade will be on New Years Eve.
http://blog.visittampabay.com/blog/visittampabay

16th year, 20-Mile "Country" Ride And Toy Run

Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 10:00am.
The event will go from Veteran's Memorial Park at 3602 N US Highway 301 in Tampa, to Evans Park on 1104 North Kingsway Road in Seffner. There will also be an auction, raffle tickets, refreshments, a gift unwrapping
ceremony and Santa Claus with his helpers.
http://www.cooksontoyrun.com/events.htm

Florida Orchestra

A Holiday Pops

Friday, December 11 at 8pm at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Carol Morsani Hall; on Saturday, December 12 at 8pm at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater; and Sunday, December 13 at 7:30pm at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Yuletide tunes and best-loved Christmas carols will be performed by the Master
Chorale of Tampa Bay.
Tickets are $20, $30, $43, $53 and $67.

Cherish the Ladies "A Celtic Christmas"

Wednesday, December 16 at 8pm at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater.
This Irish traditional music and dance group will be performing "A Celtic Christmas".
Tickets are $25, $40, $55 and $70.
www.floridaorchestra.org.; 800-662-7286
http://blog.visittampabay.com/blog/visittampabay

Holiday Spirit

December 11 and 12, 2009
This Arts, Crafts and Gifts show will be located directly on Dale Mabry, just south of the Raymond James Stadium.
http://www.floridafairsandfestivals.com/0001261529-holiday-spirit-tampa-december.html

Brandon Ballet

The Nutcracker

Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13
www.brandonballet.org or call 684-4282
http://www.cityofbrandon.net/httpdocs/2009Christmas.htm

Busch Gardens Africa

From November 21, 2008 through January 3, 2010.
The Marrakesh Theater will deck the halls with Christmas from the Heart and the Christmas on Ice show will be at the Stanleyville Theater.
http://goflorida.about.com/cs/eventsfestivals/a/abc_holidays.htm

New Year's will be celebrated with special entertainment and fireworks nightly, December 27-31 from 9:00am to 8:30pm and until 1:00am on December 31.
This event is included with the daily park admission or a Passport membership.
http://goflorida.about.com/od/eventsfestivals/a/newyearseve.htm

Light Up Tampa Bay And Aqua Eve

December 31, at 5:30pm.
The Parade will go down 7th Avenue in Ybor City.
http://goflorida.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=goflorida&cdn=travel&tm=177&gps=130_51_687_228&f=11&su=p284.9.336.ip_p531.50.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.outbackbowl.com/events/calendar.html

Sources:

http://www.brandtampa.com/events/plant-city-pig-jam-state-bbq

http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/calendar_events.php

http://goflorida.about.com/cs/eventsfestivals/a/abc_holidays.htm

http://goflorida.about.com/od/eventsfestivals/a/newyearseve.htm

http://www.floridafairsandfestivals.com/0001261529-holiday-spirit-tampa-december.html

http://www.floridafairsandfestivals.com/0001258448-wmnf-885-fm-holiday-bazaar-ybor-city-december.html

http://www.plantmuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=47

http://blog.visittampabay.com/blog/visittampabay

http://www.tampabayhistorycenter.org

http://festivalnet.com/fairs_and_festivals/index.php?action=view_records&db=featuredopen&uid=default&Sidelined=no&Deleted=no&sb=Show_dates&State_local=FL&S_date_mo=11&City_local=&miles=25&zip=33527&S_date_yr=2009&view_records=Search+Now

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Plant-City-holiday-parade-cancelled-due-to-manhunt/BN0XDFuopkaYRHWR20zb2w.cspx?rss=794

http://www.cityofbrandon.net/httpdocs/2009Christmas.htm