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Free and cheap family fun
On this first official December weekend, there are plenty of holiday events to keep you busy. But you can also skip the holiday hoopla and find events that don't include red, green or tinsel. We start by getting in the holiday mood. But be aware of some event closures and cancellations that are occurring because of inclement weather this weekend.
See the Holiday Garden Lights at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, where the gardens have been transformed into a glittering holiday wonderland with more than 425,000 twinkling, environmentally friendly lights. See the twinkle for just $2, 11 and younger free at 12520 Ulmerton Road. It’s open from 6 to 10 p.m. If you want the kids to sit down with the big guy for breakfast, you can go to Busch Gardens, the Salvation Army or the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. And the St. Petersburg Santa Parade and SnowFest are still on for Saturday morning. For more weekend holiday outings, check here.
Sunday is $5 Day at MOSI, and there’s a special treat, The Science of the Circus, with clowns from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Maybe we’ll finally find out how they fit 30 clowns in a VW Bug. The museum’s InterActors will demonstrate the science of the circus, such as how acrobats balance on a high wire. The Museum of Science and Industry is at 4801 E Fowler Ave. Tampa.
Damsels and Doggies, a combined doggie and human fashion show, will have designs from S&D Vintage, Spinderella’s Steals and Adventures in Bradyville. There will also be raffles and auctions, refreshments, chair massages, face painting and a DJ, all to benefit the Florida All Retriever Rescue. Well behaved pets on leashes are welcome from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Nature of Art Gallery, 1100 Fourth Street N., Suite 101 in St. Petersburg. Best part is it's free to get in.
Take in a few free films for the kids at CineBistro at Hyde Park in Tampa during the Gasparilla International Film Festival Children's Festival beginning 10 a.m. Saturday. See The Muppet Movie and Happy Feet, the Tampa Bay Real Ghostbusters live before a screening of the movie and more. CineBistro is at 1609 W Swann Ave., Tampa. Call (813) 514-8300 or go to the GIFF Web site for details.
A food drive for furry ones is the motive behind Cause for Paws to help the local Humane Society endure a challenging financial time. Bring canned or dry food for dogs and cats and hear a concert by Christian recording artist Christina Sanders. Other artists on hand will be painter Tania Romero, opera singer Teresa Williams and fashion designer LaDaska Mechelle. It’s Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Michael Murphy Gallery, 2701 S MacDill Ave. in Tampa.
If you want to start planning something healthy and fun for the family next week, you can joing tons of jingly runners with glow necklaces and Santa hats will be dashing through the streets of St. Petersburg with bells on for the annual Boley Centers’ 27th annual Jingle Bell Run on Wednesday evening. Walkers, runners, kids and even family dog will follow the luminaria that light the waterfront pathways. There’s live holiday music to keep the crowd moving on the 3-mile and 1-mile runs/walks benefit Boley Centers, which helps those with mental disabilities, the homeless and youth in the bay area. It starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Entry fee is $18 advance, $13 ages 11 and younger advance, $20 race night, $15 ages 11 and younger race night. Call (727) 821-4819, ext. 6, or go to boleycenters.org/special-events/jingle-bell-run.html for more information.
The St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show knows it has the big boys attention for their toys. Now they are going after the kids through the Hook the Future Kids Fishing Clinics. Children ages 4-16 can sign up for free fishing clinics with Captain Don Dingman, a professional offshore angler who hosts a TV show of the same name. (Read about Dingman’s love of fishing at tampabay.com/parenting.) The clinics will be at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with registration starting at 10 a.m. each day. Every kid who completes the clinic gets a free rod and reel while supplies last. Hours are noon-6 p.m. today; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg. $10 adults at gate, $8 online; kids 15 and younger and active/retired military free with ID. Get information at toll free 1-800-940-7642 or showmanagement.com.
Great Explorations Children’s Museum new 1,500-square-foot interactive exhibition based on the classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Kids will learn about science, art and history as they encounter tornadoes and study the science of the vortex, learn the physiology of the heart from the Tin Woodsman, pick Scarecrow’s brain and more. After its run in St. Petersburg, the exhibition travels throughout the country. Opens Sat.; continues through Jan. 12 during regular museum hours. On Saturday, members get a sneak peek from 8-10 a.m. and then it opens to the general public. Great Explorations Children’s Museum, 1925 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. $9 general, $8 seniors, younger than 2 free. For information, call (727) 821-8992 or go to greatexplorations.org.
Here are even more events to get you through this wet and cool weekend. Have fun.
-- Sharon Kennedy Wynne and Sherry Robinson
[Photo: picapp]
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Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
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Freelance writer Courtney Cairns Pastor wasn’t so sure about having kids and how she would balance child-rearing with her journalism career. It turned out that her journalism training went to good use. As the mom to a funny, active toddler, she learned to handle him like she did her sources. Never ask yes or no questions (the answer will always be no), get him to be specific (are you crying because you’re wet or your tooth hurts?) and be prepared for anything because no two days are the same. When she’s not playing trucks, Courtney crams for her book club, trains for races and occasionally bursts into showtunes. E-mail her at 
Suzannah DiMarzio has it bad for the Mouse. Although she grew up outside of Boston, she took her degree in tourism management down to Orlando just to work at Disney and the travel industry. Of course, when she married her high school sweetheart, the reception was at Disney. She’s now a seasoned stay-at-home mom to two tweens and a toddler – and yes, that is as crazy as it sounds. Suzannah has her own blog, Comment Policy
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