It seems that spraygrounds and splash pads are popping up all over the place. The latest opened Thursday at the Highlander Pool, 1937 Ed Eckert Drive, Dunedin. The Kiwanis Sprayground, featuring Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, has plenty of ways to get wet: mushroom and spinning sprayers, dumping buckets and troughs, water cannons, even a bench that sprays while you sit. Parents will love this feature: The pool has a detection system that automatically shuts off equipment when lightning is in the area. Regular hours will be from 9 a.m. to sunset. It's free to use the sprayground but if you want to use the pool, here are the fees: for residents, $2.25 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1.75 for kids; for nonresidents, $4.50 adults, $4 seniors and $3.50 kids. For more info, call (727) 812-4531. Above, Ryan Givins, 8, of Dunedin takes advantage of the sprayground Thursday.
FRIDAY
Runnin' after midnight
An Independence Day tradition, the Kiwanis Morton Plant Mease Midnight Run is a scenic 10K race course over Causeway Boulevard and back with a turn in Honeymoon Island State Park. The course is flat and well-lit by more than 700 luminaries. Shorter races begin at 11 p.m. Friday (1-mile) and 11:25 p.m. (5K). Proceeds benefit numerous area charities. 12:15 a.m. Fri. Causeway Plaza, 2600 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin. $25 for the 5K and 10K, $10 for the 1-mile. (727) 535-2257. kiwanismidnightrun.com.
SATURDAY
A hole in one (gullet)
Wear your wackiest golf clothes but leave your clubs at home. The Pub Golfing for Paws plays nine bars instead of nine holes. This pub crawl for SPCA starts at noon Saturday at King Corona, 1523 E Seventh Ave. in Ybor City, and stops at nine bars with drink specials. One drink is par, three are a bogie, you get the picture. The bars on the "course" include Centro Cantina, Rock-N-Sports Bar and Grille, GameWorks and The Nest. Each bar has donated drink specials. It's $20; see kpmarketingsolutions.com. (813) 857-1697.
Patriotic zombies, this is for you
Bring the classic Rocky Horror Picture Show to life with the cast of Cheap Little Punks. The show has a holiday twist: It's Patriotic Zombie Night. Audience participation and costumes and props are encouraged. Kids under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. It's from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday at Tampa Pitcher Show, 14416 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. $7. (813) 963-0578.
Hey, it's a fish in the sky!
Take the kids to learn how to find and draw the constellation Pisces in the night sky. It's from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pier Aquarium, 800 Second Ave. NE in St. Pete. It's $5, $4 seniors and students ages 7 and older, 6 and younger free. (727) 895-7437. pieraquarium.org.
SUNDAY
Bikini watch is back on
The skin-friendly beach party known as South Beach Sundays is back at Crabby Bill's Beach Club, 7700 W Courtney Campbell Causeway. From 1 to 8 p.m. every Sunday until Sept. 6, the beach party has DJs, volleyball, private cabanas, food and drinks for hundreds of sun worshipers. Cover: $5-10. Beach bed reservations: (813) 265-1234.
TUESDAY
Gambling for a good cause
Not that we would ever encourage gambling, but hey, the Old Salt Loop Casino Night is for a good cause. There are two ways to play. The Texas Hold'em Tournament has special guest and former Buc Mike Alstott and includes play time, food, drinks and a T-shirt, all for $200. Too pricey? There's also a night of casino gaming with blackjack, craps, roulette, slots and more for $35, which includes entry to casino, food and playing chips. The night benefits the Children's Dream Fund and the Mike Alstott Family Foundation. It's 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesday at the Renaissance Vinoy, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Pete. (727) 497-1060; oldsaltfishing.org.
WEDNESDAY
Construction workers get the last laugh
People in the construction industry could use a laugh these days, so the Volvo Rents Construction Equipment company is offering free admission (if you bring three food donations) on Wednesday to Side Splitters Comedy Club for the Hard Hat Comedy Tour, featuring Carmen Ciricillo. The show is Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., and the lounge opens at 6:30. Reservations required at (813) 960-1197 at Side Splitters 12938 N Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.
5 under $5
We're feeling pretty patriotic, so when the bank account explodes like cheap fireworks, we have some free and cheap things to do for you, our fellow Americans.
FreeLet your kids bring something to the July 4 potluck by making a wooden picnic caddy at the Home Depot's free kids workshops for ages 5 to 12. They supply all the materials tools and even a work apron you can take home. Register online at homedepotkids.com. They hold the workshop between 9 a.m. and noon at all Home Depot stores on Saturday.
Free Not to be outdone by the Nathan's contest in Coney Island, our own version will have people gorging at the fifth annual Hot Dog Eating Contest at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Dairy Inn (1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg). People will hork down as many dogs as possible in 10 minutes, and can win $100 in their category (men, women or children). It's free to enter, but donations will be taken for Pet Pals Shelter in St. Pete. (There will be a puppy-kissing booth.)
FreeGet Downtown, the monthly first Friday block party in downtown St. Petersburg, gets hopping with killer saxophonist Stacey Knights who brings her pop-jazz sound to Central Avenue between Second and Third streets starting at 6 p.m.
Free Next Thursday, you can ease some of the post-holiday weekend stress by attending the thank you party hosted by the Holy Mud Company, a St. Pete-based company specializing in mud masks. Its party is planned for 6 to 10 p.m. July 9 at Get Hip Studio in Tampa, and it's open to the public. They're giving away free swag bags to the first 10 people to arrive, and free samples all night and product demonstrations. They're also serving mud slides and light food at the party.
$5 The hipsters at Ybor City's Crowbar are getting into the indie spirit on Independence Day weekend with a mix of psychedelic rock, hip hop and rock, followed by a hot dog eating contest for the third annual Hot Dog Show. For more details on the bands, including Sunbears! and eFFeX, see Page 27. The hot dog eating contest starts at 9 p.m., and there's free barbecue for everyone. It's $5 at the club at 1812 N 17th St. in Ybor City. Phone: (813) 241-8600.
News
