The planner (fun stuff to do)

By Sharon Kennedy Wynne, wynne@tampabay.com
In print: Friday, March 28, 2008

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A vibrant global village will spring forward in Vinoy Park this weekend for the annual St. Petersburg International Folk Fair. A mix of Italian, Ukrainian, Korean, Portuguese and Polish villagers will be in costume, with arts and crafts, and food representing different cultural groups. It runs from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Vinoy Park, Fifth Avenue NE and North Shore Drive, downtown, St. Petersburg. $10, $8 seniors; younger than 12 free. (727) 552-1896. www.spiffs.org.

It's the end of era Friday at Al Lang Field when the Tampa Bay Rays play what is likely to be the last spring training game at the St. Petersburg ballpark. Since 1916, the site has hosted Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and other greats. There will be an Air Force flyover before the 1:05 p.m. game, lots of speeches and souvenirs. After the game, fans get a free barbecue, live music and kids will have the chance to run the bases. Some berm and grandstand seats are still available; $7-$20. Toll-free 1-888-326-7297. www.raysbaseball.com.

Get a taste of more than the food at the Festa Italiana this weekend in Ybor City. There's a bocce ball invitational tournament, an Italian Idol competition, films, live entertainment, a Kidz Zone, grape stomping, cooking demonstratinos and, of course, lots food to tempt you off your low-carb diet. It runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Centennial Park, Eighth Avenue and 18th Street, Ybor City. $5 admission Sun.; younger than 12 free. (813) 248-0721. www.festa

italianatampa.com.

Tampa Lowrider Tour will do more than put the bass line to that unbearably catchy-cool 1975 song by War in your head (Okay, go ahead and hum "All my friends know the low rider"). Take in more than 500 customized cars, bikes and trucks, while bikini contests and live entertainment add to the distractions from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Interstate 4 at U.S. 301 N, Tampa. $30 spectators, 10 and younger free with paid adult. (813) 621-7821 or (714) 939-2441. www.lowridermagazine.com.

Get ready for Earth Day by stocking up at the GreenFest, a nature festival at Plant Park in Tampa with plants, garden accessories and supplies for sale. There will also be speakers and gardening-related demonstrations. Festival supports restoration of the park. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Plant Park at University of Tampa, 401 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. $3, kids younger than 12 free. (813) 253-3333. www.greenfest.org.

Bay Area Corvette Club's Poker Rally is open to Corvettes only but it does benefit the Wounded Warrior Foundation program. It starts at the Ulmerton Road WingHouse and moves to other WingHouse locations in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Palm Harbor and ends in New Port Richey. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Sunday; driver's meeting at 11. Staggered start begins 11:30 a.m. 7369 Ulmerton Road, Largo. $20. (727) 937-6759. www.baccvette.us.

We're down to the last two home games of the regular season, so this Saturday it's a Tampa Bay Lightning game and concert. Hear an acoustic set by Donald Carpenter of the indie band Submersed (Hollow) after the 7:30 p.m. game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Carpenter will also perform a song during the first intermission. At the St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $32-$69 for the game and concert afterward.

Show your tats and admire the ink wielders from around the world at the ninth annual TattooFest this weekend at the Doubletree Hotel on W Cypress Street in Tampa. It's $20 a day or $45 for the whole weekend. It runs from noon to midnight Friday and Saturday and until 8 p.m. Sunday.

See artists as they paint outdoors for the SouthShore Plein Air Festival at various locations in Hillsborough County Friday through Sunday, including Camp Cristina in Riverview and the Manatee Viewing Center, 6990 Dickman Road, Apollo Beach. Maps are available at the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce, 315 South Tamiami Trail, or the Resort and Club at Little Harbor. Artists will be on site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Satuday. A reception and sale of works take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Resort and Club. (813) 645-3732.