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Plan your weekend Dec. 15-17: Katy Perry, boat parades, Star Wars parties, comics Gilbert Gottfried, Michael Carbonaro

 
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 02:  Katy Perry performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on October 2, 2017 in New York City.  (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 02: Katy Perry performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on October 2, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Published Dec. 14, 2017

Superstar

Katy Perry: In the ever-escalating arms race to be the most eye-popping pop star on the planet, sometimes you have to call in for backup. Even if you're Katy Perry. When plotting her lavishly spectacular Witness Tour, which arrives in Tampa on Friday, Perry turned to choreographers Ashley Evans and Antony Ginandjar, a.k.a. the Squared Division, an Australian choreography and creative services agency that has worked with stars like Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas. Purity Ring opens. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $45.75 and up. (813) 301-2500. amaliearena.com.

More Music: This week's best concerts

Nerd alert

Star Wars parties: With this weekend's opening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the force of fan excitement is strong, so of course there are Star Wars parties. The giant movie complex Riverview 14 GDX is having celebration with characters from the film available for photos in the theater's lobby from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. 9390 Theater Drive, Gibsonton. Free. (727) 644-8999. In St. Petersburg, a Star Wars Bar Crawl with costumes encouraged starts at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hofbrauhaus, 123 Fourth St. S. Then, hop aboard a bus for a guided drinking tour with stops at the Lure, Grateful Fed Pub and Red Mesa Cantina. $20-$120. eventbrite.com.

Click here to read film critic Steve Persall's review of the Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Theaters: 6 places to eat dinner and see a movie at the same time

Shopping

Artistic Markets: Artists are dominating some of this weekend's holiday shopping markets. Holizaar, the Studio@620's annual event is a local favorite among artists and shoppers. Here you'll find original art and holiday decor with an edge, like Frank Strunk III's metal wreath. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. 620 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. thestudioat620.org. St. Petersburg Holiday of the Arts, an outdoor art show where you can purchase works in painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media from national artists as gifts. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at South Straub Park, 250 Bayshore Drive NE.

Art Planner: Get shopping at these markets, and explore borders at Silver Meteor

Take the kids

Boat parades: Rudolph will need some water wings for boat parades coming this week. Starting at 6 p.m. Friday, brightly decorated boats will head out on from the Club at Treasure Island, 400 Treasure Island Causeway, to John's Pass. There are parades planned for 6 p.m. Saturday at Homosassa Springs Marina, 10806 W Halls River Road, Homosassa; Indian Rocks Beach starting at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Harbourside, 401 Second St.; and Sunday at 6 p.m. at Redington Beach and Indian Shores starting on the north side of the Tom Stuart Causeway and ending at Caddy's Pub for an awards ceremony and party, 20025 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores. And on Sunday, everyone is welcome to bring a decorated boat, kayak or canoe to the Lowry Park boat ramp and head upriver to Sulphur Springs Park. Assembles at 5:30 p.m. Sunday; parade starts at 6 at Lowry Park, 7525 N Boulevard , Tampa.

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More Holiday Fun: Top places to see Christmas lights in Tampa Bay

Comedy

Gilbert Gottfried, Michael Carbonaro: Don't let the family friendly voice behind Aladdin's Iago and the Aflac duck fool you. Comedian Gilbert Gottfried told the filthiest joke in The Aristocrats, a documentary about the world's dirtiest joke. He performs five shows today through Saturday at Side Splitters Comedy Club, 12938 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. $20-$25. (813) 960-1197. sidesplitterscomedy.com. But you no doubt will by fooled by trickster Michael Carbonaro, the magician and improv artist of the hit prank show Carbonaro Effect. He will bring video clips and live magic at 7 p.m. Sunday to the Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S St. Petersburg. $29. (727) 893-7832. themahaffey.com.

Stage

It's a Wonderful Life — A Live Radio Play: This show was a big hit last year at American Stage, so Joe Landry's playful script returns. It recasts the show as a behind-the-scenes window into a radio studio with actors reading and sometimes singing the roles of George and Mary, the wicked Mr. Potter and Violet, the angel Clarence, now with an added double role of a station manager and Foley sound effects artist. Saturday through Dec. 24 at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg. $30. (727) 823-7529. For show times, go to americanstage.org.

FORECAST: Check the weekend's weather forecast while making your plans.

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