NEW HOPE: Star Wars parties
With the opening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the force of fan excitement is strong, so of course there are Star Wars parties this weekend. 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. Then at 3 p.m. Saturday, the Ruskin Branch Library, 26 Dickman Drive SE, will have games, crafts, trivia and photos against a Star Wars-themed background. Free. (813) 273-3652.
Click here to read Steve Persall's review of the Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
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 dirtiest 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.
Read an interview with Gottfried at tampabay.com/things-to-do.
But you no doubt will by fooled by trickster Michael Carbonaro, the magician and improv artist whose hit prank show Carbonaro Effect just received truTV's first-ever Critic's Choice Awards nomination. 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.
SPECTACLE: Cirque Dreams Holidaze
A cirque spectacle, Broadway musical and family show all in one, Cirque Dreams Holidaze celebrates its 10th anniversary national tour with a show at St. Petersburg's Mahaffey Theater on Wednesday. The over-the-top production brings more than 300 costumes, 20 acrobatic and gravity-defying acts with elaborate production numbers and illusions, as well as singers and a sleigh full of snowmen, penguins, angels, reindeer, toy soldiers, gingerbread men, ornaments and of course, Santa. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. SE, St. Petersburg. $35-$65. (727) 893-7832. themahaffey.com. The show then heads to Sarasota's Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall at 7 p.m. Dec. 21. $36-$105. vanwezel.org.
For more holiday events this week, see tampabay.com/christmas.
MORE THINGS TO DO
FORECAST: Check the weekend's weather forecast while making your plans.
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MORE EVENTS: Search By Date, Price and Neighborhood
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DINING: Where to Eat This Week
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MOVIES: What's New In Theaters