Gasparilla
G-rated parade hits the streets
Pint-sized pirates will take to Bayshore Boulevard on Saturday for the Children's Gasparilla Extravaganza and Parade. They will be wowed by the pirate Jose Gaspar himself (shown on video screens on the pirate ship's sails and heard over loudspeakers on the street) before a huge fireworks show at night. The alcohol-free parade is an appetizer for the more raucous big Gasparilla parade, which is the following Saturday. Expected to draw 75,000 people, the krewes at the children's parade tend to be more creative with the loot. Beyond the bounty of beads, people on floats throw candy, cloth flying discs, rubber balls, soft footballs, pirates' "gold" and other keepsakes. It's a daylong affair, as vendors and children's activities begin along Bayshore Boulevard at 11 a.m. and the parade kicks off at 3 p.m. with a parachute jump taking part in an "air invasion" before the parade. It's free but you can get reserved seating $26-$35 at gasparillaextravaganza.com. The parade starts at Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa, on Saturday.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Big wheels keep on turning
Dealers from across Florida show and sell tons of RV units at the Florida RV SuperShow running through Sunday with booths representing campgrounds, finance companies and insurance agencies. It runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4802 U.S. 301 N. $10, 15 and younger free. Call (813) 741-0488.
SATURDAY
Bring it in for a hug
If St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster runs up and hugs you in the middle of the Saturday Morning Market, it's not what you think. He's kicking off the Free Hugs Fest, along with Raymond, the Rays mascot. Volunteer huggers wearing Keep Saint Petersburg Local T-shirts and holding "Free Hugs" signs will be dotted along Central Avenue, Beach Drive and at the market. Give them some love. keepsaintpetersburglocal.org/hugs
Back to the future in the sky
The force is with the Science Center for a retro Sci-Fi and Sky Night featuring telescope viewings, planetarium shows, a screening of the original Star Wars: A New Hope: Episode IV, a costume contest and Eckerd College's Brian Southworth discussing the Higgs Boson, also known at "the God Particle." $5. Science Center of Pinellas County, 7701 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 384-0027. 5:30-10:30 p.m.
Hand-in-hand with Haiti
tbt*'s pop music critic Sean Daly serves as MC for an inspirational evening to raise funds for St. Gabriel Parish, Holy Family's sister parish in Beau Sejour, Haiti. The night includes cocktails, a Haitian dinner, a children's choir performance and testimony from doctors conducting life-saving missions in Haiti. Admission is free, but donations for food and drink benefit St. Gabriel Parish. Free. Holy Family Catholic Church, 200 78th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. (727) 504-4206. 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Be a friend for Dan
Get your picture taken in the photo booth at the Our Friend Dan Bash and grab something to eat from Michael Faedo's On the Go food truck while jamming to live music by Geri X, Wolf Face, Rob Pereira, Simply Abigail and the Red Hot Hornets. Benefits Dan Soyka and his fight against Lou Gehrig's disease. Free. Dunedin House of Beer, 927 Broadway, Dunedin. (727) 216-6318. 6 p.m.
You can totally crawl, '80s style
Dress like your favorite rock or film star from the 1980s for the Crazy '80s Pub Crawl, a four-stop pub crawl with free admission to participating venues, one complimentary cocktail at each stop, drink specials and '80s dance music. Stops include Barbarella, the Green Iguana and Czar. $12 advance, $15 at the door. The Honey Pot, 1507 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. (407) 808-6371. 9 p.m.
SATURDAY-WEDNESDAY
Bully for the Bard
Local arts organizations continue the Shakespeare Festival this week, teaming up another series of events honoring the words and ideas of William Shakespeare. On Saturday, bring the kids for a screening of Disney's classic film the Lion King, inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet. Lion King-inspired activities take place before and after the film (1 p.m). Stick around Saturday afternoon for a screening of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. In the film, two minor characters from Hamlet stumble around unaware of their scripted lives in this farcical film (3 p.m.). That's all at the Dalí Museum, One Dalí Blvd. (Bayshore Drive SE and Fifth Avenue SE), St. Petersburg, and both are free. Then Wednesday at 7 p.m. features "An Intimate Collaboration: All The World's A Stage." The Studio@620 partners with the Florida Orchestra to explore Shakespeare's influence on music, spoken word and more in this multifaceted artistic collaboration. Vocalists from the USF School of Music's Chamber Singers highlight Shakespeare's words in song. Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. $10. (727) 895-6620.
MONDAY
For inauguration, go big
You can see the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony on the big screen at the Tampa Theatre. The ceremony will include performances by Beyonce, James Taylor and poet Richard Blanco. It's free to watch 10 a.m. at Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St.
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