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Top things to do in Tampa Bay: Dec. 2-8

You can play in snow or catch the Harlem Globetrotters, plus lighted boat parades begin and Tony Bennett and Trisha Yearwood perform.
 
Snowfest returns to Straub Park on Saturday, giving Florida kids a chance to play in the snow.
Snowfest returns to Straub Park on Saturday, giving Florida kids a chance to play in the snow. [ Tampa Bay Times (2013) ]
Published Dec. 2, 2019

Let it snow: Florida kids will have snow to play in this week when the popular Snowfest returns to Straub Park with giant toboggan slides and activities of all kinds for families. $5 wristbands. 9 a.m. Saturday. Beach Drive and Fifth Avenue NE, St. Petersburg. There’s Snow Place Like Tarpon Springs has a free snow play area, a boat parade and more. Free. 5-10 p.m. Friday. Tarpon Avenue between Spring Boulevard and Ring Avenue. And Miracle on Cleveland Street is back with falling snow, ice skating, photos with Santa and a free concert by the Romantics. Ride wristband $8. 5-10 p.m. Saturday. 400 block of Cleveland Street, Clearwater.

Boat parades: Another oh-so-Florida tradition of lighted boat parades gets sailing this week with parades beginning about 5 p.m. Saturday at the Riverview Civic Center, 11020 Park Drive; the Merry Pier, 801 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Petersburg; and Dunedin’s Edgewater Park, 51 Main St.

Harlem Globetrotters: The iconic team of entertainers brings Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson and other court jesters. They are joined by female stars TNT Lister, Hoops Green, Torch George and Swish Young for trick shots and comedy. Stick around after the show for autographs and photos with the stars. $20-$115. 4 p.m. Saturday. Yuengling Center, 4202 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. (813) 974-3111. yuenglingcenter.com.

TNT Lister of the Harlem Globetrotters high-fives a fan after the team beat the Washington Generals. The iconic team of comedic ball players returns to Tampa's Yuengling Center on Dec. 7.
TNT Lister of the Harlem Globetrotters high-fives a fan after the team beat the Washington Generals. The iconic team of comedic ball players returns to Tampa's Yuengling Center on Dec. 7. [ BRETT D. MEISTER | Harlem Globetrotters ]

DATE NIGHT

Straight Up with Stassi Live: Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder brings her podcast with special guests Beau Clark and Taylor Strecker to talk pop culture and “next level basic.” $29.50-$203. 8 p.m. Thursday. David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. (813) 229-7827. strazcenter.org.

Gilbert Gottfried: The comedian’s long stage, film and television career has included stints on Saturday Night Live, memorable scenes in Beverly Hills Cop II and playing the wisecracking parrot Iago in Disney’s Aladdin. He’s one of the most recognizable voice-over talents, but as a comic, he loves a really filthy joke. So brace yourself. $20-$25. Thursday through Saturday. Side Splitters Comedy Club, 12938 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. (813) 960-1197. For showtimes, visit sidesplitterscomedy.com.

13 Ugly Sweaters: The charitable 13 Ugly Men party with a purpose benefits the Skills Center, an athletics mentoring program. Grab your ugliest sweater for indoor and outdoor games. $20-$40. 8 p.m. Friday. Park and Rec Tampa, 290 S Meridian Ave. 13uglymen.com.

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St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show: The 42nd annual show brings hundreds of power and sailboats and boating gear on land and in the water to the yacht basin in downtown St. Petersburg. The show includes a 40,000-square-foot tent. $19, 15 and younger free. Opens at 10 a.m. Thursday and runs through Sunday. 107 Eighth Ave. SE. (954) 463-6762. stpeteboatshow.com.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Joel Hodgson, the original host of the movie-riffing cult TV series, returns with his robot sidekicks to mock a terrible movie in what he says is his last tour. $39.50-$59.50. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Straz Center.

Joel Hodgson, creator of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000,' will perform at the Straz Center in Tampa on Dec. 3.
Joel Hodgson, creator of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000,' will perform at the Straz Center in Tampa on Dec. 3. [ Courtesy of Gary Glover ]

Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival: The sixth annual festival features more than 200 movies in a variety of genres from filmmakers you may have never heard of. It includes educational panels, an awards ceremony and after-parties. $10, $15 day pass, $25 VIP. Tuesday through Sunday. Britton 8, 3938 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Find a schedule at tbuff.org.

Death by Chocolate: What a way to go. Check out the lights in Largo Central Park as you enjoy live entertainment, auctions, dessert samples from area restaurants and free Champagne. Benefits the Rotary Club of Largo. $20. 7 p.m. Friday. Central Park Performing Arts Center, 105 Central Park Drive. (727) 587-6793.

MUSIC

Tony Bennett: The 19-time Grammy-winning crooner’s career spans over six decades and his voice is still a technical marvel. $70-$120. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 490-9835. themahaffey.com.

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour: The sax master is back with a holiday show featuring singer-guitarist Jonathan Butler, saxophonist Michael Lington, drummer Chris Wallace and singer Melissa Manchester. $37 and up. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. (727) 791-7400. rutheckerdhall.com.

Trisha Yearwood: The Grammy- and CMA Award-winning country music singer, bestselling cookbook author and Food Network star returns for the first time in half a decade. $43.25 and up. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Trisha Yearwood will perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Dec. 6.
Trisha Yearwood will perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Dec. 6. [ Russ Harrington ]

Florida Orchestra does Mozart & Tchaikovsky: Michael Francis conducts with Natalie Hoe on clarinet. Don’t miss the preconcert conversation one hour before the performance. $18-$48, free for kids and teens. 8 p.m. Friday at the Straz Center, 8 p.m. Saturday at the Mahaffey Theater and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Ruth Eckerd Hall. (727) 892-3337. floridaorchestra.org. As a bonus, Francis blends humor, smart analysis and live orchestra demos to take you on a journey through Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique ending with a full performance. Admission is pay what you can. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Gibbs High School, 850 34th St. S, St. Petersburg.

Stephen Marley: The reggae great returns to Tampa with rapper Bleve Brown. $26.50 and up. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Ritz Ybor, 1503 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. (813) 248-4050. theritzybor.com.

Celtic Angels Christmas: The show encompasses vocal and instrumental seasonal favorites alongside Irish, contemporary and original Christmas themes, all with a Celtic twist and world champion dancers. $20-$55. 7 p.m. Thursday. Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. (727) 791-7400. atthecap.com.

Nghtmre: The Los Angeles DJ and producer has collaborated with Zeds Dead, Dillon Francis, PnB Rock, Wiz Khalifa and Flux Pavilion. $25-$30. 10 p.m. Thursday. Ritz Ybor.

Keith Harkin: The singer-songwriter from the Irish music group Celtic Thunder is now touring on his own. $35-$75. 8 p.m. Thursday. The Attic, 1510 E Eighth Ave., Tampa. (828) 773-9481. theatticyborcity.com.

John Prine: His 2018 The Tree of Forgiveness received widespread acclaim and debuted at No. 5, leading to Prine, 73, getting his own signature festival, last month’s All the Best Fest in the Dominican Republic. Kentucky singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon opens. $77 and up. 8 p.m. Saturday. Ruth Eckerd Hall.

John Prine will perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Dec. 7.
John Prine will perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Dec. 7. [ Courtesy of Danny Clinch ]

We the Kings: The Bradenton-born band with the platinum single Check Yes Juliet performs. $22. 7 p.m. Friday. Crowbar, 1812 N 17th St., Tampa.

Sutton Foster: The multiple Tony Award winner and lead star of Darren Star’s hit TV Land series Younger will perform songs from three of her hit albums. $45-$65. 8 p.m. Friday. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre.

Il Divo: A Holiday Song Celebration: The group that pioneered an entirely new musical genre brings their take on classic Christmas songs. $49.50-$138. 8 p.m. Friday. Mahaffey Theater.

An Evening With Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers: It’s actually two evenings with the prolific writer and performer, whose character-driven stories are packed with political subtext. $45-$75. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Attic.

Angelus Music Fest: Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry and Confederate Railroad will headline this fundraiser for the Hudson-based Angelus, a home for severely handicapped people. $20-$45. 6 p.m. Saturday. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. Toll-free 1-866-388-4263. seminolehardrocktampa.com.

Honeymoon Island Bluegrass Festival: There will be six hours of traditional bluegrass music from national and local bands, plus food vendors. Children are welcome. Bring a lawn chair. $10 covers admission and parking. 11 a.m. Saturday. Honeymoon Island State Park, 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. (727) 276-4024. eventbrite.com.

KIDS AND FAMILY

Children’s Board Free Tuesday: The hands-on museum and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County join to offer free admission. Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Glazer Children’s Museum, 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. (813) 443-3861. glazermuseum.org.

Museum Family Day: The Tampa Museum of Art will host a “pay as you will” Family Day with family-friendly activities inspired by its current exhibitions, such as make-and-take art projects. There will also be refreshments and live holiday music. At 1, 2 and 3 p.m., there will be tours of the centennial exhibition “The Making of a Museum: 100 Years, 100 Works.” 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday. 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. (813) 274-8130. tampamuseum.org.

MORE TO EXPLORE

Fine more date night ideas or things to do with kids at tampabay.com/events.