Advertisement

Top things to do in Tampa bay for the week of Nov. 19-25

 
JIM DAMASKE   |   Times A display of lights in the Wedding Garden in the Florida Botanical Gardens holiday lights display starting the day after Thanksgiving.
JIM DAMASKE | Times A display of lights in the Wedding Garden in the Florida Botanical Gardens holiday lights display starting the day after Thanksgiving.
Published Nov. 19, 2018

By Maggie Duffy

Times Staff Writer

Holiday Lights: Displays abound all over the bay area this week, starting Monday with the Winter Village at Tampa's Curtis Hixon Park. Along with a 360 degree light display set to music, there's also ice skating and the Winter Village Express. wintervillagetampa.com. Largo has two magnificent displays, one opening at Largo Central Park on Thursday with Ferris wheels, carousel rides, holiday caroling and visits with Santa (free), and Friday, the Florida Botanical Gardens become even more beautiful with twinkly LED lights,plus laser lights and lighted figures, music synchronization, and Florida-style displays ($5 suggested donation). flbg.org.

Thanksgiving Day Races: Earn those extra calories before dinner. In Tampa, the Goody Goody Turkey Gobble is a stroller and dog friendly 8K, 5K or 1-mile out and back race with a post-race breakfast at Amalie Arena ($15-$40; amaliearena.com). The Times Turkey Trot returns to Clearwater, with a buffet of races from the 1-mile Gobbler, to the 10K Turkey Trot, and the turducken of all races, the Clearwater Challenge, with runners doing the 5K, 1 Mile and 10K all in one day. All races begin at Keene Road just south of Gulf to Bay Boulevard ($15-$50). (727) 442-5838.

DATE NIGHT

Music: Monday is futuristic, when a hologram of Roy Orbison is accompanied by a live orchestra at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall ($43.25-$73.25). Also Monday, Playboi Carti plays irl at the Ritz Ybor ($35-$70), while Hoobastank rock Clearwater's Capitol Theater ($29-$59). Friday, former Doobie Brother Michael McDonald performs songs from his new Christmas album at the Capitol Theater ($84-$100). Just down the road, also on Friday, KC and the Sunshine Band get funky at Ruth Eckerd Hall ($50-$150), where Grammy Award-winning band Ghost will play on Sunday ($43.25-$78.75).

Il Divo: The classical crossover vocal group discovered by Simon Cowell bring their brand of operatic pop to St. Petersburg's Mahaffey Theater on Tuesday ($55-$350). mahaffeytheater.com.

Damon Fowler's Holiday Blues Bash: The local blues singer and guitarist gathers friends including vocalist Betty Fox, guitarist Sean Chambers and drummer Justin Headley for a jam session at the St. Petersburg's Palladium Theater on Wednesday ($(18-$38). mypalladium.org.

KIDS AND FAMILY

DRUMline Live Holiday Spectacular: The explosive show brings hot choreography and athletic feats performed by steppers, the rhythmic sounds of trumpets and the speed of pulsating force of the drumline to the Mahaffey Theater on Sunday ($29.50-$59.50). mahaffeytheater.com.

TOP 50: The best restaurants in Tampa Bay

MUSEUMS: How to get into Tampa Bay museums for $10 or less

TOURS: From churches to breweries, 10 behind the scenes tours in Tampa

VIDEO GAME BARS: 13 arcade bars and other places to play in Tampa Bay

INDOORS: 21 places to escape the heat and chill indoors in Tampa Bay

OUTDOORS: 28 ways to have fun outdoors in Tampa Bay

ICE SKATING: Winter Village and skating rink open in downtown Tampa