The cool weather makes me miss the snowy New England winters, but there's plenty of ways to get in the Christmas spirit! Check out these terrific events in Tampa this weekend, and start your holiday season the right way!
Winter Wonder Ride
Light up your spokes, put on your dancing shoes, and get ready to roll down Bayshore Boulevard on two wheels as the Winter Wonder Ride is back! This year's theme is “Light It Up,” so grab some sneakers and your ugliest Christmas sweater (we all know the ugliest ones light up!) before heading to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Burn off some extra holiday calories, and enjoy the sounds of C & C Music Factory, Tone Loc and Z Tripp after the race during the party in the park!
Christmas Caroloke @ WTR and Godfrey
If Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” hasn’t been stuck in your head since Thanksgiving, you’re just not in the Christmas spirit! Your voice and your cutest holiday outfit are requested while you belt your favorite Christmas carols at WTR and The Godfrey Thursday night.
Winter Wonderettes @ Stageworks Theatre
A year without a Santa Claus? Not if the Winter Wonderettes have anything to do with it! Watch four women use their creative ingenuity to save Harper's Holiday Party after Santa is a no-show! With holiday hits like “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” this show will have you up on your feet at Stageworks Theatre!
Holiday Christmas Lights Tour - 81 Bay Brewing
Your Christmas light tour begins with a pre-game beer from 81 Bay Brewing, then jump on the trolley for a tour of terrific Christmas lights in Tampa! Sit back, relax and sip eggnog while the OMG Trolley Company takes you to the best lighting displays in town. Some of the extravagant displays even sync up with local radio stations to put on a real show!
A Very Barry Christmas
Attention Fanilows! Make it a Very Barry Christmas Saturday night as a living legend fills Amalie Arena with Christmas spirit! Your Grandma's favorite crooner sings Christmas carols such as “Because it’s Christmas” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town" just like he did on The Merv Griffin Show decades before I was born.
Riot Ten @ The Ritz
(PROFANE LYRIC GOES HERE). Bring your neck brace as Riot Ten prepares to make all of Tampa's headbangers go crazy Saturday night at The Ritz Ybor! This isn’t a show for house lovers or shufflers, but for the EDM crowd that enjoys heavy bass and high energy!
Army vs Navy Watch Party @ O’Briens Brandon
They might play for bowls and confernce championships now, but America's Game is the only one that truly matters to both teams. Army vs Navy kicks off Saturday at 3:00 p.m., and head to O’Briens in Brandon to watch the pagentry and the triple-option offenses with other academy folks. Go XXXX, Beat YYYY, and sing last.
Snow on 7th
If you’ve never seen snow, or are from somewhere north of the Mason-Dixon line and miss some wintry mix, head to Ybor City this weekend! The white stuff will be falling (in the 80's in Ybor City that meant something else, friends) from the sky on 7th Ave Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Stop by and get a glimpse of the magic or a picture with Santa!
Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl - Downtown Crawlers
The Downtown Crawlers are back! Grab your jankiest Christmas sweater from the depths of your attic, and receive a free welcome shot at each bar with ticket purchase. Discounted food & drink specials, an ugly sweater contest, party bus transport with free shotgun beers and tons of fun is guaranteed like the sales receipt for your lousy gifts. Party at four of Tampa’s coolest hotspots starting at 5 p.m.: Zydeco Brew Works, Yeoman's Cask & Lion, Franklin Manor, and Coyote Ugly!
Breakfast w/ Santa @ Maggiano’s
Treat your family to breakfast at Maggiano’s Sunday for an opportunity to take a pic with Santa! Parents might be there for the food and Insta-grammable picture of your family, but kids will enjoy the face painting and goodies, and likely the pasta too!
10th Annual Ryan Nece Power of Giving Holiday Party
Do you wanna be bad? Not this time of the year! Make the nice list and help raise money for the Ryan Nece Foundation at their 10th Annual Power of Giving Holiday Party! With an open bar, endless hors d'oeuvres from your favorite local restaurants, live entertainment by Josh Walther, Phase5 and Wild Out Entertainment's DJ Papi, this party will be bumpin'! And while you're getting ready, jam out to Ryan's wife to get in the right mood! Admit it, this song still bangs.
Victorian Christmas Stroll
Get a glimpse of Christmases past during the Victorian Christmas Stroll through the Henry Plant Museum at the beautiful University of Tampa! The Plant Museum is decorated with Christmas trees, over 40,000 lights and hundreds of feet of garland. Other decorations include vintage fashions, antique toys and fanciful ornaments for real estate gurus and history buffs to gawk at now through December 23rd.
For more events that will get you excited for the Holidays check out 813area, your free local guide to the city of Tampa!
Images courtesy of 813area and Flickr.
