If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend (November 17-19), there's plenty of action happening around the Tampa Bay area.
Friday, November 17
What: Festival of Trees Tampa Bay: All I Want for Christmas
When: November 17-19
Where: The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation at 1501 North Belcher Road, Clearwater
Cost: $5 adults, children under 10 are free
Event Info: Festival of Trees is a weekend-long indoor display of trees and wreaths decorated by local businesses, community leaders, and families (all available for purchase) to raise funds for The Arc Tampa Bay, a non-profit organization that supports and empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition to trees and wreaths, there will be a variety of vendor booths selling holiday goods, live performances, photos with Santa, and an arts/crafts area for children.
What: 27th Annual Suncoast Jazz Classic
When: November 17-19
Where: Sand Key Sheraton at 1201 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach, Clearwater
Cost: $50
Event Info: Celebrate the true American art form of jazz on beautiful Clearwater Beach! This 27th annual event features both professional and aspiring jazz musicians in genres ranging from Swing Dance to Traditional Jazz to Pianorama. Single day tickets and full weekend packages available.
What: Tampa Bay New Car and Truck Show
When: November 17-19
Where: Tampa Convention Center at 333 South Franklin Street, Tampa
Cost: $11
Event Info: Check out over 350 of the hottest new cars, trucks and SUVs at the Tampa Convention Center this weekend! The 2018-Model Tampa Bay International Auto Show runs from November 17-19.
What: Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park
When: November 17, 2017 – January 5, 2018
Where: Curtis Hixon Park at 600 North Ashley Drive Downtown, Tampa
Cost: Free admission
Event Info: Celebrate the holiday season in Downtown Tampa at the Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park. Located along the Tampa Riverwalk, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is transformed with the sights, sounds and activities of the holidays for children and adults of all ages. Go skating at Tampa’s only outdoor ice rink, grab a hot coffee, shop at the pop-up Christmas market and hop on the holiday-themed Streetcar, the Winter Village Express. Admission is free.
What: St. Pete Ooze Fest
When: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Where: Albert Whitted Park at 480 Bayshore Drive SE, St. Petersburg
Cost: Free admission
Event Info: Get ready for everything cheese and beer at the 2017 St. Pete Oozefest! Nearly two dozen gourmet food trucks will serve up specialty cheese-inspired dishes as well as offering their normal cuisine. There will be plenty of beer and live music. This pet-friendly event is free and fun for the whole family.
What: Sanding Ovations at Treasure Island
When: Nov. 15-19
Where: Treasure Island Beach at 104th Avenue & Gulf Boulevard
Cost: Free admission
Event Info: Now in its 9th year, Sanding Ovations is Treasure Island's Master Cup Sand Sculpting Competition and music festival. This 4-day competition features ten sand sculpting masters throughout North America, Europe and Asia, who create astonishing works of art using nothing but sand, water and lots of their own imagination.
Saturday, November 18
What: Insane Inflatable 5K
When: 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: Florida State Fairgrounds at 4800 U.S. 301, Tampa
Cost: $60
Event Info: The Insane Inflatable 5K is coming back to Tampa! Get ready to experience the most fun, wild and insane obstacle run in the world. Get “pumped up” for a course filled with the world’s largest and most extreme inflatable obstacles ever produced. Here’s your chance to be a kid at heart, and insane by choice!
What: Cupcake Festival
When: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Ybor City Saturday Market at 1800 E 8th Ave, Tampa
Cost: Free admission
Event Info: Local cupcake bakers will go head-to-head to at the 7th Ybor City Saturday Market Cupcake Festival. A panel of judges will determine the best-tasting cupcakes along with the coolest creations and the winner will earn the title of “Best Cupcake in Tampa 2017″. Visitors to the Cupcake Festival will be able to purchase creations from participating contestants as well as enjoy the regular entertainment and shopping at the Ybor City Saturday Market. Click here for the cupcake contest application.
What: Haven Holiday Market
When: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Central Park Downtown Winter Haven at 41 5th St NW, Winter Haven
Cost: Free admission
Event Info: The 3rd Annual Haven Holiday Market will feature around 200 unique local vendors with handmade arts, crafts, vintage, jewelry, gourmet, raw local honey, homebaked goods, organic goods, kids area, food trucks, live music, and much more! This family-friendly event is free and dog-friendly.
What: Tree Lighting at Hyde Park Village
When: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Where: Hyde Park Village at 744 South Village Circle Hyde Park, Tamp
Cost: Free
Event Info: Join us for our Annual Tree Lighting Festival benefiting Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay! A free, family-friendly event including the annual Tampa tradition of lighting the Enchanted Tree in Hyde Park Village, photos with Santa, live music by Late Night Brass, Food and Beer Trucks, a Kids Zone, face painting, balloon animals and more!
What: Tampa Bay Lightning vs, New York Islanders
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Amalie Arena at 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa
Cost: Tickets start around $30
Event Info: Come watch the Tampa Bay Lightning host the New York Islanders at Amalie Arena Saturday night!
What: Benji Brown at the Straz Center
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Straz Center at 1010 North Macinnes Place, Tampa
Cost: $25
Event Info: Fresh from the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the creator of “Miss Kiki” slays audiences with his nonstop onslaught of vivid, hilarious observations and side-splitting impressions. Benji Brown earned his comedy stripes with some of today’s top stars including Chris Rock, Steve Harvey and Monique. Catch this soon-to-be comedy king on his latest national stand-up tour.
Sunday, November 19
What: Star Wars and the Power of Costume
When: November 11 - April 1
Where: Museum of Fine Arts - St. Pete
Cost: Click here for more information
Event Info: The force is strong at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete! Star Wars and the Power of Costume gives you a chance to see over 60 original costumes used during the first seven films of the saga. Check out this amazing showcase of cinematic history starting November 13 - April 1, 2018.
What: Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center
When: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center at 6990 Dickman Road at Apollo Beach, FL 33572
Cost: Free
Event Info: For over 30 years, Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center has been the ideal spot to watch hundreds of manatees in their natural habitat. Sea cows will swim to Apollo Beach to enjoy the warmer water being discharged from the Big Bend Power Station during the winter months. Tampa Bay is home to more than 600 manatees and the center works to protect and rehabilitate these marine mammals year-round. The Manatee Viewing Center is open November 1 through April 15.
What: 25th Annual Downtown Dunedin Craft Festival
When: November 18 - 19 ; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: 271 Main Street, Dunedin, Florida
Cost: Free admission
Event Info: One of the oldest towns on the west coast of Florida, Dunedin has a wooded and subtropical setting with almost four miles of picturesque waterfront, a relaxed lifestyle, and activities for all likes and ages. Just a short drive from Tampa, along Dunedin's Main Street, you will meet some of the country's finest artists and crafters with products all handmade in America. Ceramic planters, functional pottery, hair accessories, handmade one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces and an expansive Green Market offers something for every taste and budget. If Tampa Bay is on your travel agenda this November, you can not miss out on this terrific weekend craft event!
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