I remember growing up in Clearwater, lamenting that we had no snow on Christmas.
Kids today — lucky little, um ... darlings — don't have to miss out. Festivities in Clearwater and St. Pete offer real snow to cavort in, and Tampa has its share of Florida-style holiday fun too tonight and tomorrow.
[jump]In Clearwater, the 6th Annual Miracle on Cleveland Street wonderland offers Florida’s largest natural snow slide, crafts, train rides, inflatable attractions and an outdoor ice skating rink. Sha Na Na’s Jon “Bowzer” Bauman cruises in to emcee before his holiday gig at 7:30 p.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Festivities kick-off with Mayor George Cretekos lighting not the tree but the all-new Capitol Theatre sign, and the first 250 children 12 and younger will receive a holiday-festooned Winter the dolphin plush toy. Today, 5:30-10 p.m. Free. More info at rutheckerdhall.com.
Tampa’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park begins with a countdown to Mayor Bob Buckhorn lighting the tree at 6 p.m., and offers a holiday market and free movie —National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The event is free but attendees are asked to bring a plush bear for the Rough Riders Annual Teddy Bear Drive. 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, tampa.gov.
If you miss those events, 65 tons of snow will fall at North Straub Park at the annual Snowfest celebration, where kids can enjoy other fun activities too. Sat., Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m. 400 Bayshore Drive S., St. Petersburg, $5 for wristband, stpeteparksrec.org.
The fun kicks off with St. Petersburg’s 87th annual Santa Parade at 10 a.m. The parade promenades from Central Avenue and Fifth Street and heads east to Bayshore Drive, turning north and ending at Fifth Avenue North. In Tampa, the 31st Annual Santa Fest and the Rough Riders Holiday Parade offers more colorful floats, marching bands, dance troops and Mr. Claus himself. It begins at 11 a.m., and after the parade, holiday activities entertainment rock the park at Curtis Hixon. Fun times with interactive games, inflatables, rock climbing wall, make-'n'-take crafts, giveaways and free photos with Santa can be enjoyed.
The Holiday Day Parade route begins at Morgan and Madison streets. Heads west on Madison Street then turns north onto Ashley Drive and ends at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The best, unobstructed viewing is along Madison Street from Pierce Street to Tampa Street.
Park at Royal Street, 1200 N. Tampa St.; Jackson Street, East Kennedy Boulevard and Jackson Street, and Fort Brooke Garage, 107 N. Franklin St.