Where’s Florida’s Warm Days?

       by Adele Woodyard

These past almost-two weeks remind me of New Jersey winters without the snow. It’s been so cold for so long (for Florida anyway) fish are floating belly up in the bays, over 40 turtles are thawing out at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and a few houses are tottering on the edge of deep sinkholes. How can that last be from cold weather? Not sure but think it has to do with sand, limestone, the aquifer, and our extra demands on electric power. Whatever, the chill is not conducive to being outdoors. I’m just trying to stay warm without thinking about my electric bill.

 However, we’re supposed to start warming up just in time for January’s exciting events. In the Tampa Bay area. Martin Luther King’s birthday (Jan. 18) brings a number of celebrations, starting with the 10^th annual Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival for all ages, this weekend. Music, entertainment, food, arts and crafts will be found at various “villages” scattered throughout Al Lopez Park. 4810 N. Himes Ave. Tampa. FREE  7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.. www.tampablackheritage.org .  . 

The 24^th annual National MLK Drum Major Parade for Justice includes bands from across the country to downtown St. Petersburg  on Jan. 18. Route runs from Third Ave S to Central Ave, Bayshore Dr. and Fifth Ave. N. before disbanding at Vinoy Park. FREE. 11 a.m-2 p.m. Mon.  727-893-7134.

Plant City  has a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Parade that adds police motorcycles and floats to marching bands, from MLK Blvd. to Marshal Middle School. FREE. 1 p.m. Sat. 813-757-6760; www.plantcitymlkfestival.com

Kids ages 5-12 can learn all about Dr. King on a MLK Play Day in Dunedin.  They will enjoy his story through games, crafts and other themed activities at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 550 Laura Lane. 9 a.m.-noon, Mon. $25 with recreation ID card, $35 without.727-812-4545.

The Civil War is back in the news with the Brooksville Raid Festival this weekend. Watch the Blue and the Gray battle it out at 2:30 p.m. Sat and 2 p.m. Sun. Confederate and  Union Camps open at 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sun, for food, artillery demonstrations, and more. Sand Hill Scout Reservation, 1100 Cortez Blvd. (SR 50), Brooksville. $6 adult, $3 ages 6-12, FREE 5 and under, and scouts in uniform.  352-799-0129; www.brooksvillereenactment.com

The last two weekends in January is time to start Tampa’s  Mardi Gras—the colorful, raucous and long-lasting .Gasparilla Extravanganza.  Pirates will invade Tampa on Saturday, Jan. 30, but little ones have their day on Sat. Jan. 23. Watch for the highlights of festivities that last into March, on my next blog.

Happy Holidays

by Adele Woodyard

Florida’s Ho! Ho! Ho! Season brings such a number and variety of celebrations around the state, you can’t miss at least one wherever you are. Here’s some samples that are currently on my personal radar (more on vacationfunflorida.com/bargains): 

Dec. 5-6 calls for a boat ride to Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park in the Florida Keys. From 9 a.m-3 p.m. tour boats ferry passengers on the hour to enjoy homemade cookies, cakes and other refreshments at the historic Matheson House, decorated for a 1900s Christmas. $5 donation adult, 12 and under FREE.

A Christmas Festival of Lights runs from 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12-through Thursday, December 31 at the Stephen  Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs. Opening day, Dec 12,  begins with a 10 a.m. breakfast hosted by good ole Saint Nick himself. Park’s craft square and gift shop will be open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.. The town’s Christmas Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street and ends inside the park, where you can munch on FREE hot dogs and cookies while listening to a carillon concert. There’s even a bonfire and marshmallow roast at the craft square, all for a requested donation of canned goods or new toy (opening day only). $2 per person Dec. 13-31, when visitors are treated to oak trees adorned in  thousands of lights, the antebellum museum dressed for the holiday, and a gingerbread village in the craft square.

Dec. 12 brings an evening of Christmas carols from 6-9 p.m. at the Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka, along with entertainment on stage at the Civic Center.

Dec. 13, travel back to the Old South of the 19^th century for a Plantation Christmas Open House at the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park in Ellenton. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., women in period dress join with the gray uniforms of the 4^th Florida Volunteer Infantry, who reenact a Confederate encampment.

Click on www.floridastateparks.org for what’s going on in a park near you.   .  

The Bach Festival Society will present holiday favorites and a singalong, 7:30 p.m. Sat. Dec. 12, and 2 p.m. Sun. Dec. 13. Enjoy the concert at Rollins College Knowles Memorial Chapel, Winter Park. Contact 407-646-2182 or www.bachfestivalflorida.org for ticket information.

Closer to home (North Pinellas & Pasco Counties)  there are such activities as Lighted Boat Parades (Dunedin and New Port Richey,12/5; Tarpon Springs 12/12); Holiday Parades (New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, 12/12; Tarpon Springs and Safety Harbor, 12/19); Holiday Concerts (Dunedin, 12/6,13 & 18) and all-day festivals (Palm Harbor 12/5-12/6; New Port Richey 12/11-12/13; Safety Harbor 12/13). Not to mention all the breakfasts with Santa where the kids whisper their wants in his ear, between bites.