St. Petersburg, Russia, St. Petersburg, Florida: Namesake Cities celebrates both cities' important anniversaries. St. Petersburg, Russia is commemorating the 300th anniversary of its founding by Peter the Great in 1703 and St. Petersburg, FLorida is celebrating the centennial of its incorporation as a city in 1903. The exhibit highlights the many astounding parallels and differences between the two cities and their founders through panels, exhibit cases with artifacts from both Russia and Florida and a video. For more information, call 727-894-1052.

Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Devil Rays battle teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Spring Training starts in March. Tickets are available for as low as $4. For more information, call 1-888-FAN-RAYS (326-7297) or 727-825-3250.

Barbara Sorensen is a ceramic sculptor whose interest in geological formations is reflected in her small, vessel referenced works, for which she was originally known. Several of Sorenson's new large-scale clay sculptures will be on display at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

This exhibit showcases 19th century photographs on copper, glass and tin. For more information, call 727-896-2667.

A series of quilts, designed by nationally known artist Rebekka Seigel, honors twelve inspiring women of the 20th century. Honorees include Ella Fitzgerald, Babe Didrikson, Martha Graham, Lucille Ball and Barbara Jordan. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

This exhibit offers the experience of optical illusions, depth and distance, contrast, perspective, mirrored effects and prisms. A large-scale interactive exhibit, Maze is designed for children of all ages. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) presents a bi-lingual interactive science exhibit based on the Busy World of Richard Scarry books and animated television series. Kids can count, sort, weigh, build and play the part of a factory worker, crane operator and construction worker. For more information, call 813-987-6100.

Great Explorations will host a summer camp at the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida. Programs are available for children 5 to 12 years old, daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended care is available. For more information, call 727-821-8992.

This exhibit investigates how Salvador Dali took existing images of fruits and flowers by famous European artists, altered and manipulated the images and then had them produced into print suites. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

This exhibit features selections from the musuem's permanent collection, including popular oil paintings, watercolors and drawings and offers even frequent visitors a fresh perspective on familiar works and a chance to see works that are rarely on display. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

This exhibit features a selection of 16 original bronzes from the museum's special cast set of 40 bronzes from the Clot Sculpture collection. These works are cast from Dali's original wax models and reflect Dali's lifelong interests in mythology, religion, literature and optical effects. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

This is an invitational exhibit to showcase local artists from the Tampa Bay area and around the state. Each artist is given voice to speak on the subject of the human condition as each of them interprets it. Participating artists are Mary Bowler, Egle Ivanauskaite, Dennis J. Kowal, Thomas Mandzik, Nava Mentkow, Rebecca Skelton, Sabrina Small, Jim Smith and Peg Trezevant. For more information, call 727-820-0100.

The new Vinoy Afternoon Tea menu features prix fixe offerings, including a variety of loose leaf teas, pates, exotic fruit cocktails and scones. Tea service is held Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended, but walk-in guests are also invited. Teas are from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Terrace Room. For more information, call 727-894-1000.

The Arts Center in downtown St. Petersburg features this exhibit of works by Arts Center members. It features art in various media and themes. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 727-822-7872.

This exhibition at the Dunedin Fine Art Center is composed of three displays. The first, Feathered Star Quilts, features the 18 winners of the international competition of the Museum of the American Quilters' Society in Kentucky. The traditional quilt pattern chosen for this competition is the Feathered Star. The second display is Laura's Challenge: 2003 Challenge of the Quilters' Crossing. It features work from 33 artists who are members of the Quilters' Crossing Club. The challenge is dedicated to Laura Park, a member who died from a long illness. The third display is the Quilts of Cindy Blackberg, a noted Florida quiltmaker who has won the International Quilt Festival's Jewel Pearce Patterson Award for teaching excellence. For more information, call 727-298-3322.

The annual juried Studioworks> exhibition presents the work of the Museum's instructors and students. The exhibition is designed to demonstrate the strength of the Museum's teaching program. All media, including painting, mixed media, photography and ceramics, will be included in the exibition. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

The art departments of Pinellas County's private and public high schools are invited to select works to be submitted for inclusion in this professionally jurored county-wide exhibit. The exhibition is designed to demonstrate the high caliber artwork being created by high school students in Pinellas County and to recognize the important role of art education in the school system. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

Every third Friday, "Art, Wine and Music" is held in downtown Safety Harbor. Come and enjoy entertainment, dining and shopping along Main Street from 7–10 p.m. For more information, call 727-726-2890.

This exhibition features 71 historic photographs of great jazz artists from the 1930s and 1940s by columnist and editor William Gottlieb, one of the most honored jazz photographers of the era. The intimate, personal photographs capture the soundtrack of the times. Portraits include those of Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and many other famous names in jazz. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

The City of Gulfport hosts this annual Little League World Series for the southern region. Games begin Sunday with opening ceremonies at 1 p.m. Come watch your Florida team as they compete against teams from the South. This is where the road to the Little League World Series begins. For more information, call 727-344-2661.

American Stage offers its summer theater camp for youth ages five to 17. "First Stage Camp" is held weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.(with optional early sessions starting at 8 a.m., and late sessions running until 5 p.m.) Students raise their self esteem, learn appreciation for the arts and recieve theater training while participating in engaging, fun and educational sessions. For more information, call 727-823-1600, ext. 207.

The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce hosts this trade show each year. More than 40 vendors will be present and attendees have the chance sample dishes from area restaurants and take advantage of networking opportunities. For more information, call 727-360-6957.

These free, monthly concerts start at 7 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. No alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed. Donations are welcome to the volunteer Friends of Sunset Beach, who are tyring to raise enough to build a permanent stage for the musicians. An easy listening group, Tarpon Strings Trio, performs this evening. For more information, call 727-942-5628.

Ringo Starr, the famous beatle drummer, gets a little help from his friends John Waite, Paul Carrack, Colin Hay, percussionist Sheila E and saxophonist Mark Rivera. Concert begins at 8 p.m. For more information, call 727-791-7355.

For children ages 5 to 10 and their adult companions. Families explore the permanent Dali Museum collection through discussions and gallery activities. A breakfast will follow the tour and staff members will be present to answer questions and discuss Dali's works. Pre-registration is required and the event is limited to 20 people. Admission is $15 per family of 2, with $5 per additional person. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

Sweetwater Kayaks guides this intermediate-level sea kayak tour of historic Egmont Key. Leaving from the Gulf Pier in Fort De Soto Park, the trip features a one mile open water crossing to Egmont Key. The key is home to a bird sanctuary, lighthouse and a Spanish-American War-era fort. Some of the fort is submerged and makes a great place for snorkeling and observing underwater life. Participants may explore the deserted brickstreet of a once vibrant area or lounge on top of the fort for lunch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Wildllife frequently seen on this trip include: dolphins, rays, egrets, sandpipers, herons, gulls, pelicans, shark, tarpon, gopher and box turtles, sheephead and stone clawed crabs. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 727-906-0708. Advance registration is required.

Blue Man Group, best known for its award-winning theatrical productions, features three enigmatic bald and blue characters who take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theater, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville and turns it into a different form of entertainment. Ticket prices are $35 - $49.50. For more information, call 813-229-7827.

This musical play is a tribute to the legendary country singer who died at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963. The musical includes dozens of Cline's unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walkin' After Midnight. The show is based on a true story about Cline's friendship with a fan from Houston, Texas, with whom she corresponded until her death, signing her letters, "Love always...Patsy Cline." Tickets are $27.50 and $29.50. For more information, call 813-229-7827.

During the 1960s' era of dramatic social change, Pinellas County produced a core of civil rights leaders who fought quiet battles against a subtly powerful establishment. Some of those local warriors are honored in this exhibit. After it is shown at the Holocaust Museum, the exhibit will travel to schools and courthouses in Pinellas County and throughout the state. For more information, call 727-820-0100.

A “Mars Trek” party will be held inside the Gulfport Casino to celebrate the viewing of the planet Mars, something that hasn't happened in 60,000 years. Mars and Earth will not be this close again until the year 2287. This extraordinary event is a result of the “opposition” of Mars – which means Earth is directly between the Sun and Mars, Mars’ elliptical orbit is closest to the Sun, and the Earth is near its farthest distance from the Sun. Mars will reach its greatest observable size of 25.11” of arc allowing us to see many unusual areas of Martian surface detail! Enjoy a presentation by Professor Daryl Schrader, live entertainment, visit exhibits, and more. Members of the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club will be setting up telescopes on the waterfront patio south of the Casino. The public is invited to view planet Mars (no charge). Come as your favorite “trekkie,” your “favorite Martian,” or as the extraordinary Earthling that you are! The party begins at 8 p.m. and admission is $5. For more information, call 727-893-1070.

This quaint town on Boca Ciega Bay celebrates the little lizards known as Geckos with a family festival and parade complete with fireworks. Artists in Gulfport's ArtVillage are creating pins, hats and yard ornaments celebrating these salamanders. Visitors are encouraged to wear colorful costumes and hats. Craft tables will be set up with supplies for those who didn't bring their Gecko garb. The Gecko Festival is on Saturday, August 30th from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. on the waterfront in Gulfport. Don't miss this fantastic event with the summer ending fireworks display! For more information, call 727-893-1070.

The St. Petersburg Pier celebrates 30 years of the inverted pyramid design with special offerings from Pier merchants, activities and music. Saturday afternoon Family Fun, from 1 -4 p.m., features the Fritzy Bros, One Man Circus, Tropical Tom and Face Painting by Heather. Live music will be at Cha Cha Coconuts Restaurant from 8 - 12 p.m. For more information, call 727-821-6443.

More than 150 artists and food booths will line the Sponge Docks for an arts & crafts show and food festival. Entertainment and games will also be available. Festival hours are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. each day with entertainment until 10 p.m. On Sunday, the rubber ducks will be dropped in the Anclote River at the Sponge Docks with the incoming tide and finish at the Spongeorama. For more information, call 727-937-6109.

Mariah Carey has become the best-selling female performer of all time, with 15 number one singles and two Grammy Awards. She is the only artist to top the charts in each year of the 1990s and with "Heartbreaker," she surpassed The Beatles as the artist with the most cumulative weeks spent at the top of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $58.25 - $128.25. For more information, call 813-229-7827.

The events of September 11, 2001 shook the world. The attacks in New York City, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania changed the way Americans saw themselves and the way the world saw America. Through photographs and mementos left at the sites, this exhibition commemorates the compassion of people from around the world as well as the resilient human spirit that rose like a phoenix from the ashes of disaster at Ground Zero. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

In conjunction with the city of St. Petersburg's 100/300 Russian celebration, this exhibit features a selection of images of Dali's Russian wife and muse from the permanent collection. Featured are photos of Gala by noted photographers Philippe Halsman, Marc Lacroix, Meli and Robert Descharnes, plus a selection of Dali prints, a hologram and oils by Dali celebrating his wife. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

In its 25th year, the Warhoop Sprint is the oldest cross country race in Florida's Beach -- the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. The event includes a one-mile children's run and face painting for all warriors and princesses. The 5-kilometer run covers paved roads and paths. Registration is $10 for the 5k and includes a t-shirt. The 1 mile fun run is free. For more information, call 727-535-9658.

This statewide competitive exhibition celebrates Florida Craftsmen's 50th anniversary. The exhibit offers a survey of Florida's fine craft artists. For more information, call 727-821-7391.

The Reebok Women's Triathlon Series will be held from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Pier. The event includes Swim Bike & Run Competitions include Sprint Distance (.75k swim, 20k bike and 5k run) for Individuals or Relay teams; SuperSprint Distance (half of Sprint distances); Reebok Multi-Sport Experience, and Finish & Post Race Parties. Transition area opens 5 a.m. Sprint entry fees: $75 indiv. or $120 relay team; SuperSprint: $42 for age 15 & up; $36 ages 11 to 14. For more information, or to register or volunteer, call 1-800-509-5525.

These free, monthly concerts start at 7 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. No alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed. Donations are welcome to the volunteer Friends of Sunset Beach, who are tyring to raise enough to build a permanent stage for the musicians. Tarpon Spring High School students will performs a "Tribute to America." For more information, call 727-942-5628.

The Palm Harbor Chamber hosts the golf tournament to help promote businesses in the area. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Shotgun start at 1 p.m. Dinner, an awards presentation and gifts will follow. For more information, call 727-784-4287.

Lynn Mayne, Pat Looper, Becky Stevens and Terri Stewart present 35 handmade tapestry weavings, which are contemporary in nature, yet steeped in tradition. For more information, call 727-821-7391.

This exhibit focuses on the vibrant Miami art scene. In addition to recognizing the important Latin influence in the Miami area, the exhibit will also examine Miami as an international crossroads and the impact that phenomenon has had on the diversity of art being produced in the greater Miami community. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

This exhibit showcases aluminum spherical sculptures by artists Robert Giordano. All works are showcased in the courtyard sculpture garden. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

LeAnn Rimes, winner of two Grammy Awards and creator of a number of best-selling albums and hit singles, will perform at 8 p.m. at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Ticket prices range from $29.50 to $38.50. For more information, call 813-229-7827.

This event is held at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs and includes a quarter-mile swim, 10 and half bike ride and a 3 mile run. Activities begin at 8 a.m. For more information, call Ron Hadad at 727-939-8078.

The Coliseum will host the WMNF 24th Annual Birthday Bash from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight. Tickets are $20 dollars in advance, $23 at the door. For more information, call 727-892-5202.

Grease, one of Broadway's longest-running musicals, takes a hilarious tuneful and loving look at what it was like growing up in the super-cool '50s with a gang of high school students. Grease is complete with drive-in passion pits, sock hops and pajama parties. The performance schedule will be Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $19.50 to $56.50. For more information, call 813-229-7827.

The Center for Marine Conservation sponsors the 16th annual Florida Coastal Cleanup. Volunteers are needed to remove as much of the marine debris from beaches, shorelines, bayous and waterways as possible so that fewer turtles die from ingesting plastics, fewer birds become tangled in fishing line, and less small marine life are destroyed by consuming styrofoam particles and cigarette butts. For more information, call 727-533-0402 or 800-CMC-FLOR (Florida only.)

Sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, this 5k run/walk and 1 mile fun run/walk winds through North Shore, Bayshore and Beach Drives in St. Petersburg. The race starts at 8 a.m. in Straub Park. Proceeds to benefit breast cancer screening, education, research and treatment. For more information, call 727-893-7039.

Join The Pier Aquarium, The Ocean Conservancy, and Keep Pinellas Cities Beautiful in the Annual Florida Coastal Cleanup! Volunteers get free gloves, bag, data, sheets, water and T-shirt giveaways. Located at Spa Beach and The Education Station from 8:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. For more information call 727-895-7437.

Sweetwater Kayaks guides this intermediate-level sea kayak tour of historic Egmont Key. Leaving from the Gulf Pier in Fort De Soto Park, the trip features a one mile open water crossing to Egmont Key. The key is home to a bird sanctuary, lighthouse and a Spanish-American War-era fort. Some of the fort is submerged and makes a great place for snorkeling and observing underwater life. Participants may explore the deserted brickstreet of a once vibrant area or lounge on top of the fort for lunch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Wildllife frequently seen on this trip include: dolphins, rays, egrets, sandpipers, herons, gulls, pelicans, shark, tarpon, gopher and box turtles, sheephead and stone clawed crabs. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 727-906-0708. Advance registration is required.

More than 40 area restaurants provide tasty treats at the 13th annual Taste of Clearwater. Harborview Center hosts the event which includes music and more. Hours are 5-8 p.m. For more information, call 727-461-0011.

Howl-O-Scream returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with one purpose: immerse guests in a startling landscape of fright over 14 haunting nights. Howl-O-Scream drifts brave souls though five haunted houses, adrenaline-loaded attractions and encounters with hundreds of ghouls and goblins. Featuring jaw-dropping special effects and eye-popping terror, the never-before-seen haunted houses are Escape from Insanity, Curse of Tut’s Tomb, Screaming Reality, Creeper’s Crypt and Night Stalker in 3-D. For more information, call 888-800-5447 or 813-987-5082.

The Greater Dunedin Chamber of Commerce hosts this golf tournament for amateurs only. Contests and prizes are all part of the fun. Shotgun start is 1 p.m. For more information, call 727-733-3197.

The Pinellas County Urban League hosts this 3.5 mile run and festival with food and entertainment in Campbell Park. Free admission. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, call 727-327-2081.

This popular annual event takes place along the Main Street downtown area of Dunedin with plenty of live blues music, food, wine and entertainment. The event runs from 5:30 p.m to 11 p.m and is free. For more information, call 727-733-5886.

Located at the Pier in St. Petersburg and on Sand Key in Clearwater, the Columbia Restaurant celebrates when the first restaurant opened, featuring famous Spanish cuisine and selected menu items rolled back to 1905 prices. For more information, call 727-822-8000.

This kid-friendly event is hosted by the hands-on museum in downtown St. Petersburg. The exhibit include ghostly sights and surprises throughout the month. For more information, call 727-821-8992.

This long standing annual show features a free model train demonstration with a train layout competition for all gauges of model railroading. Friday and Saturday, hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 727-526-4682.

This tournament for children with disabilities is always held the first Saturday in October. Fishing will be done on Clearwater's Pier 60. To register, call the Clearwater Municipal Marina at 727-462-6954 between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. M-F. For more information, call 727-462-6954 or 727-789-5399.

The second annual Halloween celebration will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the main plaza. There will be a scarecrow contest and free drawings for gifts from the FBG gift shop are held during the day. Refreshments are available. For more information, call (727) 582-2100.

The Palm Harbor Junior Women's Club will present its 7th annual Taste of Palm Harbor from 10 AM to 5 PM on Florida Avenue just east of Alt. U.S. 19. There will be more than 25 area restaurants participating in the event. There will also be Arts and Crafts for people to stroll through. For more information, call 787-8903.

The Fourth Annual Festival & Nature Expo features the best of Florida birding with 25 field trips throughout the region, internationally known bird and wildlife experts and an exciting Nature Expo. The Festival offers a conservation mission with proceeds going to the management of Shell Key Preserve, one of Florida's most important areas for shorebirds. For more information, call 727-464-7200.

These free, monthly concerts start at 7 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. No alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed. Donations are welcome to the volunteer Friends of Sunset Beach, who are tyring to raise enough to build a permanent stage for the musicians. Rhythm and blues band, L'il Pearl & Fat Daddy, performs this evening. For more information, call 727-942-5628.

Hermann Trappman, an avocational archaeologist, storyteller and illustrator from St. Petersburg, will talk about his findings of mastodon toe bones in construction sites and projectile points in road fill and the Calusa and Tocobagan Native Americans. Find out where man comes from, who we are and where we're headed. Program begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call 727-821-8186.

Dunedin hosts this traditional annual event featuring Dunedin's own microbrew. For more information, call 727-298-3260.

This annual community show and sale features handmade gifts, crafts and original artwork. There will also be authors and speakers. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free. For more information, call 727-893-7124.

In its 24th year, the annual Jazz Holiday brings together all veins of jazz music together in 4 days of free entertainment at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater. From bebop to blues, from big band to the compositions of Frank Zappa, there is something for everyone. For more information, call 727-461-5200.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the memorial fishing tournament. The tournament features offshore and inshore fishing. For more information, call 727-937-6109.

Frenchy’s annual Stone Crab Weekend is a popular area and this year marks the 22nd anniversary of Frenchy’s Café! The event will also feature two tents complete with live music. Frenchy's also has KALIC beer, sent over from the Bahamas for the event. For more information, call 727-446-1522.

This autumn harvest will be held at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement at Boyd Hill Nature Park. There will be an old time farmers market and plenty of events and activities for adults and children. For more information, call 727-893-7326.

Cooking demonstrations and roasting stations in the garden will offer free samples of freshly roasted hot peppers. Vendors will offer samples and products for sale, including hot sauces, salsas and jerk seasonings. Cripple Creek Growers, the largest grower of hot peppers in the southeastern U.S, will have over 80 varieties of sweet, hot and pungent peppers to sample; Jene's Tropicals will sell a variety of spice trees and The Misting Shed will offer a variety of common and unusual herbs for sale. Calypso music will be featured in the garden as well as educational programs on using spices and herbs. For more information, call 727-551-3100.

Safety Harbor Resort & Spa hosts the only FILA-authorized camp in the United States including 20 hours of comprehensive tennis instruction, individual video analysis and a 4-to-1 student-to-pro ratio. Safety Harbor's Phil Green Tennis Academy features 9 championship tennis courts and offers a fully-stocked pro shop. For more information call, 727-726-1161 or toll free, 888-BEST SPA (237-8772).

The YMCA of the Suncoast presents this bicycling event in Palm Harbor and New Port Richey for cycling enthusiasts. There will be cycling events and entertainment for children, families, amateurs and professionals. For more information, call 727-467-9622.

Investigate the sounds of an October evening with Park Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist Jeanne Murphy and hear screech owl coos, bat clicks, and other eerie night sounds. From 7 to 8 p.m. in the Tropical Pavilion. The family program is limited to 30 people and registration is $3. Kids bring your parents too! For more information and to pre-register, call 727-582-2673.

Sweetwater Kayaks guides this intermediate-level sea kayak tour of historic Egmont Key. Leaving from the Gulf Pier in Fort De Soto Park, the trip features a one mile open water crossing to Egmont Key. The key is home to a bird sanctuary, lighthouse and a Spanish-American War-era fort. Some of the fort is submerged and makes a great place for snorkeling and observing underwater life. Participants may explore the deserted brickstreet of a once vibrant area or lounge on top of the fort for lunch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Wildllife frequently seen on this trip include: dolphins, rays, egrets, sandpipers, herons, gulls, pelicans, shark, tarpon, gopher and box turtles, sheephead and stone clawed crabs. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 727-906-0708. Advance registration is required.

The Pinellas County Historical Society presents this jubilee with more than 125 craftspeople displaying and selling their homemade goods. The event features pioneer and Victorian craft demonstrations, live entertainment, a petting zoo, historic house tours and food. The jubilee runs 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

The eighth annual Celebrate Oldsmar festival will be at R.E. Olds Park on Shore Drive. The biggest event the city organizes includes live music, food (most for just a $1) and games at the 15-acre waterfront park. Activities for kids includes a petting zoo and pony rides. The highlight of the free event, a 20-minute fireworks show, will begin at 9 p.m. For more information, call 813-855-4233.

The Florida Aquarium hosts this Halloween extravaganza that will use proceeds to benefit the Aquarium's Veterinary program. This halloween party for adults will offer a night of fun with food displays by caterers and restaurants from all over Tampa Bay, live entertainment, two dance floors, costume contest, games, prizes, open bar and open cigar bar. For more information, call 813-273-4568.

This weekend festival features German music, food, beer and wine, along with full midway, carnival, art/crafters, American food and business vendors. Come enjoy the interactive games and activities such as log sawing, keg hurling, stein holding and the annual Waitress Races. For more information, call 813-855-4233.

Free concert and fireworks in Vinoy Park on Beach Drive. There will also be a canned food drive for Tampa Bay Harvest. The show begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call 1-800-662-7286.

Held every year on the last Saturday in October, this year's event is the 31st Annual Outdoor Peoples Fair with arts, music and games and is a celebration of peace, freedom, justice and creativity. Located at Lakeview Park on Lake Maggiore, 20th St. & 26th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, the event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 727-327-6726 or 727- 896-0310.

This 5K event runs along the coast of Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. The race begins at 7:30 a.m. Proceeds from the race benefit the Clean Beaches Council and the Blue Wave Program. Blue Wave is the nation's first environmental beach management program. For more information, call 727-464-7200.

This canoe and kayak race through parts of Tampa Bay is sponsored by Tampa BayWatch. Weedon Island, a 1,500-acre nature preserve near St. Petersburg, features a 45-foot observation tower, a 4-mile canoe trail, a 9-mile hiking trail and other nature experiences. For more information about the event, call 727-867-8166.

Dunedin's Main Street downtown area is known for it's unique shopping district and will also feature a number of vendors selling their antique wares with food vendors and entertainment at the fair. For more information, call 727-298-3260.

The Tarpon Springs Historical Society conducts guided tours of this historic cemetery with re-enactments of selected early residents. Portrayals of these historic figures give visitors an unusual overview of the area’s history. There is no charge for the tour, which runs 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 727-943-4624.

This festival will feature food, children's activities, entertainment, a display about the heritage of the fishing industry in Madeira Beach and an art show. This event was formerly known as the John's Pass Village Seafood Festival. For more information, call 727-394-0756.

The inaugural PGA Chrysler Championship with a purse of $4.8 million will be held on the Copperhead Course at the Westin Innisbrook Resort. The event will feature some of the top names in professional golf one week before the PGA tour championship. Proceeds from all ticket sales will go to area charities. For more information, call 727-942-5566.

Station Square Park is the site for this seasonal festival, formerly called Jingle Mingle, that includes a Merchant Open House. Downtown By Dusk features a special holiday concert. The fun lasts from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. For more information, call 727-562-4044.

London's original creative team brings this production of Starlight Express to the Tampa Bay area. This Broadway musical features two hours of speed, spectacle, excitement and energy. It is a story of hope and love, filled with thrills, stunts and roller-racing action. For more information, call 813-229-7827.

Put on your best costume and get ready to swing with all sorts of exciting characters. Special Halloween music, a dancing costume parade, and other spooky treats round out the evening. There will be door prizes and prizes for the Best Costumes. The Halloween Costume Ball lasts from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Admission is $6. For more information, call 727-893-1070.

Come enjoy a naturally scary evening with a creepy crawly show, storytelling, a great pumpkin patch and treats for the little goblins. For more information, call 727-551-3100.

Put on your best costume and listen to special Halloween music, while enjoying special Halloween treats. For more information, call 727-893-1070.

This is the ideal time to rediscover St. Petersburg's vibrant arts community with discounts on museum admissions, theater performances and dining, more than 25 special events, holiday gallery tours, kids events and spellbinding exhibitions and performances. "Art Stops" include Florida Craftsmen Gallery, The Arts Center of St. Petersburg, more than 25 galleries and downtown museums -- The Florida Holocaust Museum, Florida International Museum, Great Explorations, Museum of Fine Arts, Peir Aquarium, Salvador Dali Museum and the St. Petersburg Museum of History. All of the cultural sites are connected by a ride on the Looper, St. Petersburg's pink open-air downtown trolley. For more information, call 727-893-7171.

In its 24th year, this festival offers art, crafts and food. Held at the Boyd Hill Nature Park, it also has exhibits and children's activities. Hours both days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 727-893-7326.

This is one of the most celebrated art shows in the area where more than 200 artists from around the country display their watercolors, mixed media, graphics, metal, fiber, oils/acrylics, sculpture, woodworks, ceramics and photography. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free, but parking at the show site costs $3 per car. Younger art lovers can find interesting treasures in the Children's Tent and at a special show inside the Dunedin Fine Art Center. For more information, call 727-298-3286.

For the very first time, more than 250 superlative objects from The State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia will travel to the United States. Artifacts span more than 800 years of Russian history and focus on themes such as religious culture and the life of the Czars. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

The St. Petersburg Times hosts this annual event that features book talks, national and regional authors, book appraisals, music and poet performances and children's storyland. The event is free, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 727-445-4142.

The Southeast's largest all sail boat show featuring a wide range of sailboats, equipment and related gear comes to downtown St. Petersburg. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. A free introductory sailing experience is available at the show. For more information, call 800-817-SAIL.

These free, monthly concerts start at 7 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. No alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed. Donations are welcome to the volunteer Friends of Sunset Beach, who are tyring to raise enough to build a permanent stage for the musicians. Classic rock band, Paul Anthony Band, performs this evening. For more information, call 727-942-5628.

The event is sanctioned by the Southern Kingfish Association and will benefit the Tarpon Springs Rotary Club. For more information and entry Treasure Island Charities at 727-363-0071.

This exhibit highlights Florida Craftsmen members' work and gives craft art lovers an opportunity to view and purchase a variety of works from more than 250 of the state's best craftspeople. One-of-a-kind artwork is available in a wide range of mediums. For more information, call 727-821-7391.

The Madeira Beach American Legion Post #273 and the Madeira Beach Elks Lodge #1912 will host the 6th Annual Veteran’s Day Boat Parade. More than 100 boats are expected to participate in the flotilla. The marshalling of boats will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Elks Lagoon, one mile south of Madeira Beach Causeway, and will proceed through the Intracoastal Waterway. Good spots for viewing the parade include John's Pass, American Legion Post 273 in Madeira Beach, Elks Lodge 1912 in Madeira Beach and the channel between Isle of Palms and Isle of Capri in Treasure Island. For more information, contact Captain Warren Shepard, at [email protected].

This benefit features a "Taste of the Pier" buffet dinner, including special dishes from Burger Bay, Cafe Lido, Cha Cha Coconuts Tropical Bar and Grill, Columbia Restaurant, Hong Kong Corner and Just Fudgin' as well as the collection of restaurants in the Pier Marketplace. Guests are encouraged to dress "island casual." Tickets are $35 each. Proceeds generated from the Fish Head Ball will continue to support and expand educational public programs at the Pier Aquarium, a not-for-profit museum. For more information, call 727-895-7437.

This annual holiday crafts fair sponsored by the Clearwater Junior League Womens Club, will be held in historic Coachman Park in Clearwater from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $1. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. For more information, call 727-562-4813.

Kristallnacht, "The Night of the Broken Glass," will be commemorated at the Florida Holocaust Museum featuring the Tampa Bay Children's Choir. For more information, call 727-820-0100.

Gulf Beaches Elementary School hosts this annual beach tradition that features a live and silent auction, carnival games, prizes, char-grilled mullet, hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy from 1 - 7 p.m. Dinners for adults are $6 and children's dinners are $3. For more information, call 727-893-2630.

Come enjoy the sites & sounds of 32 of the regions finest high school marching bands vie for top regional honors and bragging rights. Bands of America is a not-for-profit 501©3 charitable organization who's mission is to "create and provide positively life-changing experiences for students, teachers, parents and communities." This event will take place on Saturday, November the 8th at Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg. Preliminary competition begins at 8:00am till 4:30pm, with the Finals competition from 7:00pm to 10:30pm. For more information please call 800-848-BAND(2263).

Downtown Clearwater will be transformed into a large interactive arts exhibit from 5 - 8:30 p.m. Shops, restaurants and offices will present some of the best performing and visual art that local artists have to offer. There will be a concert in Station Square Park, strolling story tellers, dancers, musicians and more. For more information, call 727-562-4044.

This antique car show will feature classic Corvettes and collectable cars. The show lasts from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call 727-937-6109.

The Fine Arts Society's 40th annual luncheon, fashion show and holiday boutique will be held at the Biltmore Resort and Spa in Clearwater. Gift items for the whole family-even the family dog-will be available. The boutique opens at 10 a.m., followed by the fashion show and luncheon. Proceeds will benefit the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. For more information, call 727-581-6276.

Immerse yourself in the spirit of the season at the Arts Center annual Holiday Show. See specially created works by many artists. Glass ornaments and photographs will also be on display. Limited edition hand-printed holiday cards custom-made for the Arts Center will debut during the holiday show. For more information, call 727-822-7872.

National recording artists and world-famous barbecue are featured at Vinoy Park. Ribfest is the site for some of the finest barbecue chefs in the country to showcase their special eating delights. The event features a barbecue contest, music and more. For more information, call 727-528-3828.

This holiday fair presented by the Garden Club of St. Petersburg will feature plants and herbs, home baked goods, hand-crafted gifts and decorations and gift wrapping at no cost. The event begins at 1 p.m. For more information, call 727-360-5793.

Anglers and celebrities will pair up in a pro-am catch, photograph and release fishing tournament on Tampa Bay. A field of 50 boats is expected to participate in the two-day tournament, departing each morning from the Vinoy Yacht Basin. Each boat will carry one team consisting of two anglers who fish, with along with a sports or entertainment celebrity and professional fishing guide. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Other events include a Kid's Fishing Derby, the Fisherman's Ball, a cocktail reception and an awards banquet. For more information, call 727-521-0270.

This annual Dali Museum-sponsored exhibition features juried selections of 87 works by Pinellas County middle and high school students based on the themes of Surrealism, dreams and fantasy. The exhibit demonstrates the ongoing popularity and attraction of Surrealism and surrealist techniques for new generations of young artists. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

Held outdoors on Main Street in downtown Dunedin, this beautiful area is a perfect setting for a perfect show. The show will feature more than 100 crafters in a variety of mediums. For more information, call 727-298-3198.

A variety of vendors will line the Main Street downtown area of Dunedin during the festival with food and live entertainment. For more information, call 727-298-3260.

The event celebrates the innovative and creative ways that individuals and businesses reuse or recycle objects to turn them into useful household items or works of art. Exhibitors will also be showing and selling items to make your home more environmentally friendly. Admission is FREE. For more information, call Pinellas County Utilities at 727-464-7565.

Entwining pride, prejudice, pathos and passion with a heartwarming and memorable score, this musical fable about heartsick Porgy and Bess is the pre-eminent opera. For more information, call 813-222-1030.

The Chi Chi Rodriguez Foundation sponsors a program for underprivileged kids that is based on love and respect, one that builds confidence, instills discipline and provides positive educational experiences. The Golf Tournament raises funds to help the foundation continue its mission. For more information, call 727-726-4673.

Sweetwater Kayaks guides this intermediate-level sea kayak tour of historic Egmont Key. Leaving from the Gulf Pier in Fort De Soto Park, the trip features a one mile open water crossing to Egmont Key. The key is home to a bird sanctuary, lighthouse and a Spanish-American War-era fort. Some of the fort is submerged and makes a great place for snorkeling and observing underwater life. Participants may explore the deserted brickstreet of a once vibrant area or lounge on top of the fort for lunch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Wildllife frequently seen on this trip include: dolphins, rays, egrets, sandpipers, herons, gulls, pelicans, shark, tarpon, gopher and box turtles, sheephead and stone clawed crabs. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 727-906-0708. Advance registration is required.

The James Weldon Johnson Branch Library celebrates its annual spaghetti dinner for families accompanied by children. Dinner seating will begin at 5 p.m. The mayor will read a story and the library staff will present a puppet show. Children attending the dinner and program will receive one free book. For more information and to make reservations, call 727-893-7113.

The Harborview Center is host to the 17th Annual Festival of Trees. For more information, call 727-446-2858. [email protected]

The 26th Annual St. Petersburg Boat Show is making waves for boaters and anglers of all ages. With more than 700 boats, on land and in-water, the St. Petersburg's Boat Show is the largest in-water boat show on Florida's Gulf Coast. Accessorize you new boat with the latest electronics and gadgetry. For more information, call 954-764-7642.

This event in its 13th year features live music from nationally prominent bands focusing on traditional jazz and swing. The Sheraton Sand Key Resort and the Radisson Suite Resort host this musical festival. For more information, call 727-595-1611.

The Turkey Trot celebrates its 25th anniversary with an anticipated 10,000 runners trotting through Clearwater. The event features a one-mile "Gobbler" run, 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) "Wingding" and 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) "Turkey Trot." Proceeds from the St. Petersburg Times Turkey Trot will be donated to many local charities. Runners are welcome to bring canned goods and non-perishable food items in the stadium on race day. All collected foods will be given to the food pantry program. For more information, call 727-442-5838.

This free walking holiday lights display will encompass Pier 60 Park and will take place during the normal Sunsets at Pier 60 Daily Festival hours. All of the year round festivities (local artisans and crafters and Key West-style street performers) will be included in the holiday program. The event will also feature special holiday events like Beach Santa photos, Snow Days, caroling and children's activities. For more information, call 727-449-1036.

This annual festival will be held over Thanksgiving weekend with a variety of seafood, live entertainment, educational seminars, arts and crafts, a children's area and guided walks of the trails at the park. For more information, call 727-733-3197.

Clearwater celebrates the lighting of the Holiday Tree and street lights along Cleveland Street. The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. in Station Square Park and attendees are guided by Santa to the Royalty Theatre to hear area churches and children's groups perform. For more information, call 727-562-4044.

This annual event features 150 artists and craft persons from around the country who display in downtown Tarpon Springs. Live music and a food festival are also included. Times are 10 AM to 5 PM. The event is held the weekend after Thanksgiving. For more information, call 727-937-6109.

Enjoy Tchaikovsky's holiday classic in all its glory. The event is performed by the West Florida Youth Ballet. The show times for the event are Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sun. 2 p.m. For more information call 813-587-6751.

John's Pass Village transforms into Christmas Village for this month long celebration. There will be a tree lighting on Dec. 6th with Santa Claus arriving by firetruck. Stores offer special discounts during this weekend and a Tropical Santa Photo Opportunity is available every weekend. For more information, call 727-394-0756.

This month-long festival of beautiful decorations, choirs of carolers, holiday entertainment, a large Christmas parade and more is a tradition in downtown St. Petersburg. For more information, call 727-821-6164.

This production is a community project. One hundred local children will join with professional dancers in a holiday tradition influenced by the sounds of Harlem, Brazil and Cuba. Tickets are $17 and $10. For more information, call 727-791-7400.

This exhibition surveys works from artist Jim Roche's early "Potted Mama" plant series, his narrative based audio-performance works. Works will be presented in photographic form, as well as in assemblage, drawings and mixed-media. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

Held in the waterfront Straub Park, decked with holiday lights, starlit sky and palm trees, will be the full length production of the traditional holiday classic. The St. Petersburg Festival Ballet will perform along with several classically trained dancers and a cast of 80 local student dancers. Performances are at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free; a non-perishable food donation is requested. Also, grand stand seats are available for $5 and there is a designated lawnchair area. For more information, call 727-827-3828.

One of the largest lighted boat parades in the area, St. Petersburg’s annual event (which is always held the first Saturday of December) starts at sundown and goes from the Harborage Marina north past the Pier to the Vinoy Basin. The Pier and surrounding parks offer great spots for parade watching and feature a host of activities associated with the event. For more information, call 727-821-6443.

Santa will ride down the streets of downtown St. Petersburg and bring in the holiday season. The traditional Santa Parade will march down Bayshore Drive at 10 a.m. and end at North Straub Park, where the annual Snowfest romp for youngsters will be stationed. For more information, call 727-892-5874.

The City of St. Petersburg presents this festival featuring real SNOW and ice skating to celebrate the holidays. The day starts with a 10 a.m. parade going through downtown St. Petersburg near the Renaissance Vinoy Resort. Straub Park hosts the event which will feature a Winter Wonderland petting zoo, arts & crafts, an ice rink as well as toboggan rides. South Straub Park will feature a crafts show. Snowfest runs until 3 p.m. For more information, call 727-893-7465.

The Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce hosts this yearly event that is traditionally held the first weekend in December. More than 240 artists will participate in the crafts fair and thousands of art patrons are expected to attend. For more information, call 727-784-4287.

Celebrate the holiday season with tours of the beautifically decorated Victorian and pioneer homes at Heritage Village, nature walks and exhibits at the Florida Botanical Gardens, train displays, a holiday craft sale at the Extension Service, a holiday film series at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, multicultural exhibits, ornament making stations, storytelling, music, food and much more! Most activities are from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., but the holiday lighting ceremony starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Florida Botanical Gardens. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

Heritage Village, a 21-acre historical village and museum, will host holiday tours of some of Pinellas County's most historic buildings, all of which will be decorated for the holidays. Tours will kick off during Seasonal Sensations at the Botanical Gardens and will include an open house, children's acitivities, nature walks, a train display, a craft fair, storytelling and food. In addition to the pioneer and Victorian home decorations, 12 trees decorated by members of the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society will celebrate the cultural diversity of the county's citizens. Trees representing Scotland, Portugal, Ireland, Hawaii, Finland and Germany, among others, will be on display. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

Cars from the 1900s to the present will be judged and awarded prizes at this third annual car, truck and motorcycle show. Attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for a Christmas present for a child. The show is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 727-525-8061.

Thousands of people walking, running and jogging along St. Petersburg’s waterfront during an evening filled with glowing luminaries and the sounds of sleigh bells in the air. The course starts and finishes at The Pier with festive music on the first floor rear patio. There is a registration fee of $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12. For more information on registration, call 727-821-4819.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular stars the world-famous Rockettes, most famous for their eye-high kicks and precision dancing. This live production has dazzling lights, scenery and costumes, live animals and Santa Claus. For more information, call 813-222-1000.

The annual Happy Holidays Celebration at Edgewater Park includes a boat parade and a tree-lighting ceremony. There will also be live entertainment, an arts and crafts show and children's activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the boat parade and tree lighting at 7:15 p.m. For more information, call 727-298-3260.

Each year Animal Services celebrates the animals that have been adopted through the year with a festival that includes free pet pictures with Mrs. Santa Paws, $1 rabies shots, free food, prizes, clowns and face painters, dog demonstrations, a petting zoo and much more! From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 582-2600.

The Pinellas Pioneer Settlement celebrates the holidays with a craft show, music, food, and more from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors can also see a working sawmill, blacksmith shop, cane carving and Horse N' Around petting farm at this historical site. Children will enjoy hay rides with Santa from 2- 4 p.m., story telling at 5:45 p.m., and everyone can enter to win a completely decorated Christmas tree. For more information, call 727-893-7326.

This exhibit explores how the nation's pastime mirror and influences our evolving culture. The more than 500 artifacts from the National Baseball Hall of Fame include the legendary "Abner Doubleday baseball," the first ball pitched by Cy Young in the first World Series in 1903; historic photographs and artifacts from Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio and more; baseball nostalgia of all kinds; interactive displays and items that illustrate the history of baseball in Tampa Bay. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

Charlie Daniels invites 30 to 35 of his celebrity friends to come to Florida in the middle of winter to help the Angelus, a home for severely handicapped persons who are not able to care for themselves. The concert will begin at noon in Coachman Park. Past celebrities included: Mike Alstott, Jon Anderson of YES, Archer and Park, Asleep at The Wheel, Darlene Austin, Razzy Bailey, Baillie and The Boys, Fiddlin Frenchie Burke, T.C. Carr and Jeff Carson. Tickets are $15. For more information, call 727-562-4800.

is a great race for runners in training and for endurance athletes seeking a final race before the holidays. The race starts at 7 a.m. at Madeira Beach. The course heads north along Gulf Boulevard to Indian Shores, east to the Pinellas Trail, and then north to a lakefront finish line in Taylor Park in Largo. For more information, call 727-347-4440.

The exhibition features seventy-five works on paper by sixty-four artists who have been creating art since the 1930s. Artists represented include Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Faith Ringgold, Sam Gilliam, Elizabeth Catlett, and Howardena Pindell. For more information, call 727-896-2667.

Sweetwater Kayaks guides this intermediate-level sea kayak tour of historic Egmont Key. Leaving from the Gulf Pier in Fort De Soto Park, the trip features a one mile open water crossing to Egmont Key. The key is home to a bird sanctuary, lighthouse and a Spanish-American War-era fort. Some of the fort is submerged and makes a great place for snorkeling and observing underwater life. Participants may explore the deserted brickstreet of a once vibrant area or lounge on top of the fort for lunch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Wildllife frequently seen on this trip include: dolphins, rays, egrets, sandpipers, herons, gulls, pelicans, shark, tarpon, gopher and box turtles, sheephead and stone clawed crabs. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 727-906-0708. Advance registration is required.

Continuing a holiday tradition, the Florida Orchestra performs highlights from The Messiah, including the Hallelujah chorus, along with a Brandenburg Cocnerto, Robert Shaw's Many Mood of Christmas Suite No. 3, music of Hanukah and more. Tickets are $21, $32, $38 and $45. For more information, call 813-286-2403.

Continuing a holiday tradition, the Florida Orchestra performs highlights from The Messiah, including the Hallelujah chorus, along with a Brandenburg Cocnerto, Robert Shaw's Many Mood of Christmas Suite No. 3, music of Hanukah and more. Tickets are $21, $32, $38 and $45. For more information, call 813-286-2403.

Luminaries around Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs are lighted during Christmas Eve making the walkways of Craig Park glow with the holiday spirit. For more information, call 727-943-5523.

This free event features performances and competitions by team bands and cheerleaders as well as a pre-football meeting of the players and coaches who will be facing each other in the New Year's Day bowl game. This beachside pep rally includes live music, skydivers, a tug-of-war and other contests from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort. For more information, call 727-461-3222.

Downtown St. Petersburg comes together with more than 20 venues featured in this alcohol-free celebration for adults and children alike. Centered around the Pier and Vinoy basin, First Night features everything from fire sculptures to music, dancing, poetry, puppetry, theater, art, games and fireworks. For more information, call 727-823-8906.

The Coliseum is hosting a New Year's Eve Celebration featuring Donna the Buffalo, a six-member band of electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, accordian, fiddle, bass, drums and rubboard on a journey that began with old-time Appalachian music. For more information, call 727-892-5202.

Eclectic Ybor City is the site of this festive celebration featuring the TECO Energy Parade, a pep rally by the marching bands, cheerleaders and a spectacular fireworks show. The parade will feature floats and thirty marching bands. This free family event starts at 5:30 p.m. and runs along 7th Avenue. The fireworks show blasts off at 8:15 p.m. For more information, call 813-874-2695.

One of the premier college football bowl games and the first bowl game of New Year's Day, the Outback Bowl features two of the nation's top teams from the Big 10 and SEC plus national television coverage. The game is played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. A week-long series of events precede the big game including the Bowl Beach Day. Don't miss the halftime show which features more than 5,000 performers. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (Gates open 9:30 a.m.). For more information, call 813-874-2695.

A day-long religious celebration by Greek Orthodox followers that includes a morning service at the St. Nicholas Cathedral, dive for the cross in Spring Bayou, releasing a white dove of peace, Greek foods, music and dancing. The festival is held the 6th of January every year. For more information, call 727-937-3540.

Held outdoors on Main Street in downtown Dunedin, this beautiful area is a perfect setting for a perfect show. The show will feature more than 100 crafters in a variety of mediums. For more information, call 727-298-3198.

Florida's largest annual gathering of clowns brings together families from across the state. The event is held at the Largo Cultural Center and Park 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 727-587-6793.

This exhibit features the work of Dale Chihuly, a world famous glass artisan. Chihuly and his studio assistants have created these spectacular, large-scale glass sculptures specifically for St. Petersburg's Museum of Fine Arts. The works will be placed throughout the galleries in the city and respond to the architectural features of the Museum's neo-Palladian-style building, as well as its interior space. Some of his best known series will be represented: the Seaforms, Persians, Baskets, Macchia, and Venetians. Chihuly is one of the leading glass art pioneers. On display Jan. 18 to May 23, 2004. For more information, call 727-896-2667.

This day of festivities begins with a breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by a rally and march at 10 a.m. which will end at Coachman Park. For more information, call 727-443-2974.

The Tarpon Springs Historical Society pays tribute to the pioneering families of the area. The event is held from 2 - 4 p.m. in the Heritage Center. For more information, call 727-943-4624.

Festival-goers will have more than 60 different vintages from around the world to choose from. More than a dozen of the area's top resturants will also be on hand, serving samples of their varied and delicious menus. There will also be a silent and live auctions to participate in. The event is from 5:30 - 9 p.m. For tickets, call the Oldsmar Chamber of Commerce at 813-855-4233.

The Pinellas County Historical Society presents its annual festival held at Heritage Village. This free event features traditional folk music, storytelling and pioneer crafts and performances by skilled artisans. Sheep to shawl activities, vintage 1890s baseball, a traditional rug hooking and embroidery show and a food court are all included in the day's activities. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

The 83rd edition of the St. Petersburg Festival of States is chock full of action packed events designed to attract audiences of all ages and tastes. Music is the focal point of this springtime festival, the South's largest civic celebration. The Festival includes an illuminated night parade & 5k run on Tuesday, April 8, along with an Arts & Crafts Show, Open Car, Motorcycle & Truck Show and much more throughout the week. All events are based at St. Petersburg's downtown parks. For more information, call 727-898-3654.

This annual mega-fashion extravaganza continues to showcase its elegance with the glitz, glamour and greatness of the latest fashion styles. Lavishly gowned models who showcase designs from the top fashion houses in Europe and the U.S. will grace the runway with this year's latest fashions. For more information, call 727-892-5767.

The open loop course for this marathon and relay begins on the Clearwater Causeway, heading south through five unique, beach communities to Indian Shores, before heading inland to Seminole and north along the Pinellas Trail, finishing downhill near Coachman Park on Clearwater's beautiful waterfront. It also includes a two-person relay with each running 13.1 miles. The 26.2 mile race begins at 7 a.m. For more information, call 727-347-4440 or 888-LIV-2RUN.

Held outdoors on Main Street in downtown Dunedin, this beautiful area is a perfect setting for a perfect show. The show will feature more than 100 crafters in a variety of mediums. For more information, call 727-298-3198.

Cirque du Soleil brings its second production to the Tampa Bay area. Named for the Spanish word for elation, joy and jubilation, the show has an international cast of 56 actor-athletes and musicians. It will be performed under the Grand Chapiteau in the parking lot of Tropicana Field, where Quidam was the company's first Tampa Bay area production in 2002. Ticket prices range from $35 to $70 and are sold online at www.cirqueclub.com.

Cirque du Soleil brings its second production to the Tampa Bay area. Named for the Spanish word for elation, joy and jubilation, the show has an international cast of 56 actor-athletes and musicians. It will be performed under the Grand Chapiteau in the parking lot of Tropicana Field, where Quidam was the company's first Tampa Bay area production in 2002. Ticket prices range from $35 to $70 and are sold online at www.cirqueclub.com. For more information, call 1-800-678-5440.

The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the season opener of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford. This first CART race will be run on a waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Bayfront Center and extending onto runways at Albert Whitted Airport that overlook the Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be televised nationally as well as broadcasted to over 180 countries via International television. For more information, call 888-34-SPEED (77333).

The fifth Florida African American Heritage Celebration will feature the sounds of gospel, jazz/blues and traditional African drumming and dance; the aromas of authentic ethnic recipes; an exciting marketplace with arts and crafts and other merchandise with African and African American themes and styles and hands-on activities and visual and performing art workshops for adults and children. The event is at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

To mark the 100th birthday of the world famous surrealist, the Salvador Dali Museum hosts a significant international gathering, a surreal cocktail party, benefit dinner, and DaliFest in March. The international conference, ''Persistence of Memory: New Critical Perspectives on Dali 1904-2004,'' is to be organized in cooperation with Fundacio Gala-Salvador Dali, the Palazzo Grassi, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the AHRB Research Centre of Surrealism and its Legacies (U.K.) and the University of South Florida. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

The Folk Fair allows visitors to travel the world in a day without leaving the country. This festival features cultural customs of more than 50 countries and nationalities. Each ethnic group sets up a village with cultural exhibits, ethnic foods and gift items. Held at the Bayfront Center. For more information, call 552-1896.

Heritage Village hosts this day-long event with military encampments, displays of memorabilia, swing dancers, vintage cars and townspeople in period costumes. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

The Salvador Dali Museum is marking its 22nd anniversary with the 3rd annual DaliFest, featuring reduced admission to the museum, three exhibitions, food and activities for everyone. Admission is $4. A free outdoor festival includes live music, flamenco dancing and kids' activities. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

This three day music festival, now in its 10th year, features a tropical atmosphere, spectacular blues music and multiple food vendors. Proceeds from the Sound Advice Tampa Bay Blues Festival benefit Pinellas Association for Retarded Children. The event is co-sponsored by the City of St. Petersburg and is a part of the City's Festival of States. For more information, call 727-502-5000.

The entire community celebrates its Scottish heritage at this annual event in Highlander Park. Since 1966 competitors from throughout the United States and Canada have taken part in Scottish band contests, Highlands dancing, piping and drumming, and traditional games. For more information, call 727-298-3260.

This evening 5K race-walk and one-mile race begins and ends at the Pier approach near Spa Beach. The race begins at 6:15 p.m. The course follows along beautiful Bayshore Drive along St. Petersburg's waterfront. For more information, call 727-898-3654.

Come and check out this wonderful display of restored antique automobiles and hybrid cars. There will also be music and hands-on activities. This event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact 727-582-2127.

The American Stage, St. Peterburg's professional theater, offers a live production of a William Shakespeare work in a beautiful outdoor setting. This year's production is a performance of the comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. Celebrating its 19th season, performances run Wednesday through Sunday on the waterfront at Demens Landing in downtown. Blanket seats are $7 on Wed., Thurs. and Sunday nights and $10 on Friday and Saturday nights. For more information, call 727-823-7529.

The waterfront of downtown St. Petersburg provides a picturesque setting for the 29th Annual Mainsail Arts Festival. As a leading cultural event on St. Petersburg's outdoor calendar, nearly 300 artists set up in downtown's Straub Park. This festival is nationally ranked in the "100 Best Fine Art Shows," with more than 100,000 visitors enjoying and purchasing quality art and listening to top name entertainment. This free festival features visual exhibits in seven categories, craft demonstrations, a children's arts activity tent and culinary arts/food vendors. Live entertainment includes rockabilly, rhythm & blues and surf music. Festival Hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 727-892-5885.

In its 21st year, this event has grown into Florida's largest triathlon. More than 1,700 athletes will compete in the 1.5 k swim, 40 kilometer bike race and 10k run as the first qualifying event for the Ironman Triathlon World Championships. For more information, call 727-825-1271.

Sunsets Beach Fest attracts thousands to Pier 60 Park on Clearwater Beach for 3 days of great music, food and fun. This festival is set up on the sands south of Pier 60, featuring local and national artists in a variety of music styles. The Sunsets Beach Fest runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Saturday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday, enjoy a Mardi Gras Beach Party from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. The three days of festivities will include artisans, crafters, street performers, music, food and beverage. Don't miss the Friday evening Fireworks Spectacular at 8:45 p.m. over the water off Clearwater Beach. For more information, call 727-449-1036.

Heritage Village hosts this living history event in its 20th year as Union and Confederate troops battle. The event includes artillery demonstrations, infantry drills and the big battle. Period crafts and other items will be for sale at the event. Admission and parking are free. The annual Heritage Village Skirmish is scheduled for 2 p.m. Artillery demonstrations and infantry drills will be held on the hour. Other activities include the Officers Call, a court martial, and the Grand March. Food will be available for purchase. Bring comfortable seating or ground cover for the battle. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

In honor of Earth Day and in cooperation with activities at the Florida Botanical Gardens and Family Day at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Heritage Village hosts a number of activities in appreciation of the natural wonders of the Earth. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m and is free. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, it is the epic musical story of the fugitive Jean Valjean, who is pitted against the cruel and self-righteous Inspector Javert in a lifelong struggle to evade capture. For more information, call 813-229-7827.

The Tampa Bay Area's original and largest annual food festival returns to Vinoy Park celebrating its 18th anniversary with 50 restaurant vendors, chef specialties, kids activities throughout the weekend and concerts. There will be a Fireworks Display on Saturday night. Event hours are Friday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon -7 p.m. General admission is $10. Children 12 and under are free and will have an arts and crafts tent with face painting, puppet making and much more. For more information, call 727-892-4193.

Held outdoors on Main Street in downtown Dunedin, this beautiful area is a perfect setting for a perfect show. The show will feature more than 100 crafters in a variety of mediums. For more information, call 727-298-3198.

This event is held on the weekend closest to July 4th. The city of Clearwater celebrates the July 4th weekend with a "Taste of America" food expo and concerts in Coachman Park. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. on the 4th of July. For more information, call 727-562-4813.

The Florida Aquarium celebrates the Fourth of July holiday with Freedom Fest outside the Aquarium and along Channelside Drive. This event features music, strolling entertainment, food vendors, stilt walkers, jugglers, barber shop quartet, face painting, family entertainment, hands-on exhibits, marine exhibits and a fireworks display. For more information, call 813-273-4030.

The City celebrates the Fourth with a day-long gala of exhibits, entertainment, food and a giant fireworks display over the waterfront. For more information, call 727-893-7494.

This annual event is the only midnight race in the Tampa Bay area. Held every year on July 4th, one minute after midnight, the Run includes a 5K and 10K and begins at 12:01 a.m. on the Dunedin Causeway. For more information, call 727-733-8442.

Festivities begin at 10 a.m and the day includes a sandcastle contest, games, live music, a children's pageant, a parade and of course, fireworks beginning at 9 p.m. Activities are located on Shore and Beach boulevards as well as Gulfport Beach. For more information, call 727-893-1070.

Dunedin celebrates Independence Day at Edgewater Park with live entertainment, arts & crafts vendors, children's activities including pony rides, a petting zoo and a moonwalk. Food vendors will also be stationed around the park. For more information, call 727-298-3260.

The Pier will have all day activities to celebrate Independence Day, including live music in the courtyard, entertainment, childrens' activities and prize drawings. Fireworks will begin at 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 727-821-6443.

The Rotary Club of Dunedin hosts the second annual Honeymoon Island Beach Bash from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival will include food and drinks, an arts and crafts show, business vendors, a giant waterslide, bungee jumping, a rock-climbing wall and a moon walk for children. The Blue Jay's pitching machine will be on hand, as well as entertainment including music and karaoke. There will be a donation of $5 per car at the gate. For more information, call 727-515-7767.

The City of St. Pete Beach features a fabulous fireworks display to celebrate the 4th. The show starts at dusk at the County Beach Park across from Dolphin Village. For more information, call 727-367-2735.

Every 3rd Saturday of the month, Gulfport showcases the galleries and shops that make up its ArtVillage. Guests can browse and enjoy a festive evening featuring art, music and more in this pedestrian-friendly historic district. More than 40 galleries, studios, boutiques and restaurants are featured in this monthly event from 6-10 p.m. Most shops serve free treats and refreshments. For more information, call 727-321-7741.

Every 4th Saturday of the month, Gulfport showcases the galleries and shops that make up its ArtVillage and features a sidewalk sale. Guests can visit the many wonderful shops that feature original paintings, pottery, handmade jewelry, wearable art, sculptures, hand blown glass, collectibles and much more at this village gathering. Gulfport's Art Village features shops, restaurants, cafes and nightspots on Beach Blvd. The sale runs 11 - 3p.m. For more information, call 727-321-0830.

St. Petersburg closes its main street for a street party on Central Avenue and Third Street in the heart of downtown. This block party features free live music from 5:30 to 10 p.m. For more information, call 727-393-3597.