As part of Heritage Village's storytelling series, Multicultural folktales and seasonal stories will relay the way other parts of the world celebrate the holiday season. Storytellers "StoreeBrooke" and "LilliStarr" will entertain guests with tales and traditions. The event begins at 10 a.m. and tickets cost $5. For more information, call 727-582-2123.

The annual Happy Holly-Daze family festival 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.

Les Fauves, the Gulf Coast Museum of Art's membership group for individuals in the their 20s, 30s and 40s presents this event. Admission is free for all GCMA members and $5 for non-members. This art-interactive evening is designed to kick-off the holidays with the opportunity to explore artwork as a unique gift for the holiday season and to consider beginning your own collection. Affordable holiday gift ideas will be presented. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

One of the largest lighted boat parades in the area, St. Petersburg’s annual event 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 727-893-7329.

The city of Gulfport, just west of St. Petersburg, starts its lighted boat parade from the Boca Ciega Yacht Club. The route goes from the yacht club marina, past the city pier and municipal beach, and through several areas along Boca Ciega Bay. The 16th annual parade starts at 6 p.m. and ends at approximately 8 p.m. For more information, call 727-321-7295.

The Science Center will offer free telescope viewing for the public from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Planetarium presentations will be offered throughout the evening at $1 per person. The Holiday Laser show will run at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at $2 per person. The traveling exhibits, Smoke tornado and Safe House will be open and free to the public. For more information, call 727-384-0027.

A musical concert will be held in Coachman Park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A boat parade will follow beginning at 8 p.m. For more information, call 727-562-4022.

Listen to the sounds of teh Clearwater High School Concert band; An Island Holiday with Spy vs. Spy and national recording artists Trout Fishing in America. Concert will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Coachman Park. For more information, call 727-562-4813.

The Pinellas Pioneer Settlement celebrates the holidays with a craft show, music, food, and more. The settlement is located at 3130 31st Street South. For more information, call 727-866-6401 or 727-893-7326.

Enjoy a tour of six unusual Safety Harbor homes. See a contemporary Bayshore Blvd home with a beautiful view of the bay, two artist abodes and three historic homes. Tickets and catalogs are available at the Safety Harbor Museum. For more information, call 727-726-1668.

Join the Tarpon Springs Historical Society for a guided tour of area homes. The trip runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year's homes include a potpourri of historic homes ranging from Victorian and frame vernacular to Bungalow and Craftsman style. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 the day of the event. For more information, call 727-43-4624.

The Miami City Ballet and the Florida Orchestra perform George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tchaikovsky's mesmerizing score blends with George Balanchine's masterful choreography. Tickets are $38, $30 and $20. For more information, call 727-791-7400.

The Art Center presents this non-juried show of local artworks for the holiday season. 10 AM - 5 PM Monday through Satuday, 1 PM to 4 PM on Sunday. For more information, call 727-822-7872.

Immerse yourself in the spirit of the season at the Arts Center annual Holiday Show. See specially created works by many artists, including mixed media by Kathleen and Rocky Bridges and Lynn Whipple; paintings by Shirley Frank, Eleanor Merritt, Elizabeth Clement and more; jewelry by Yoshiko Yamamoto, Kim O'Brien and Melanie Sekora; and pottery by Russ Gustafson-Hilton, Jan Kimball and Charlie Parker. Glass ornaments and photographs will also be on dispaly. 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.

Contemporary craftwork design for gift-giving by over 200 Florida Artists. For more information, call (727)821-7391.

The Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History presents the Contemporary LongRifles and Accoutrements exhibit. it features rifles donated by Fred Riley of Tampa. For more information, call 727-726-1668.

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.

Artist Antonio Caparello's work will be on display at the Merrick Gallery. For more information, call 727-896-2787.

The Museum of Fine Arts presents this exhibition featuring a self-portrait of a community that is a growing part of our nation's heritage. The exhibition's 120 photographs by 30 of the nation's top photojournalists explore the breadth and variety of the American Latino experience. Organized into thematic groupings of family, children and youth, labor, community, and the arts, Americanos presents a striking assemblage of images exploring differences within this dynamic community. For more information, call 727-896-2667.

This exhibit features major works that entered the collection during Michael Milkovich's nearly 20 years as the Museum of Fine Art's Director. Mr. Milkovich recently retired and now holds the title of Director Emeritus. The exhibit includes approximately 75 works, including antiquities, European and American paintings and decorative arts. For more information, call 727-896-2667.

Throughout the holiday season, the museum will showcase various collections, including model trains, toys, dolls, teddy bears, etc. A must-see stop on your family holiday calendar. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

Internationally renowned sculpture John Henry exhibits a new monumental sculpture installation in the Courtyard Sculpture Garden. Wandering Spirits stands as the sole piece in the exhibition. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

This exhibition explores the MADI movement that originated in Argentina in the late 1940s and migrated to Europe with master painter Carmelo Arden Quin. Quin and Volf Roitman founded the MADI Research Study Center in Paris in the early 1950s. Focusing on geometric and abstract forms, the movement's aesthetic is expressed through paintings, sculptures, books and other objects expressing colorful free forms and shapes that are not only playful, but move outside a single dimension and into three-dimensional spaces. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

Andrew Morgan is a wonderful colorist who primarily explores themes related to the landscape and still-life genre. A former President and Dean of the faculty of Kansas City Art Institute and for many years Professor and Chairman of the Art Department at the University of Miami, Morgan explores these traditional themes with a unique insight and sensitivity. For more information, call 727-518-6833.

The Salvador Dali Museum presents this collection of 25 paintings by surrealist Jacqueline Lamba (1910-1993). Lamba, the wife of surrealist Andre Breton, began working as a surrealist in the 1940s. The exhibit was organized by Mills College, California, and guest curated by Salomon Grimberg. For more information, call 727-823-3767.

Explore the powerful images the Holocaust engraved into mankind. This exhibit is on special loan to the Holocaust Museum. For more information, call 727-820-0100.

The Florida Holocaust Museum features the works of Ella Liebermann-Shiber. This exhibit contains etchings that bear witness to the Holocaust; a testimony of her past. For more information, call 727-820-0100.

The indomitable spirits of 120 St. Petersburg/Clearwater area Holocaust survivors have been encapsulated within photographs reflecting upon fragments of theirs pasts for future generations. Toronto freelance photographer Jason Schwartz captured the expressions of memories of Holocaust survivors for this exhibit at the Florida Holocaust Museum. The stark black and white images are reflections of time and history. Each image contains a carefully worded and handwritten statement by the Survivor. For more information, call 727-820-0100.

The Florida International Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, features this collection of historical and personal artifacts associated with the U-2 incident of May 1960 in which Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union while flying for the CIA in a U-2 spy plane. These artifacts are on loan from the Cold War Museum and Francis Gary Powers, Jr. and include a piece of Powers’ U-2 plane, personal correspondence from prison, and items associated with the U-2 program. The U-2 Incident exhibit has been displayed internationally and this showing will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Power’s release from prison, which took place on February 10, 1962. The museum also features an exhibit on the Cuban Missle Crisis and a permanent collection of John F. Kennedy memorabilia. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

The St. Petersburg Museum of History celebrates the 40th anniversary of its sister-city relationship with Takamatsu, Japan. The exhibit showcases the history of the partnership and provides information about life in Takamatsu. From the Japanese garden to the recreation of an udon noodle shop, this exhibit highlights the parallels between the two cities. For more information, call 727-894-1052.

Modeled after successful public art exhibits in Chicago, New York, New Orleans and Cincinnati, The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is sponsoring this festival honoring area artists and endangered species. The project features the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle as its theme icon. Nearly 100 six-foot sea turtle statues will be on display throughout the region. In April, all turtles will be auctioned off with portions of the proceeds going to area non-profit organizations. Artists range from Peter Max to Sunset Sam, the Aquarium's painting dolphin. One sea turtle statue has been painted to resemble an American flag. The beneficiaries of the auction will be families of the firefighters and police of New York City who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. For more information, call 727-461-5799.

The Dunedin Historical Museum presents this exhibit featuring artifacts from World War II. Dunedin was primarily a rural area during the War, but residents made considerable contributions. This exhibit highlights some of the inventions that took place during the War. For more information, call 727-736-1176.

The Florida International Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, now features temporary exhibits in addition to its permanent collection of John F. Kennedy memorabilia. When The Cold War Got Hot gives visitors a feel of how close the world came to nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The exhibit features re-creations of a fallout shelter, 35-foot Soviet missile and props from the new Kevin Costner film Thirteen Days. For more information, call 727-822-3693.

It's Our Nature guides a Nature Awareness Walk with Bird Watching through Honeymoon Island Recreation Area every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Duration is 2 hours. In addition to the state park fee, cost is $10 per person and $6 per child. For more information, call 727-441-2599.

The Downtown Arts Association holds an evening art gallery walk the second Saturday of every month. More than 20 art galleries along Central Avenue and Beach Drive in St. Petersburg participate in the evening stroll and stay open until 9 p.m. For more information, call (727) 894-2111 or (727) 822-2787.

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.

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 727-895-0051.

Gulfport showcases the galleries and shops that make up its ArtVillage. 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 stroll runs 6-10 p.m. For more information, call 727-321-0830.