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December delights

It's the most wonderful time of the year, as Andy Williams (who, by the way, is at Ruth Eckerd Hall this month) sang. Indulge in the beauty and fun of the season with these events.

By PETER SCHWEITZER
Published December 2, 2005

The soporific effects of the turkey have worn off and the basement-level bargains have been fought over and bought.

Now it's time to really get into the holiday season with lights, parties and Santa. Here's a roundup of some activities around North Pinellas that are family-friendly and mostly free:

Pinellas County gets into the spirit of the holidays Saturday with Seasonal Sensations, an annual event at Pinewood Cultural Park that blends the efforts of Heritage Village, Florida Botanical Gardens and the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. The park is at 12175 125th St. N, Largo. The event is from noon to 10 p.m. with arts and crafts, food and multicultural holiday traditions.

Thomas Iovino, communications specialist for Pinellas County, said the celebration has built up over the past six years.

"It started small and now takes over the entire park area," he said. "We're excited about the events we're having. The 4H is sponsoring the "Fill a Tank with Toys' so that toys can be sent to kids of military personnel overseas."

The evening's celebration will be highlighted by the ceremonial lighting of areas around Pinewood. Seasonal Sensations is free to the public. Call 582-2671.

Tarpon Springs will host its 31st annual Fine Arts, Crafts and Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday at St. Petersburg College, 600 Klosterman Road. The Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event, which includes a custom-designed Adopt-A-Bear tree, a garland and wreath sale, a student charette art show, art demonstrations and holiday entertainment. Complimentary viewings of The Tales of Beatrix Potter will be in the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art auditorium at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the museum is free during the festival; parking is $3. Call 712-5762.

Stroll downtown Clearwater to see art, hear music, visit shops

The city will host the Clearwater Downtown Arts Stroll featuring local musicians, artists and merchants from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. Strolling musicians will perform in stores and along Cleveland Street, while artists will display and sell their work along Cleveland from Osceola to Myrtle avenues and on Fort Harrison from Cleveland north to Drew Street. Plein air artists, who paint directly from nature, will paint along Cleveland from noon to 4 p.m. Call 562-4809.

Dunedin begins a merry month with boat parade, tree lighting

Dunedin begins a monthlong holiday celebration, "An Old-Fashioned Christmas," with a boat parade and tree lighting ceremony Saturday. The boat parade begins at 7 p.m. at Marker One Marina. The parade will proceed south along the Intracoastal Waterway and then head back to the marina. The parade, with about 20 boats, will end about 8:30 p.m. with Santa Claus arriving on the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office boat. Santa will throw the switch at the tree lighting ceremony at Edgewater Park at 8:45 p.m. Both events are free to the public.

Santa arrives in Safety Harbor tonight after tree lighting

Safety Harbor will light its holiday tree tonight at the gazebo in John Wilson Park at Main Street and Fourth Avenue downtown. Carols and traditional holiday songs will start at 7 p.m. After the program the 24-foot Colorado blue spruce will be lit by the mayor, city commissioners and the grand parade marshal, longtime Safety Harbor resident Norman Miller. Standing Ovation performance troupe and Jonathan Ivory Sullivan will perform traditional holiday songs. After the program, Safety Harbor firefighters will escort Santa to the gazebo to hear a few early Christmas wishes.

"We usually get about 250 to 300 people," said Joe Cooper, special events coordinator for Safety Harbor. "We're expecting the same this year."

Admission is free. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. Call 724-1572.

[Last modified December 2, 2005, 12:03:02]