SANTA IS COMING TO TOWN . . . ON A FLOAT: Stake out a place on Main Street for the Safety Harbor Holiday Parade, featuring clowns, cars, a variety of floats, the Egypt Temple Shrine Units, Countryside High School Band, Clearwater Phillies, Florida '50s Original Rockers, Liberty Fife and Drum Corps, the Safety Harbor Fire Department and, of course, Santa Claus. The parade will roar though town this weekend, snaking its way from Main Street and Bayshore Boulevard to Main Street and Eighth Avenue. It all takes place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. For information, call (727) 724-1555.

A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS: Christmas is the perfect time to tour the historic Knapp-Scholl House in Tarpon Springs. The house, built along Spring Boulevard in 1884 by Edwin Knapp, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Knapp, the builder, was a man who made his fortune in the hardware business in Kansas. He not only built the mansion, but also presided over the fateful meeting during which Tarpon Springs was incorporated. Almost a century later in 1975, local lawyer and St. Ignatius parishioner Donald Scholl bought the home and began four years of extensive renovations. For a $5 admission fee, you can see the home and enjoy entertainment by strolling carolers from the St. Ignatius Adult Choir. Proceeds will benefit the choir. To get to the house, take U.S. 19 to Tarpon Avenue and drive west. When you get to Spring Bayou, turn left and go 100 yards.

A LARGO CHRISTMAS: The St. Jerome Chorale will team up with an orchestra and present songs and sounds of Christmas at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive, south of East Bay Drive between Highland Avenue and Seminole Boulevard. Tickets are $14 for adults, $6 for students. Call (727) 587-6793.

CONCERT: The Clearwater Community Concert Band will play all the great Christmas songs including Greensleeves, Winter Wonderland and Santa Claus is Comin' To Town as well as a few Hanukkah songs at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Petersburg College, Clearwater campus in the Arts Auditorium, corner of Drew Street and Old Coachman Road. At 2 p.m., before the performance, the Commodore Brass will play. The Jazz Band will play at 2:30 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. Admission is free. Call (727) 799-4437.

CHORAL CONCERT: The Dunedin Community Chorus will present We Sing Gloria! A Concert for Christmas at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 705 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. Melanie McWilliams and JoAnn Metropoulos will accompany the chorus. There is no admission fee, but a free will offering will be taken. Call (727) 298-3290.

ACROBATS: The award-winning 22-member Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats will perform dramatic stunts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St. Tickets cost $16; $14 for center members and students. Call (727) 942-5605.

DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA: Ruth Eckerd Hall will present The Chocolate Nutcracker, a multicultural Christmas dance show featuring more than 100 student and professional dancers at 7:30 tonight at 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. This unique show will take you on a journey from Harlem to West Africa with stops in Brazil and Cuba -- all while explaining the traditional Christmas story in a very untraditional way. Tickets cost $17. Call (727) 791-7060.

OPEN HOUSE: Celebrate the holidays by visiting Heritage Village during the Pinellas County Historical Society's open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at 11909 125th St., N, Largo. Refreshments will be available at the 1888 Greenwood House, the Bay Area String Association will play at the bandstand, and handmade crafts will be for sale at the gift shop. Call (727) 582-2123.

DRESS SALE: More than 300 new evening gowns will be sold for $25 each from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Target, U.S. 19 and Drew Street in Clearwater (between Kane's Furniture store and Art Galore). All proceeds will benefit Ruth Eckerd Hall's children's educational programs. Call (727) 410-8526.

ICE SHOW: Enjoy a Winter Fantasy on Ice at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Sunblades Ice Arena in the Icot Center behind Autoway Nissan in Clearwater. Seventy-six skaters ages 3 and older will perform Christmas numbers. Refreshments will be served after the show. Tickets are $5. Call (727) 536-5843.

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