Holiday parties/events ☃️

• Hannukah Fair | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Hillel Academy, 2020 W. Fletcher Ave., Tampa | Free | Get food from Wheely Kosher Pizza and Falafel Factory at this festival with bounce houses, inflatable slides, obstacle courses, face painting, balloon art, kids crafts, a book fair, and performances.
• The Holiday Promenade | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 5-8 p.m. | Water St., Tampa | Free | The first holiday promenade will include a gift wrapping station, more than 50 local vendors, and wreath/cookie decorating.

Holiday performances 🎭

• The Nutcracker | Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $27 | The St. Petersburg Ballet Company’s production showcases future dancers/students of world-renowned schools and companies on the stage of St. Petersburg’s very own Historic Palladium Theater.
• Raymond James Pops Holiday Pops | Friday, Dec. 9 | 8 p.m. | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $5 | The Florida Orchestra performs all of Santa’s favorites at its most popular concert of the year.

Light displays ✨

• ‘ENCHANT,’ The World’s Largest Christmas Light Spectacular | Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Jan. 1 | 5:30-11:30 p.m. | Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg | $20-$35 | Get lost in the interactive light-maze adventure “Santa’s Magic Timepiece,” created from over four million sparkling lights.
• Oakdale Christmas Light Display | Friday, Dec. 2-Tuesday, Jan. 3 | 6-10 p.m. | Oakdale Christmas House, 2719 Oakdale St. S., St. Petersburg | Free | This lights display was featured on HGTV’s All Out Christmas Special and in PEOPLE Magazine.

NYE celebrations 🎆

• NYElectric 2023 | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m. | JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, 510 Water St., Tampa | $135-$200 | The hotel’s first New Year’s Eve party features a five-hour premium open bar, dancing to music by three DJs, a salsa bar, and party favors in a massive, decorated ballroom.
• New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 11:30 p.m. | Pirate Water Taxi, 333 S Franklin St., Tampa | $49.95-$69.95 | All ages are welcome on this 1-hour cruise with champagne, party favors, and a front row seat of downtown Tampa’s fireworks.

• Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 with world-premiere Ippolito Violin Concerto | Friday, Dec. 2 | 8 p.m. | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $5 | Enjoy the world premiere of Michael Ippolito’s violin concerto.
• Adele Givens | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 3 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Tampa Improv, 1600 E. 8th Ave., Tampa | $28.65-$31.87 | Adele Givens will make you laugh, think, cry, and cringe.
• Christmas Contigo | Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 4 | 8-10 p.m. | Stageworks Theatre, 1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., #151, Tampa | $15-$50 | Join the Delgado-Piñeiras as they fall in love, rediscover traditions, and prepare a Noche Buena.

• Gardens and Grounds of Old Hyde Park | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Start Point, Corner of Zack and Franklin St., Tampa | $30-$35 | Explore several distinctive and beautiful gardens in the iconic Hyde Park neighborhood with sips, snacks, and music.
• Local Legends Ceramic Workshop | Saturday, Dec. 3-Sunday, Dec. 4 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Morean Workshop Space, 2025 3rd Ave. S., St. Petersburg | $75 | Don Williams, Charlie Parker, and Doris Conner demonstrate expert techniques.
• Bank of America Museums on Us Weekend | Saturday, Dec. 3-Sunday, Dec. 4 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Tampa Museum of Art, 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa | Free | Active cardholders receive one free admission to the Tampa Museum of Art.
• Honeymoon Island Bluegrass Festival | Saturday, Dec. 3, Saturday, Dec. 3 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Honeymoon Island State Park, 1 Causeway Blvd. (at the West end of Dunedin Causeway), Dunedin | $15-$18 | Take in six hours of traditional bluegrass music.
• Black Rodeo: A History of the African American Western | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 2 p.m. | The James Museum, 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | $0-$23 | Film scholar and author Dr. Mia Mask examines the African American Western hero.

• Fresh Market | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Hyde Park Village, 1602 W. Swann Ave., Tampa | Free | Eighty local vendors sell their produce, handcrafted goods, plants, and more.

• 82º | Mostly sunny | 6% chance of rain

• Rise: 7:04 a.m.
• Set: 5:33 p.m.

• High: 10:44 a.m. + 11:17 p.m.
• Low: 4:49 a.m. + 4:44 p.m.

• High: 7:10 a.m. + 7:43 p.m.
• Low: 1:06 a.m. + 1:19 p.m.

• Huge news for salad fans. Wildly popular salad chain Sweetgreen opens in Downtown Tampa Tuesday, Dec. 13. The build-your-own salad brand’s first Tampa Bay outpost will be located next to Armature Works (301 W Palm Ave.). 🥗 (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
• A new Asian-fusion spot, The Glass Noodle, is opening in the former Doormét location — possibly by the end of the year. The Central Avenue spot will chef up fresh noodle dishes from Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia. 🍜 (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

• Just eight months after a cancer diagnosis, Plant High School junior Jayden Spencer took to the basketball court in the team’s home opener. And he made a basket. Spencer finished treatment over the summer and told the Times “I knew I was going to get back here.” (Tampa Bay Times)

• Red Tide has been spotted in St. Pete. New water samples taken close to North Beach at Fort De Soto Park included low levels of the organism that causes Red Tide. Health officials swimmers to be cautious as the current levels can cause breathing problems and fish kills. (Tampa Bay Times)

• Go big, or stay home. Tampa Bay’s largest World Cup watch party is this Saturday at Jannus Live. Doors open at 9 a.m. to watch Team USA on the 18-ft HD screen. Admission is $10 at the door. 🇺🇸 (I Love the Burg)
• Tickets go on sale today for the Rays 2023 season. Celebrate our hometown team’s 25th season with tickets to the opening day faceoff against the Detroit Tigers March 30, 2023 at 3:10 p.m. Purchase on the MLB Ballpark app or online. (St. Pete Catalyst)

• St. Pete’s neighborhood fitness brand, The Body Electric, announced it is closing its gym at the end of December. In an Instagram post, the gym said pressure from the pandemic contributed to the decision. BE’s yoga studio will remain open. 🏋️

• Your holiday music just got better. 1byoneaudio sells high quality and easy-to-use turntables equipped with incredible sound quality and hi-fi speakers, plus some that connect to Bluetooth headphones. Think: a great gift for the record lover in your life (or even an early present for yourself). 🎶*

• Breakfast with Santa | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | GFWC Tampa Woman’s Club, 2901 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa | $10-$80 | Ticket includes a photo with Santa, breakfast with Mrs. Claus, crafts, and a goody bag.
• Visit with Santa | Saturday, Dec. 3-Friday, Dec. 23 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Hyde Park Village, 1602 W. Swann Ave., Tampa | Free | Join Santa for a visit and don’t forget your camera to take photos with him.
• Visits with Santa | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 24 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Westfield Brandon Town Center, 459 Brandon Town Center, Brandon | $19.99-$49.99 | Skip the line and purchase your photo package in advance by making a reservation online.