Community Corner
Get Out: Weekend Events Preview Oct. 28-29
Halloween is here, so break out the costumes kick the holiday season off with a festive weekend.
It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do for the weekend.
Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities to hit and new bars/restaurants/shops to explore.
Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
What/Where: The annual festival will take place at 851 West Lumsden Rd., Brandon, at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. This is a free event.
Why Go: The festival promises to be a family fun evening with pumpkin patch photos, trick or treat, haunted house, scavenger hunt, bounce house, and hot dogs.
Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
What/Where: The second annual "Make Them Smile...Give Them Hope" Zach Tucker Memorial 5K Race will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at , 4332 Lynx Paw Trail, Valrico. The course will take runners through the River Hills community providing shade and a picturesque environment. Money raised will benefit children with cancer. The entry fee is $25 in advance or $30 the day of the race. Register at Active.com. For information, visit givinghopethroughfaith.org or call Sherry Tucker at 813-685-6773.
Why Go: The event is coordinated by the parents of Zach Tucker, an 8-year-old boy who passed away due to a brain tumor a little more than five years ago. The proceeds from the event go to benefit families who have children that are suffering from cancer.
"It eases the pain of the loss for us to help people who are going what we went through," said Dirk Tucker, Zach's father. "It's also brings us a lot of joy to see people rally around these families who are going through a very difficult time."
What/Where: Gene Wilder's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" was, and still is, an inspiration to the owners of , 1048 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Owners Anthony and Leena Caligiure will celebrate the anniversary of the film with a costume party at Leena's from 12:30-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.
Why Go: Each child that comes in costume will have the opportunity to draw a ticket from a chocolate box. All children will get an original Wonka candy and a small chocolate pop and three lucky winners will draw golden tickets entitling him or her to create their very own one-pound chocolate bar behind the factory gates. They will be assisted by a staff of Oompa Loompas.
"We're going to be in costume, and we invite anybody to come and celebrate the anniversary of a film that is very special to us," Anthony Caligiure said.
What/Where: Sumatra Bistro Cafe & Bakery, 1602 Oakfield Dr., Brandon, will celebrate Halloween this Saturday, Oct. 29, with kids from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for the adults later that evening.
Why Go: Children will enjoy bobbing for apples, a coloring contest, Halloween word scrambles, word searches and a costume contest. Children under the age of 12 wearing costumes will eat for free from the kids' menu with the purchase of any adult entree.
That evening, adults are invited to join the celebration with a Murder at the Bistro Ball Murder Mystery Dinner. Wine, appetizers and dinner will be available for $29.95. For information, call 813-655-6200.
