Community Corner

Wondering What to Do This Weekend? Here's Some Ideas

Check our picks for the activities to hit.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

The Music Showcase Christmas Festival will be Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 402 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon.

There will be more than 60 vendors selling their homemade crafts, jewelry, makeup, clothing, food and more. Some of the vendors include Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Thirty One, Miche Bag, PJ's Crafts World, Zumba, Visalus Sciences, Shaklee and Paparazzi.

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The event will feature live music inside the auditorium with Music Showcase students and outside on the patio with groups throughout area schools and the community including Riverview High School, Seffner
Christian Academy, Leonard's Dance Academy, Dowdell High School and a Zumba demonstration. There also will be a bounce house, crafts, face painting and balloon animals.

BRANDON FRESH MARKET

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The Brandon Fresh Market takes place the second and fourth Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of Westfield  Brandon , between Sears and the food court.

The market will feature fresh produce, fresh-baked goods, fresh seafood, entertainment, crafts, jewelry, music and local businesses.

WALK THROUGH BETHLEHEM

Kings Avenue Baptist Church,2602 S. Kings Ave., Brandon, continues presents it annual Walk Through Bethlehem Saturday, Dec. 8 from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9 from 4 to 9:30 p.m.

The annual event takes guided visitors on a tour of a replica town of Bethlehem on the night Jesus in born. The event is free.

LIVING NATIVITY

Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 10540 Browning Rd., Lithia, will host its Christmas production, "Behold! The Lamb." Saturday, Dec. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m.

This is a live performance of the life of Jesus that takes place throughout the church's 10-acre grounds. Last year, more than 200 people attended the free production. 

BRANDON BALLET PRESENTS 'NUTCRACKER'

Brandon Ballet will present four performances of the favorite seasonal ballet, Tchaikovsky’s  "The Nutcracker," Dec. 8 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 2 and 5:30 p.m. in the Spoto High School Auditorium, 8538 Eagle Palm Dr., Riverview.

The holiday classic will feature new choreography by Brandon Ballet artistic director, Octavio Martin, professional dancers, lavish costumes and scenery, and a score that will leave audiences dazzled.

The cost is $25 for adults, $15 for children 18 and under and $20 for seniors 55 years and up.

TADA PRESENTS 'NUTCRACKER'

The Theatre Arts and Dance Alliance of FishHawk Ranch with Tampa Bay Dance Theatre will present its annual holiday production of "The Nutcracker" Dec. 8 and 9 at 3 p.m. at Blake High School for the Performing Arts, 1701 North Blvd., Tampa. 

Residents of all ages will get into the spirit of the season with this classic holiday ballet about a young girl and her nutcracker. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.

NIGHT OF SHIMMERING LIGHTS

The Hillsborough County Fair is hosting its second annual Night of Shimmering Lights Thursdays through Sundays until Dec. 17 and then nightly up until Christmas at the fairgrounds at 4810 State Road 60 in Dover.

Nearly 1 million twinkling lights will decorate the fairgrounds. There will be an animated light show, a Christmas village, an outdoor holiday movie, arts and crafts vendors, pictures with Santa and fresh doughnuts. Admission is $20 per car.

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

The Village Players will present the holiday production of Miracle on 34th Street Dec. 8 and 14-15. Curtain time is 8:15 p.m. A matinee show is Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.

The show, directed by Gail Pierce, features Kris Kringle, a white-bearded, older man from a retirement home who gets a job working as Santa at Macy's in New York City. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for students, senior citizens and military.

CHRISTMAS LANE

The Lane family once again will present its annual Christmas Lane light and decorations exhibit through Dec. 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. at 2091 Wooten Rd., Dover.

Visitors are invited to stroll through the 1 1/2-acre winter wonderland that includes Santa from 6 to 8 p.m., a kids' train ride, a manger scene and other holiday scenese, a nightly musical, hot chocolate, coffee and ice-cold drinks, freshly popped popcorn and cotton candy.

BENEFIT CAR WASH

The Blessed Trinity Mission Team at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico will host a car wash Sunday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Car Wash on the Greens, 3618 Lithia-Pinecrest Rd., Valrico.

The mission team is gearing up for its upcoming trip to Panama in January and is raising funds for medical supplies and educational materials.

WRAP FOR RELAY

Divas Against Cancer will host Wrap for Relay Sunday, Dec. 9 from noon to 4 p.m. at Park Square Pizza, 16132 Churchview Dr., Lithia.

Get your Christmas gifts wrapped while benefitting the FishHawk Relay for Life event this spring.

MENORAH LIGHTING CEREMONY

Chabad of Brandon will host its annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony Sunday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. in the outdoor restaurant courtyard at Westfield Brandon mall.

The event will feature Brandon's tallest Menorah, Tony the Balloon Guy, face painting, hot latkes, Chanukah music and dancing and chocolate gelt.


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