Penguin Appreciation Weekend allows you to get up close to African black-footed penguins and learn about the adorable and, sadly, endangered animals. There will be penguin-themed activities and scavenger hunt throughout the Aquarium and even tuxedo T-shirt-wearing divers.
It doesn’t cost extra to participate in the festivities, and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the super-lovable birds. Nov. 29—Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., $16.95-$21.95, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, flaquarium.org. Photo courtesy of fotopedia. flaquarium.org.
Holiday fun tonight
Florida Botanical Gardens Holiday Lights In addition to laser lights, flora and fauna displays and decorated trees, a 7-foot gingerbread house with more than 600 lights, a 30-foot tall white swan and a five-foot tropical parrot have been added to the tradition array of light-lines paths with nightly free entertainment and visits from Santa Claus. Special events: Gift and Plant Sale in the Gardens on Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a dog parade on Dec. 29 starting at 1 p.m. Nov. 29- Jan. 1, 5:30-9:30 p.m. $2 donation (13 and older). Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. flbg.org.
More to do this weekend and next week …
Seminole Heights Holiday Shop Hop Popular shops like Cleanse Apothecary, Culture and Thrills and many more will have refreshments and special offers throughout Central Tampa's historic neighborhood on Sat., Nov. 30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Find locator map on zeemaps.com.
Golden Dragon Acrobats Behold a breathtaking 25-century-old tradition that melds traditional dance, acrobatics, fancy costumes, and ancient and contemporary music. 2 and 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 1, $24.50-$34.50. Largo Cultural Center. LargoArts.com.
Plant Museum’s Victorian Christmas Stroll University of Tampa’s 32nd annual tradition begins and runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Dec. 23. Sing with the carolers, check out antique toys and marvel at a 15-foot tree. $7-$13. plantmuseum.com.
Billy Collins The two-term poet laureate visits Tampa to share verse from his new book, Aimless Love, for one night only, Wed., Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Jaeb Theater of the Straz. Click here for a nice ticket-book package deal at Inkwood.
A Thousand Clowns Hat Trick Theatre Productions presents Herb Gardner’s touching play, starring Ned Averill-Snell and Hannah Anton. $14 for preview opening on Thurs., Oct. 5; $23 through Dec. 22. 8 p.m. Straz’s Shimberg Playhouse. facebook.com/HatTrickTheatre
This article appears in Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2013.