From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, kick off the weekend with a little holiday cheer at the Eat, Drink and Be Ugly Food Truck Rally. This Christmas edition of Gulf to Bay Food Truck Association's monthly Food Trucks Around Town, hosted at Port St. Pete, will feature karaoke and a visit from Santa Claus, as well as tasty bites and adult beverages (wine, sangria and beer). Nosh on fare from local food trucks like I Wanna Wok, The Twisted Indian and Churro Express. Ugly sweaters are, of course, encouraged. Free, money for food and drinks. 280 Eighth Ave. SE, St. Petersburg.
For more sweater shenanigans, check out the Seminole Heights Ugly Sweater Soirée. Between 7 and 11 p.m. Friday, start at Brew Bus Brewing, get on the shuttle and bar hop around the neighborhood with your most hideous holiday sweater. The bus is set to run on a continuous loop to pick up and drop off drinkers at six destinations, including Angry Chair Brewing, The Independent Bar and Cafe, and Fodder and Shine. $10. 4101 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-990-7310.
In Tampa, help District Tavern celebrate its 1 Year Anniversary through an all-day bash. From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, the Channel District bar's block party will be filled with drink specials and free goodies from other local businesses. Oh, and life-size Jenga. In between live music from Andrew Ricker, District Tavern will roll out a red carpet at 6 p.m., followed by an open bar for all between 7 and 8 p.m. After, guests will dance and drink until the raffle at midnight. Phew! Free, money for drinks. 116 N. 12th St., Tampa, 813-252-3444.
Join Tampa Bay's finest in burlesque, including Nilla Bean, Tila Topaz and Mayven Missbehavin, for a super-sparkly, all-holidays affair at Largo-based Barley Mow Brewing Company — with cookies. Yep, bring your own homemade sweets to contribute to the baked goods table at this Holiday Burlesque Revue, planned for 9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are cash only at the brewery, but may also be purchased via PayPal to nillabeanburlyq@gmail.com. Barley Mow's Tinsel will be on tap. $20 for general admission, $30 for Glitter Zone VIP. 518 West Bay Drive, Largo, 727-584-7772.
The 6th Annual Hip Hop Against Hunger Benefit Show will kick off at 3 p.m. Sunday at Ybor City's New World Brewery. Sip craft beer while enjoying live art and jamming to performances by artists such as HMTWN, Queen of Ex and Rival. Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items, new or used clothing, and unopened toiletries, baby care products or blankets in exchange for discounted entry. This year, Hip Hop Against Hunger aims to collect at least 2,000 pounds of food. $7, $5 with donation. 1313 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa, 813-248-4969.
This article appears in Dec 15-22, 2016.