For snowflakes, caroling and making merry in general, St. Pete's downtown waterfront is shaping up as the place to be this Saturday. Realize your visions of a white Christmas with Snowfest, an annual celebration of winter featuring an ice rink, carnival games, pony rides and snow-covered toboggan ramps. Stick around to enjoy the First Annual Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition, which has 11 teams performing holiday songs (originals set to holiday music or standards). Florida Orchestra Associate Conductor Susan Haig and Eckerd College Music Professor and Choral Music Director Dr. Marion Smith hand out awards for the Best Choral Performance and Most Original Performance. Spectators bestow a People's Choice Award upon their favorite group of carolers. Pledge money raised by the teams support the St. Petersburg Free Clinic's efforts to provide assistance to those in need of such basics as food and shelter, and First Night St. Petersburg, which hosts family-oriented entertainment throughout Midtown and downtown on New Year's Eve. Snowfest, Sat., Dec. 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., North Straub Park, Bayshore Drive and Fifth Avenue N.E. ($6 wristband for all activities); and Great Figgy Pudding, 4-6 p.m., South Straub Park, Bayshore Drive and Second Avenue N.E.
This article appears in Nov 29 – Dec 5, 2006.