Brandon area celebrates pair of holidays
The Brandon area will celebrate two holidays – Christmas and Chanukah – with their own events this month.
On December 17, the Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade of over 125 holiday lighted vessels will float down the Hillsborough River. The 7.5-mile route will begin at the southern end of Davis Islands, go through the Convention Center basin, and proceed to the Heights. Here the boats will turn around and go to Sparkman Wharf where they will be judged by members of Tampa Bay’s Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Top three winners chosen from both the sailboat and motorboat categories will receive trophies. The parade will begin at 6:00 pm.
The next day, Sunday, December 18 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Tampa City Hall Plaza, 315 E Kennedy Boulevard will welcome Chanukah in the City. Guests can enjoy hot latkes (potato pancakes), popcorn, cotton candy, doughnuts, and fresh falafel. There will be an obstacle course, rock climbing wall, human whack-a-mole, and raffle prizes, a master illusionist, a stilt-walker, and DJ Ron will keep the entertainment going. Johnny’s Photo Booth will be on hand for attendees to sit for souvenir pictures.
Pictures taken at events such as this often go to local print shops for duplicates for relatives. Tampa’s largest menorah will be lit by city officials, and a gelt drop (collection of chocolate money) will be manned by Tampa Fire Rescue.
On December 17, the Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade of over 125 holiday lighted vessels will float down the Hillsborough River. The 7.5-mile route will begin at the southern end of Davis Islands, go through the Convention Center basin, and proceed to the Heights. Here the boats will turn around and go to Sparkman Wharf where they will be judged by members of Tampa Bay’s Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Top three winners chosen from both the sailboat and motorboat categories will receive trophies. The parade will begin at 6:00 pm.
The next day, Sunday, December 18 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Tampa City Hall Plaza, 315 E Kennedy Boulevard will welcome Chanukah in the City. Guests can enjoy hot latkes (potato pancakes), popcorn, cotton candy, doughnuts, and fresh falafel. There will be an obstacle course, rock climbing wall, human whack-a-mole, and raffle prizes, a master illusionist, a stilt-walker, and DJ Ron will keep the entertainment going. Johnny’s Photo Booth will be on hand for attendees to sit for souvenir pictures.
Pictures taken at events such as this often go to local print shops for duplicates for relatives. Tampa’s largest menorah will be lit by city officials, and a gelt drop (collection of chocolate money) will be manned by Tampa Fire Rescue.