Free and cheap family fun for Oct. 23-25
Get into the holiday spirit with all the pre-Halloween events this weekend leading up to the big day next Saturday.But if that doesn't float your boat, there are plenty of other activities to keep you hopping.
At Green Halloween, families can try healthier, more environmentally
friendly activities by bobbing for organic apples, making Halloween
bags out of old magazines, a green costume contest and more. And you
can do some good by dropping off old children's Halloween costumes to
donate to the Alpha House of Tampa. Find it easy to be green from
3:30-6:30 p.m. Friday at the Old Hyde Park Village, 1622 Snow Ave.
Tampa. Call (727) 403-5868 for more information.The best part: It's all
free.
Find your inner Harry Potter at the Witches Masquerade at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, 11400 Morris Bridge Road, Tampa. This Potter-themed party will feature tarot card readings, dancing, a costume contest, fun house, food and drinks. It costs $5 but kids 12 and younger are free. Call (813) 988-8188.
And here's just one more Halloween event: Trick or treat with the fishes at Guppyween from 4-9 p.m. at the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. The aquarium is transformed into a haunted mansion with trick-or-treat stations throughout the exhibits, kids activities, spooky creatures and tasty treats. Cost is $12 ages 12 and older, $2 for kids in costume. Limit four kids per adult. Call (813) 273-4000.
For more Halloween fun, check out these events throughout the bay area.
Want to have a little fun in the dark? The kids will love the Glow-In-The-Dark Party at the PinkCricket Center for Arts Education from 6-10 p.m. Friday. The PinkCricket is an organization that integrates and facilitates youth arts education into the local arts community. The party will feature a performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller by PinkCricket students. Students also will display their glow-in-the-dark-inspired art. There's live music, refreshments, glow-in-the-dark hands-on activities, including spin art, jewelry making and creating a collaborative mural. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children. Guests are encouraged to come in costume and/or glow-in-the-dark attire. PinkCricket is at 534 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.Call (727) 320-2324.
There's plenty of action at the annual John's Pass Seafood Festival on Saturday and Sunday at the John's Pass Village and Boardwalk, 150 John's Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach. Find local seafood specialties, a juried Arts & Crafts Show with more
than 50 local and regional artists, live music, a street dance, fishing
expo, kid's area and a children's Halloween costume contest (3 p.m.
Saturday only). There's also the John's Pass Shop
of Horrors on Friday through Nov. 1 on the Village Boardwalk. Hours vary so visit
the festival Web site to get the details. Hours for the seafood fest are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. It's free to get in but food and some activities cost extra. Call (727) 394-0756 for info.
Who can resist a puppy? Get all the puppy love you want at the Southeastern Guide Dogs Open House, from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at 4210 77th St. E, Palmetto. Hug a puppy, learn guide dog training techniques from trainers, take a blindfold walk challenge and tour the school. This free event is best for ages 5 and older. For details, call (941) 729-5665 or go to the guide dogs Web site.
It's that time of year when the weather is supposed to be cooler and we enjoy being outside. But even though the temps are not cooperating, we still can head outside for the Times Festival of Reading, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the St. Petersburg Campus at the University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Ave. S, St. Petersburg. There will be more than 45 authors giving presentations and signing their books, a book market and refreshments. It's free to come but you won't be able to resist the books. Call (727) 892-2358 for details or check out the festival's Web site.
Although this isn't a Halloween event, little girls will probably want to put on their best ball gowns and tiaras for the Princess Tea Party from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Seedlings, 1530 S Dale Mabry, Tampa. Girls are encouraged to dress as their favorite Disney Princess for tea, finger foods and desserts. And for parents, they get to see Disney's new Precious Collection jewelry for girls. It costs $25 for one parent and one child. Call (813) 251-5111.
And if these events are exactly what you're looking for, go here for more family activities.
-- Sherry Robinson
[Buy Costumes; Jupiterimages]
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
Amy Hollyfield is a workaholic mother of two young
daughters, blessed to have a work-at-home husband who makes their life possible. She was born in Detroit and moved around a lot as a kid (read: Air Force brat). She has lived in Florida since the month after she
graduated from Northwestern University. She lives for the yelps, hugs and kisses that greet her on nights that she makes it home before bedtime.
Sherry Robinson was born in the Sunshine State but she feels more comfortable inside a mall than outside at the beach -- thank goodness her husband is the outdoorsy type. He takes their two sons on night hikes, beach runs and bug hunts while Sherry does her best to take care of the homestead -- and find out what is new on the store shelves. A graduate of the University of South Florida in 19noneofyourbusiness, Sherry has been at the Times for nearly 20 years. And with nearly 10 years of parenting experience, Sherry is eager to offer up some great dish on raising kids and keeping your sanity.
Guest blogger Tracey Henry, a.k.a. Suburban Diva, is a frantic, slightly frazzled mother of four. She is a freelance humor writer and author which is the only thing that parenting four children ages 12-1 trains you for, except perhaps court jester and professional bull rider. She and her husband have lived all over the country, but settled in Florida eight years ago because the beachcombing is so much better here than on the banks of the Mississippi. Their family time includes a lot of sport -- both watching and playing -- and fun in the sun and surf. Catch her in Whoa, Momma! and on her site, 
Sherri Day and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world in early 2008. So far, she describes parenthood as exciting, exhausting and exhilarating. A self-described Southern belle with small-town values and big-city idealism, Sherri was born in rural Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the Brandon bureau chief for the Times. Sherri moved to Tampa from Brooklyn four years ago.