Top 5 | The holiday surge has begun

Plus: Unique gift ideas from local artists

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View on the web Got to our home page Subscribe to the Times Dec. 1 to 7, 2022 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters Who me? I’m Sharon Kennedy Wynne, events, family and travel reporter at the Tampa Bay Times. Now that we are fully into the holiday swing I am stepping into the snazzy shoes of Meaghan Habuda to offer my suggestions for ways to play in Tampa Bay for this newsletter.   For more than a decade, my job here at the Times has been to cover “things to do” as a beat. So I went to Disney World for work. I rode Busch Gardens’ newest rollercoaster on assignment. And I kept my eyes peeled for free and cheap ways to have fun.   It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it. This weekend, there’s snow in Clearwater and “Death By Chocolate” in Largo — among other top things to do. Plus: Are you looking for gifts made locally? Tampa Bay art galleries offer a unique alternative. Top 15 Tampa Bay area events for Nov. 28-Dec. 4 [IVY CEBALLO | Times (2020)] Play in the Clearwater “snow” at the Miracle on Cleveland Street, or eat sinful treats for a good cause at the Death by Chocolate event in Largo.  Details here Shop at Tampa Bay galleries for everyone on your list [Courtesy of Florida CraftArt] Give handmade this holiday season — from artist-made ornaments to jewelry to functional pottery and paintings of local landscapes. Details here 3 holiday activities perfect for toddlers around Tampa Bay [Lowry Park Zoo] We found some ways to entertain the little ones in Tampa, Largo and Sarasota. Details here South St. Pete lights up with Oakdale Christmas Spectacular [LUIS SANTANA | Times (2021)] Since 1977, this St. Petersburg house has been the site of one of the largest, most eye-popping holiday displays in the area. Details here In Tampa Bay, paddleboards offer a new way to do yoga [DIRK SHADD | Times] The views are fantastic and balance-tested. And “there’s no place better to see a sunset.” Details here BEFORE YOU GO [DIRK SHADD | Times] Fancy a game of pickleball? Get in line.   As the popularity of the racket sport skyrockets, tensions between tennis players and pickleballers have sprouted up as municipal and county tennis courts have been adapted for pickleball across the Tampa Bay area.   Our region is bonkers over pickleball. Details here Contact Sharon Kennedy Wynne at swynne@tampabay.com. Follow @SharonKWn. Did someone forward this to you? Get Top 5 in your own inbox next time. It's free to subscribe. Sign up here. Contact us Privacy policy Terms, conditions and copyright Standard of accuracy © 2022 • All Rights Reserved Tampa Bay Times • 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 To ensure this email is delivered to your inbox, add custserv@elist.tampabay.com to your address book. You are receiving this email because you signed up for the "Arts & Entertainment" newsletter from the Tampa Bay Times. If you’d prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe from this email.