Looking for a good time this Weekend? Don’t know what’s going on? Each week I give you my top picks for a weekend of fun in the Tampa Bay Area. Here are my Top Ten suggestions for 9-30 – 10-3.
10. Lightning Season Launch Concert with Steve Miller Band
Tuesday, October 4 at 7 p.m. will be a great night in Tampa for fans of the Steve Miller Band and the Lightning. The two will be combined that Tuesday night at the St. Pete Times Forum for a one-of-a-kind Hockey and classic rock night to celebrate the start of the 2011-12 Lightning Season. Lightning full season ticket holders can attend the Steve Miller Band concert for free. Fans who hold Lightning 21-game ticket packages or 10-pack plans can buy tickets at 50 percent off the regular price. Tickets for the general public are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster Outlets.
9. ZooBoo at Lowry Park Zoo
Lowry Park’s ZooBoo is all about great family fun this weekend in Tampa. ZooBoo is an annual family friendly Halloween event that thrills all ages. There there are haunted houses and trails for older zoo-goers, boo houses and seasonal lights for little ones all that $10 a head…or should I say per body. ZooBoo opens Friday, September 30th and run until October 30th. Admission prices: $17 adults (ages 12 & up) $14 children (ages 3 – 11). Lowry Park Zoo is located at 1101 W Sligh Avenue in Tampa. Their website is www.lowryparkzoo.com. HOURS: 7-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 7-10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday.
8.Children’s Health Fair
Saturday, October 1st, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
South Florida Baptist Hospital is holding a Children’s Health Fair at the Arthur Boring Building, Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City. Free screenings for infants to 12-year-olds for blood pressure, dental, hearing, height/weight, scoliosis, skin cancer and vision. Parents can get information about Healthy Start, WIC, Kid Care, child ID and fingerprinting, nutrition and much more. There will be a Zumba demonstration plus a drawing for a Nintendo Wii Gaming System. Admission is free. Call (813) 757-8511 for more information on this Children’s Health Fair.
7. Joe Jonas/Jay Sean
Saturday 10/01/2011 @ 8:00 PM
Ruth Eckerd Hall
North McMullen Booth Rd
Clearwater
Pop music superstars and multi-platinum-selling recording artists, Joe Jonas and Jay Sean are bringing their dance and R&B infused music to Ruth Eckerd Hall on Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $38 and $48. For more information or to buy tickets go to www.rutheckerdhall.com.
6. Them Idiots Whirled Tour on Friday Night
Friday, September 30th at 8pm
St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa
Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall & Larry the Cable Guy together for one night of hilarious comedy and non-stop laughter. Tickets are $59.50. Go to www.sptimesforum.com to buy tickets
5. Monday Night Football
Buccaneer’s vs. Indianapolis Colts
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa Oct 3rd 8:30 PM
Monday night’s game against the Colts is not blacked out on TV. Former Tampa Bay Coach Jon Gruden will be in the press box working as an ESPN analyst for The Monday night Buccaneer match-up against Indianapolis. If you have tickets to the game go to our Tailgate Fan and list where you will be Tailgating so your friends can find you. If you are looking for a Sports Bar to view the Monday game since it will be on TV go to this link for a list of Tampa Bay’s Best Sports Bars.
4. Howl-O-Scream
Get ready to SCREAM loud and often starting this weekend with Busch Gardens’ “Howl-O-Scream”. There will be haunted houses, scare zones, roller coasters in the dark and spooky live shows. Runs Thursday through Saturday nights from September 29th to October 29th. Your Howl-O-Scream ticket gets you into the park anytime after 5pm to ride other rides, but the spooky stuff doesn’t start until 7:30PM. Hours are: Thursdays 7:30PM till 1AM , Fridays and Saturdays 7:30PM to 2AM. No guests in costumes admitted. General admission is $77.99. If you buy your tickets in advance online you save $25 with the $52.99 online price. There are promotional offers that can save you up to $35 per ticket, for more information go to their website at: www.howloscream.com. Country Radio Station 99.5 WQYK is giving away Howl-O-Scream tickets both Saturday and Sunday (10-1 and 10-2 ) this weekend.
3. Weekend Super Boat Races Clearwater Beach
The World’s fastest boats are hitting the waters off Clearwater Beach this weekend for the 3rd Annual Bright House National Championships Friday, September 30th – October 2nd. This crowed three-day beach and Gulf event kicks off at the Baystar Race Village in Coachman Park on Friday, September 30th at 3:00 pm. Spectators will be able to see the race boats on display and meet the drivers. At 5:30 a downtown block party will kick off with a parade of boats and then Blast Friday will host a concert featuring the 70′s band Orleans, best know for their hits “Dance with Me” and “Still the Once”. The Blast Friday concert will take place on the 400 block of Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater. Saturday October 1st there will be a free concert at Coachman Park with Bertie Higgings and his Band of Pirates, plus the Tempests, there will also be beer, food and wine for sale. Saturday night there will be a fireworks after the sunset at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. There are two scheduled races for Sunday October 2nd. The first race starts Sunday at noon and the second race starts at 2:00 pm. Last year there were 2500 viewing boats off shore and close to 25,000 on the beach watching. Arrive early to void the heavy traffic coming onto Clearwater Beach. For more Super Boat National Championship details the three-day schedule of events go to www.clearwatersuperboat.com.
2. Buy Tickets for Ray’s Play off Games
Tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary) of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field will go on sale on Friday, Sept. 30, at 1:00 pm exclusively on raysbaseball.com. The Rays would host Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary) of the ALDS on Monday, Oct. 3 and Tuesday, Oct. 4. Game times are to be determined.
1. Ray’s in the Play-Offs
After a wild Wednesday night of regular season baseball the Ray’s in dramatic fashion locked up the final play-off spot as the AL Wild Card team. They did it with a 8-7 win over the Yankee’s just moments after Boston had lost to the Orioles.
The Ray’s comeback from early September has been nothing short of stunning. The Ray’s and the Texas Rangers will kick off a double-header of ALDS action on TBS Friday night, September 30th.
Game 1 TB @ TEX Friday, September 30th at 5:07pm on TBS
Game 2 TB @ TEX Saturday, October 1st TBD on TBS
Game 3 TEX @ TB Monday, October 3rd TBD on TBS
Game 4 TEX @ TB (if needed) Tuesday, October 4th TBD on TBS
Game 5 TB @ TEX (if needed) Thursday, October 6th TBD on TBS
If you are lucky enough to score tickets to the play offs at Tropicana Field make sure you stop by Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill in St. Petersburg. Ferg’s is an institution with Baseball Fans. During Baseball season the place is crazy. It it the place to be before and after Baseball games. Ferg’s is just around the corner from Tropicana Field so the path to and from this baseball hot spot is well-worn by Ray’s fans of all ages. Sports and great food is what Ferg’s is all about. The menu has everything from Classic Nachos to a Philly Steak that was the best I’ve had outside of Philadelphia. Ferg’s is located at 1320 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. For more details go to www.fergssportsbar.com.
