Holiday Lights in the Gardens
2022-12-17 17:30 - 21:30, 2022-12-16 17:30 - 21:30, 2022-12-15 17:30 - 21:30, 2022-12-14 17:30 - 21:30, 2022-12-13 17:30 - 21:30, 2022-12-12 17:30 - 21:30, 2022-12-11 17:30 - 21:30, 2022-12-10 17:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL, 33778, United States
The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation is proud to announce the dates and times for its 22nd annual winter event.
Admission is a suggested donation of $10.00 per person, over the age of 13. Credit cards and cash are accepted at our entrance gates, no pre-registration necessary.

The Gardens will sparkle with 1 million, twinkling, LED lights in a multitude of colors. Vibrant laser lights and lighted figures round out our display to wow guests of all ages. Our friends, The Train Guys, will be back again for the opening weekend of the event. Their model trains will surround our 18 foot evergreen tree, bedecked in nature-inspired splendor, in the heart of the Wedding Garden.
There are four entrances to Holiday Lights and all of them have names: Snowflake – On the Bridge coming in from the Ulmerton Road Entrance. Poinsettia – On the walkway from the Walsingham Road entrance. Blue Heron – On the North Bridge entrance from the back of the Visitor Center. Green Turtle – On the east side of the gardens, off the Walsingham Road cul-de-sac. When you arrive at the event, you will receive a color-coded sticker, to remind you which entrance you came in at. View our Holiday Lights Map 2021 for more details on entrances, entertainment locations and more!
To add to the sights and sounds, we have arranged a variety of local volunteer talent to perform nightly. View our weekly Playbill, listing nightly performers. For inquiries on how to perform at the event, please email us at: flbgfoundation@gmail.com.
St. Pete Concessions is here again with great food, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages for sale, so come hungry!
We will no longer be hosting Santa at the event, but be sure to check out Santa Saturdays at our neighboring Heritage Village. We welcome the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscaping Association and Pinellas County Farm Bureau, who will be sponsoring our Children’s Candy Cane Area, providing free kids crafts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Creative Pinellas hosts their Arts Annual exhibit from November 11th through December 19th. The public is welcome to visit the Gallery, located off our Walsingham Entrance. Admission is free, Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 5 pm.
The Gardens are handicapped-accessible. Parking, including handicapped parking, is available at our Green Turtle Entrance, at 12211 Walsingham Road. Most walkways are ADA Compliant: allowing access for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers. However, we do not have wheelchairs or scooters available.
Additional parking will be available at our Snowflake, Poinsettia and Blue Heron Entrances. Parking is limited, so come early or choose to visit us on the weeknights. Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to contact our office in advance, so we can help make your experience a memorable one: 727-582-2117 and review our Group & Bus Instructions.
Leashed pets are welcome at any time, but again we encourage you to attend on weeknights.

COOKIES WITH SANTA
2022-12-17 17:30 - 20:30, 2022-12-16 17:30 - 20:30 | Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 3130 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33712, United States
Decorate gingerbread cookies, meet Santa and his elves, and purchase small gifts (all items $5 and under) for friends and family!
Free gift wrapping provided.
Reserve your spot! Space is limited for this event.
Must register online.

Rye Preserve Tour
2022-12-17 09:00 - 11:00 | Rye Preserve, 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish, FL, 34219, United States
Tour Rye Preserve with a Master Gardener!
Take a hike through upland habitats along the beautiful Rye Preserve and learn about Florida’s native plants, natural history, and early settlement of the area.
Suitable for all ages.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Weedon Walkabout
2022-12-17 09:00 - 11:00, 2022-12-10 09:00 - 11:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Join us for a guided tour of the trails and boardwalks of the Weedon Island Preserve.

This docent-led walk will visit the mangrove and upland ecosystems of the Weedon Island Preserve, including a visit to the Preserve’s 45 ft. tall Observation Tower for a 360 degree view of the area. Learn about the coastal environment, native wildlife, and early history of the Preserve. This tour is recommended for adults and youth ages 6 and up.
Proceeds from this program go to the Friends of Weedon Island. The Friends support the Weedon Island Preserve through education, preservation and protection of its habitats, ecology, and cultural history. Become a Friend today!
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Rye Preserve Tour
2022-12-17 09:00 - 11:00 | Rye Preserve, 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish, FL, 34219, United States
Join the Manatee County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers on an educational stroll.

Take a hike through upland habitats along the beautiful Rye Branch and learn about Florida’s native plants, natural history, and early settlement of the area.
Suitable for all ages.
Please email special accommodation requests to katiebg@ufl.edu at least 10 days prior to the event.
Register HERE!

Science Sprouts
2022-12-17 09:00 - 10:00, 2022-12-10 09:00 - 10:00 | Bishop Museum of Science ﻿and Nature, 201 10th St. West, Bradenton, FL, 34205, United States
Budding scientists ages 2-5 can bring their favorite grown-up to explore and discover a variety of science and nature topics in the Mosaic Backyard Universe. The program sparks kids’ natural curiosity using imaginative play, crafts, stories, songs and more! Please note: This program does not include Museum admission.

On Saturday, June 4, explore “In the Deep Ocean”
On Saturday, June 11, explore “Swirly Whirly Snails”
On Saturday, June 18, explore “Manatee Mischief”
On Saturday, June 25, explore “Busy Buzzin’ Bees”
When/Where: 9-10am every Saturday in the Mosaic Backyard Universe
Cost: $12 per child for members of the Discovery Society; $15 per child for all others. (Includes one adult per child.)
Advance reservations required. Attendance limited to 12 children.

Register now
The Bishop follows the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels guidelines. Please visit www.CDC.gov to see the current Manatee County Community Level before visiting. Masks must be worn indoors when Community Levels are high.

Youth Nest Box Building Workshop
2022-12-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Join us for an in-person workshop to “make and take” a nest box for your yard!

Help our local cavity nesters! We will be building a nest box for a Carolina wren, which is a year-round resident in Pinellas County.
In this youth workshop you will learn about the nesting habits of Carolina wrens, and other fun facts about this species! Kids (alongside their parent) will build a wren nest box and then have the opportunity to decorate their nest box.
This youth program is geared toward ages 6 to 12. Registration is required. Space is limited and this program will cap at 20 participants. Please register just your child (children). This is not a drop-off program.
Registration is required. Presented by Lara Milligan, Pinellas County Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Additional Notes: This program will be held in our auditorium. It takes about 10 minutes to drive from the preserve entrance (Keystone Rd.) to the parking lot, and there is a 2-5 minute walk from the parking lot to the auditorium. Follow signs to the auditorium.
Refunds will not be granted if you cannot install the nest box in your desired location.
If you are attending with friends or family and would like to team up and build one nest box between the group, please only purchase ONE ticket.

Oyster Reef Ball Construction
2022-12-16 09:00 - 12:00, 2022-12-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Tampa Bay Watch Marine & Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL, 33715, United States
Join us at the Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde to help build oyster reef balls!
This task involves pouring marine-friendly concrete into a fiberglass mold to create oyster reef balls, then taking apart the molds when dry. The reef balls will be installed at a future date to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion while creating habitat similar to natural oyster communities found along shoreline areas throughout Tampa Bay.
Click here to visit our webpage to learn more about reef balls.
Click here to register for this project date.

Oyster shell project at Lassing Park
2022-12-15 09:00 - 12:00, 2022-12-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Lassing Park, 2042 Beach Dr SE, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
We will be installing an oyster shell bar which involves shoveling fossilized shell into mesh bags and transporting the bags to lay on the shoreline. This effort will help restore lost habitat by promoting new oyster growth, ultimately improving water quality and providing food sources and habitat for many species.
To learn more and watch a video of the process, visit https://tampabaywatch.org/restoration/oyster-communities/oyster-shell-bags/.

Click here to register for this project.

Reptile Wednesdays with Dennis!
2022-12-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
Dennis is the president of the Suncoast Herpetological Society, Inc. and spends his Wednesdays at Moccasin Lake Nature Park educating guests about reptiles. Come with your questions!
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Cure Your Crabbiness: Explore Weedon’s World of Crabs
2022-12-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Join us to learn more about the types of crabs that we find at Weedon Island and why mangroves are important for these special animals.

Have you ever wanted to know more about the small crabs climbing on the mangrove trees along the boardwalk? Join us to learn more about the types of crabs that we find at Weedon Island and why mangroves are important for these special animals.
This program will include a presentation inside the Cultural and Natural History Center, followed by a short walk along the boardwalk to see these crabs up close.
This program will be led by Olivia Blondheim, a Biological Oceanography doctoral student at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science. Her research explores the function of species at the transition zones between habitats. She is interested in the role of mangrove crabs in marine ecosystems and whether that role changes across mangrove and salt marsh habitats.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this class you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Prior to ten (10) working days before the class, please submit your request to accommodations@pinellascounty.org and cc weedonisland@pinellas.gov. In your request, please be sure to include the date and title of the program you need accommodations for, indicate that the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center is the program host, and include what specific accommodations you will need.

Holiday Community Concert
2022-12-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
Featuring several local performance groups! Food truck will be onsite.
For questions about tickets, please contact:
OperaForEarth@gmail.com

Florida's Carnivorous Plants
2022-12-10 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Learn about Florida’s amazing carnivorous plants!

Learn about Florida’s endemic carnivorous plants! Florida has dozens of native species of carnivorous plants––more than any other state in the United States—including sundews, butterworts, bladderworts, and pitcher plants. These plants use appealing scents, leaves, and sticky fluids to trap and imprison insects. Digestive fluids then absorb the prey giving the plant its nutrients. Learn the evolution, people, and natural history of this area to discover why Florida is a hotspot of carnivorous plants.

Presented by Kenny Coogan, author of the new book “Florida’s Carnivorous Plants”.
Kenny’s book “Florida’s Carnivorous Plants” and a selection of carnivorous plants will be available for purchase after the talk!
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

HUKYU BONSAI SOCIETY MEETING
2022-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
Learn the art and techniques of Bonsai.
www.facebook.com/hukyubonsaisociety.

DeSoto/Riverview Pointe Preserve Tour
2022-12-10 09:00 - 11:00 | Riverview Pointe Preserve, Bradenton, FL, United States
Join the Manatee County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers on an educational stroll.

Casually stroll through the beautiful Riverview Pointe Preserve and learn about Florida’s native plants and inhabitants of a coastal environment.
Suitable for all ages.
Tour begins in the parking area of DeSoto National Memorial Park and enters into Riverview Pointe Preserve.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Please email special accommodation requests to katiebg@ufl.edu at least 10 days prior to the event.

Wild Wings Bird Hike
2022-12-10 08:00 - 09:30 | Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, United States
Wild Wings –
Birds of Brooker Hike
Have you wondered what bird is singing in your backyard? Do you see and hear birds but don’t know who they are? If so, join us for a Beginning Bird Hike to learn how to identify the county’s common birds as we meander along a one-mile trail.
All ages are welcome. Children under the ages of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and those younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.
Guided Hike Information
Volunteer Hike Guides will meet participants outside the Exhibit Hall 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. We strongly suggest all hikers visit the restroom (located in the Classroom Building) before we begin as there are no facilities along the trail.

Guided hikes are under a mile in length, much of which is on unimproved, uneven sandy trails.
Hikes take about two (2) hours to complete.
Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, sneakers or boots.
Insect repellent (bug spray) is strongly recommended in summer months.
Bring plenty of drinking water and a snack.
A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also recommended.
Pets are not permitted.
No smoking is allowed.
Trained volunteers will guide the hike.

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wild-wings-birds-of-brooker-hike-tickets-53439990450?mc_cid=a4dbfdde6b&mc_eid=1cbba2e07b

Currents & Crossroads: A Vision for Florida's Ocean & Coasts
2022-12-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
The Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department present the annual Natural History Speaker Series (NHSS), a program that offers fascinating presentations on the natural and cultural history of Florida by individuals who are authorities in their fields.

Winter Wonderland Night
2022-12-09 18:00 - 22:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Parents, enjoy an evening out while your kids enjoy winter celebrations including games, crafts, hot chocolate, and a short night hike! Please bring a nature themed gift for a gift swap. Kids can come in their favorite winter pajamas and will be served a pizza dinner.
Ages 6-12
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
