Special Community Events

Hands Bay News 9 sponsors a variety of community events throughout our seven-county coverage area.

Join us at these events to meet Bay News 9 on-air personalities.
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Land O' Lakes Swamp Fest

swamp fest Date: Friday, November 6th through Sunday, November 8th

Time: Friday 4PM - Close; Saturday & Sunday 10AM - Close

Location: 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd.

Join us at "Your New Community Festival."

The Land O' Lakes Booster Club puts on this family friendly festival to raise money for the high school sports programs. Bring the family to the Land O' Lakes Community Center for:

Fun
Food
Carnival Rides
Local Talent and more

Admission to the Swamp Fest is free. Armbands for the midway rides can be purchased in advance at several area schools for just $12. Armbands at the event are $20. Have some fun and support Land O' Lakes High School sports programs.

The Chocolate Nutcracker 2009

nutcracker Date: Saturday, December 5th

Time: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Location: Mahaffey Theater

The nutcracker like you've never seen it!

Life Force Cultural Arts Academy presents the 12th annual Chocolate Nutcracker. Tickets are $17, $27 or $37 each. However, groups of 30 or more receive $5 off each ticket.

To purchase tickets call:

Life Force Cultural Arts Academy (727) 216-3519
On Pointe Dancewear (727)895-1111
Sanderlin Center (727) 321-9444

This year's production features special guest Mel Jackson performing as "Uncle Al." Get your tickets now!

Give the Gift that Saves the Day

American Red Cross The needs of our community are greater than ever.

Oftentimes, the Red Cross is the only thing keeping families from becoming homeless.

The good news is that you can help. Take a look at the gift options in the Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog. You can even make a gift in honor of a loved one.

St. Petersburg Times Newspaper in Education Auction

body image The ebuy for Education online auction at sptimes.cmarket.com is now open!

Bidding takes place now through 11:59 p.m. on November 16th.

Don't miss out on the fabulous items such as luxory suite tickets to see the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Rays, vacation getaways, gift baskets and museum and show tickets. See available items.

One hundred percent of proceeds will be used to supply literacy materials to students in Tampa Bay area classrooms. The St. Petersburg Times Newspaper in Education program (NIE) provides more than four-million copies of the Times to teachers at no cost to teachers, students or schools.

Lakeland Christmas Parade

Date: Thursday, December 3rd

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Downtown Lakeland

The Junior League of Greater Lakeland presents the 29th Annual Lakeland Christmas Parade.

This year's theme is "The Festival of Lights." Bring your chairs and blankets and line the streets of downtown Lakeland. You'll see floats, marching bands, horses and more. Be sure to waive at the Bay News 9 float featuring many of the people you see on television.