Issue #516: 11 Must-See Tampa Bay Holiday Events | Drive a Giant Hot Dog? | Giant Duck Hits Clearwater | Rays Sign Steven Matz

12/9/2025

Author

Ted Grellner
09 Dec

Keep your finger on the Pulse!

GOOD MORNING

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

 
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar 

Please post events of interest to our NT|WC Live Events Calendar; its easy to do.

Local News

— Tampa Bay's 11 Must-See Holiday Events This December

OMG!

— Your Dream Job? Drive a Giant Hot Dog Across America

— Clearwater Gets Quacky with the World's Largest Duck

Sports

— Rays Land Steven Matz After Career-Best Relief Year

Our NT|WC Live Events Calendar:


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Tampa Bay's 11 Must-See Holiday Events
This December

Looking for ways to celebrate the season? Here are 11 festive events across Tampa Bay perfect for families, visitors, and holiday lovers alike.

ZooTampa’s Christmas in the Wild (select nights through Dec. 30) features animal encounters and Santa sightings.
Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park offers ice skating and local shopping through Jan. 4.
Busch Gardens Christmas Town runs through Jan. 5 with dazzling lights and live shows.
Tampa Bay Festival of Lights presents a nearly 2-mile drive-thru display in Dover.
Don’t miss Santa Fest and Tree Lighting on Dec. 6 at Curtis Hixon.
LEGOLAND, Largo Central Park, and The Florida Aquarium also host immersive holiday displays.
For a unique view, ride the Coachman Park Ferris Wheel in Clearwater.
Finish strong with holiday boat parades lighting up Tampa Bay from Dec. 12-20.

Festivities span from Wesley Chapel to Indian Rocks Beach—perfect for creating joyful memories.

Read More: wusf.org — see article for links

Your Dream Job? Drive a Giant Hot Dog
Across America

FBOscar Mayer is now hiring “Hotdoggers” to drive the iconic 27-foot-long Wienermobile across the country in a year-long, full-time, paid role.

Open to recent college graduates, the position blends marketing, public relations, and travel, as drivers will visit over 30 states, attend hundreds of events, and act as brand ambassadors.

Twelve applicants will be selected to represent the multi-billion-dollar Kraft Heinz brand. In addition to event appearances, Hotdoggers create original social media content and document their travels.

Applications are open through Jan. 31 via the Kraft Heinz Careers page.

Why it matters:
The Hotdogger Program, launched in 1988, aims to foster creativity, innovation, and leadership. The Wienermobile, first introduced in 1936, remains a beloved pop culture symbol that’s toured globally and appeared in TV and film.

Clearwater Gets Quacky with the World's
Largest Duck

Clearwater's Coachman Park will host the World’s Largest Rubber Duck, also known as “Mama Duck,” from Jan. 9 to Jan. 26. Standing at a towering 61 feet, Mama Duck will make appearances at various community events throughout her visit.

Her 10-foot duckling, “Timmy,” is already making rounds at locations like Clearwater Countryside Library and Coachman Park now through early January.

Event highlights include:

  • Jeep Photo Op (Jan. 9) – $15 for a 5-minute session

  • Market Marie (Jan. 10) – local artisans, music, and family fun

  • Duck Dash 5K (Jan. 11) – a duck-themed race

  • Birthday Bash (Jan. 17) – live kids’ concerts, crafts, and a petting zoo

  • Outdoor Movie Night (Jan. 23)

  • Duck ’n’ Drive Jeep Invasion (Jan. 24)

The installation is sponsored by local businesses and aims to bring families, tourists, and duck fans together for photo ops, fun, and festivities.

Read More: baynews9.com — be sure to check out events & photos!

Here’s an astonishing and little-known fact about rubber ducks:

In 1992, nearly 29,000 rubber ducks were accidentally released into the Pacific Ocean—and they’ve been helping scientists study ocean currents ever since.

Known as the Friendly Floatees, these bath toys fell overboard from a cargo ship during a storm. Over the decades, some have traveled thousands of miles—reaching places like Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, and even the Arctic ice.

Oceanographers began tracking their movements to better understand patterns of ocean drift, gyres, and plastic pollution, making these humble rubber ducks unlikely heroes of ocean science.

So, that cute bath toy? It might be part of one of the longest-running accidental ocean experiments in history.

Rays Land Steven Matz After Career-Best Relief Year

The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly finalizing a two-year deal with free-agent left-hander Steven Matz, per MLB insider Mark Feinsand. The agreement is pending a physical and has not yet been confirmed by the team.

Matz, 34, enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign after transitioning fully to the bullpen. He posted a 3.05 ERA over 53 appearances, including a 2.08 ERA in 21 games with Boston following a midseason trade from St. Louis.

The former starter made just two starts in 2025, relying on a sinker-heavy mix and improved command. His walk rate dropped to 3.6%, fourth-best among MLB relievers (min. 50 IP), and he limited hard contact effectively.

Matz’s standout pitch: a curveball that held hitters to a .197 average, complemented by a deceptive changeup and occasional slider.

This move could bolster Tampa Bay’s bullpen depth, giving the club a reliable lefty arm with starter-level experience.

30+ Free Holiday Events in Tampa Bay for a Festive Date

Source: tampabaydatenightguide.com

Reader Comments

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