Issue #256: Holiday Fun: Krampus Events & Winter Village Return, Plus Mushroom Foraging and Christmas Tree Spots

11/28/2024

Author

Ted Grellner
28 Nov

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GOOD MORNING

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

 
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In this issue of

NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar

Local News

— Tampa Bay Embraces the Holiday Spirit of Krampus with Two December Events

— Winter Village Brings Holiday Magic Back to Curtis Hixon Park

Of Interest

— Foraging for Wild Mushrooms in Florida: A Guide with Steven Landseadel

— Where to Find Your Perfect Christmas Tree in Tampa: 2024 Guide



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Tampa Bay Embraces the Holiday Spirit of Krampus with Two December Events

see image of Krampus in source article

Tampa and Pinellas Park are putting a spooky spin on the holidays with events celebrating Krampus, the mythical German figure known for punishing naughty children.

In Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood, the Independent Bar and Café will host “Krampusnacht” on Monday, Dec. 4. This festive evening will include a holiday gift market, live cello music by award-winning musician Melissa Grady, and seasonal drinks like holiday ales and mulled wine. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., offering a unique way to welcome the holiday season.

For those who can't get enough of the half-goat, half-demon figure, the German American Society of Pinellas County is hosting its own Krampus Market on Saturday, Dec. 7. The event promises even more Krampus-themed fun, including vendors and cultural festivities.

Both events are free to attend,

Winter Village Brings Holiday Magic Back to Curtis Hixon Park

Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa has transformed into a festive Winter Village, running now through January 5. This seasonal wonderland offers ice skating, shopping, and dazzling holiday decorations.

New for 2024, the Tampa Bay Ice Show features skilled skaters in an exciting 10-minute performance on select nights.

Themed nights add to the fun:

  • Thunderstruck Thursdays: Celebrate Tampa Bay Lightning pride with themed food, drinks, and Bolts spirit.

  • Silent Disco Fridays: Dance under the stars with headphones every Friday, 6–9 p.m. (first-come, first-served).

Back by popular demand, street curling is available Wednesday through Sunday.

For a whimsical trip, hop aboard the Winter Village Express on select Sundays. This one-hour TECO Line Streetcar ride includes holiday singalongs, trivia, milk and cookies, and surprises. Tickets went on sale November 1, with rides offered November 24 and December 1, 8, 15, and 22.

Foraging for Wild Mushrooms in Florida: A Guide with Steven Landseadel

Steven Landseadel, founder of IGAS Tours, has turned his lifelong fascination with mushrooms into a unique career, leading guided foraging tours across Florida and the East Coast. Raised in Pasco County, Landseadel’s childhood adventures through cow pastures led to an early, though unintended, career supplying psychedelic mushrooms to local teens. Decades later, his focus has shifted to legal, edible varieties.

On a recent sunny morning at McKethan Lake in the Withlacoochee State Forest, Landseadel guided 25 participants on a $35 Pre-Thanksgiving Mushroom Foray. Attendees, ranging from 24 to 66 years old, explored the woods, marveling at the diversity of fungi, from vibrant “chicken of the woods” to bristly “squirrel carpets.”

Landseadel’s tours teach guests how to identify edible mushrooms while emphasizing safety. Poisonous species, like the lethal "destroying angel," serve as a cautionary tale.

For information on future tours, visit his website or Facebook page, IGAS Tours.

Where to Find Your Perfect Christmas Tree in Tampa: 2024 Guide

Here are some popular spots in and around Tampa offering pre-cut Christmas trees:

  • Dave’s Christmas Tree Lot: 106 E. Lumsden Road, Brandon. A portion of proceeds supports local PTAs. Open Mon-Thu (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.), Fri-Sat (9 a.m. - 9 p.m.), Sun (9 a.m. - 8 p.m.).

  • Great Lakes Christmas Tree Farms: 3601 W. Bearrs Ave., Tampa. Open daily, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

  • Tampa Bay Farmers Market: 10001 North Armenia Ave., Tampa. Open Mon-Sat (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.), Sun (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.).

Big-box retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s also carry fresh trees; check with your nearest location for availability.

Live Christmas trees cost around $13 per foot, meaning a 7-foot tree could cost about $90. Despite recent drought impacts on tree farms, particularly in the Northeast, Tampa residents should still find plenty of options this season.

Acapulco Sunset - Thanksgiving ©2024 Ted Grellner

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