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Brandon/ Winthrop

December 2024 Volume 19, Issue 12

Nov. 15 – Jan. 5

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CELEBRATING 22 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS

THE 32ND BRANDON SEAFOOD ANNUAL HIKING SPREE FEATURES 22 TRAILS ACROSS 21 PARKS FESTIVAL BRINGS FRESH By Kathy L. Collins CATCHES AND ENTERTAINMENT Hillsborough Counleast eight of the By Lily Belcher

There will be a juggler, face painting and other activities as well. In addition to tickets for the event, guests 21 and older also can buy an all-you-candrink beer armband. The beer is being provided by Bootleggers Brewing Company, but other wine and coffee vendors will have drinks for guests as well. The event is sponsored by Rivard Buick GMC and the designated kids’ zone, which will feature a bounce house, is sponsored by Reed & Reed. “It’s really a casual time built for families just to come out and have a good day,” Norgard said. Tickets for adults can be purchased in advance for $35 and are $40 at the door. Beer armbands are $10. Children under 12 years old can get in for $1 or a donated canned good. Tickets for children 1217 years old are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. The annual Brandon Seafood Festival will take place January 18 from 11 a.m.3 p.m. at Rotary’s Camp Florida, located off Lakewood Drive at 1915 Camp Florida Rd. in Brandon. For more information about the event, visit https://brandon86rotary.com/brandonseafoodfestival/.

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The 32nd annual Brandon Seafood Festival will bring a selection of fresh catches and entertainment to the area on January 18, 2025. But, past the all-you-can-eat seafood, the festival will garner awareness for Rotary’s Camp Florida and raise money for several local and international charities. Rotary’s Camp Florida offers a space for those with disabilities to learn and play in a safe environment. The camp was damaged in Hurricane Milton, which prompted the festival to be delayed from its original date in November, Chad Norgard said. He said the delay gave time to restore the camp and avoid the busyness of the holiday season. “It’s just been overwhelming to see the support for the camp, and that’s one of the reasons why we do this seafood festival,” he said. In addition to the camp, the festival will also support Everyday Blessings Inc., The SPARK Initiative and Family Promise. While supporting these events, guests can dine on a variety of fish, crab and shrimp. For those who do not want seafood, burgers and hot dogs will be available with a selection of sides.

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ty’s annual Hiking 22 trails between Spree is back. Despite now and the end impacts to parks and of April, you can preserves by Hurriearn a limited-edicanes Helene and Miltion patch, a meton, the Hiking Spree dallion for a walkopened on December ing stick or a pet 1. The Hiking Spree bandana. One of will run through April the hikes can be 30, 2025, which is on a trail of your one month later than choice off the list. when it normally ends. Residents are This year’s theme is encouraged to Emerge and Explore. bring their pets so Regardless, the anlong as they are nual Hiking Spree is on leashes during a great way to get the hikes. Particiout and explore all of pants are also enthe beautiful parks, couraged to take preserves and recphotos and post reational areas that them with the Explore nature during Hillsborough County’s Hillsborough County hashtag #TakeAannual Hiking Spree through April 30. has to offer. You can HikeHC. find information on the HikMany of the trails are ing Spree and complete your located within the Greater registration to participate by Brandon area. These invisiting www.hcfl.gov/hikclude neighborhood parks, ingspree. such as Clayton Park on The annual Hiking Spree Vonderburg Drive and Dobegan in 2016 as a way to ver District Park in Dover. encourage people to exerYou can select from 12 cise, explore the outdoors conservation parks, and and experience nature. The these include Alderman’s environmentally diverse sites Ford in Lithia, Edward Meare spread throughout the county and dard Park in Plant City and Rhodine Scrub range from neighborhood parks to large Nature Preserve in Riverview. There are preserves with multiple habitats. The three Florida state parks and other trails, trails are designed to offer something for including McIntosh Preserve in Plant City. residents of any age or ability, with hikes I personally have participated several rated easy, moderate or strenuous. The times and plan to participate this year. lengths of the trails range from several Come join me and have fun getting outmiles to less than a mile, and a number of side and enjoy nature. trails are perfect for wheelchair users or Please visit www.hcfl.gov/hikingspree those with other accessibility needs. to register and participate. The Spree is timed to take advantage of the cooler, drier weather and to coincide with prime bird-watching season. The Hiking Spree has grown in popularity MOSI DIGITAL DOME ......... .............PG 3 each year and now draws thousands of CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE........PG 6 participants. DONOVAN’S MEATERY ...................PG 11 The 2024-25 Hiking Spree trail list feaCOMPLETE KETAMINE ...... ...........PG 17 tures 22 trails at 21 parks and preserves throughout the county. If you hike at EYE ON BUSINESS...........................PG 30

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Cirque Dreams Holidaze is coming to the Straz Center, December 26-27! World-renowned ensemble of aerial circus acts, sleight-of-hand jugglers, breath-catching acrobatics, and much more For more information, visit www.cirquedreams.com. Read the full article on page 6.