Theme Park Events
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| May 23rd to September 7th |
SeaWorld continue their summertime SeaWorld AfterDark entertainment with Shamu Rocks, the high energy Shamu show/rock n roll concert plus Shamu Rocks Dinner Buffet, the night time Bayside Ski Jam with stunt kites and fireworks, Mistify fireworks, laser and water show and Sea Lions Tonite where Clyde and Seemore plus friends parody other SeaWorld shows (www.seaworld.com). |
| June 5th to August 15th |
At Adventure Island in Tampa, they are celebrating Island Nights every Friday and Saturday evening from 5 pm to 9 pm with music, food and fun from Aruba to Cuba and Key West to the Caribbean (www.adventureisland.com). |
| June 6th to August 16th |
Next door, Busch Gardens are also celebrating with their Summer Nights with extended opening hours (until 9 pm Sundays to Thursdays and until 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays), entertainment and festive food and drink (www.buschgardens.com). |
| June 15th to August 9th |
The Sounds Like Summer Concert Series comes to an end in the open-air America Gardens Theatre at Epcot with a number of tribute bands. Performing from July 27 to August 2 is 2U (U2) and finally Petty Theft (Tom Petty) August 3 to 9. |
| June 29th onwards |
The The Pirates League opens in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom and is open to all ages. You get to dress up as a pirate with beards, eye patches, scarves, scars, earrings and gold teeth before venturing out into Adventureland in search of treasures. Package prices range from $49.95 plus tax to $124.95 plus tax (disneyworld.disney.go.com). |
| early July to November 30 |
The former Virgin Megastore at Downtown Disney has become the temporary home of DIANA–The People's Princess exhibit presented by The People’s Princess Charitable Foundation, Inc. and features one of the largest collections of royal dresses and rare artifacts from the late Princess Diana.
Tickets are $14.50 (adults) and $5.00 (children ages 3-9). Opening hours are 11 am to 11 pm daily.
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Sporting Events
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| late July to August 19th |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Training Camp have abandoned Disney's Wide World of Sports and are now staying in Tampa at One Buccaneer Place and the Raymond James Stadium for their pre-season training (www.buccaneers.com). |
| 6th to 9th |
The 3rd Annual Wreckfest takes place at Key Largo with wreck diving, training, seminars and VIP presentations. Some of the dives on offer include the USCG Cutter Duane, LSD-32 Spiegel Grove, USCG Cutter Bibb, The Queen of Nassau, The Northern Light, The Doc DeMilly, Hugos April Fool and Whistle Buoy Wreck (www.silentworldkeylargo.com). |
| 11th to 15th |
The 67th Annual GOODE Water Ski National Championships take place this year at Okeeheelee Park, West Palm Beach. There are expected to be around 700 adult and 200 youth participants with ages ranging from 6 to over 80 (www.usawaterski.org). |
Concerts
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| various dates |
At The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, they continue their 24th annual SummerJazz on the Gulf concert series with Women’s Blues Revue on August 22 and Big Night Out on September 19 (www.naplesbeachhotel.com). |
| various dates |
This month at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, there are a variety of concerts including the Blazed And Confused Tour With Slightly Stoopid on August 2, Jackson Browne on August 7, Counting Crows on August 14, Judas Priest And Whitesnake on August 15, Crosby, Stills and Nash on August 23 and O.A.R on August 28 (www.staugustine.com). |
| 22nd |
Bok Tower hosts the 8th Annual Live at the Gardens Summer Music Series with the Repeatles playing nostalgic 50s and 60s music from the likes of Buddy Holly, Elvis, the Everly Brothers, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles plus Elvis impersonator Dwight Icenhower (www.boksanctuary.org). |
Car, Motorcycle and Boat Shows
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| 12th to 16th |
The 17th annual Emerald Coast Boat Week is a week long series of fun events in Fort Walton Beach. It kicks off with the Helen Back Golf Tournament and includes a ski show, Texas Hold'em tournament and Emerald Coast Poker Run before ending with the world's largest Boat Party on Crab Island (www.emeraldcoastpokerrun.com). |
Airshows and Rocket Launches
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| various dates |
The US Navy Blue Angels will be continuing their 2009 season practice sessions at their home base at the Pensacola Naval Air Station and admittance is free. Provisional dates are August 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 25 and 26 with autograph signings on August 12, 19 and 26 www.navalaviationmuseum.org). |
| 17th |
A United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket is due to launch the eighth NAVSTAR GPS Block 2R satellite. |
| 25th |
The Space Shuttle Discovery is set to launch on the 30th mission to the International Space Station to deliver the Multi-PurposeLogistics Module (MPLM), Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier (LMC), Three crew quarters, galley, second treadmill (TVIS2) and Crew Health Care System 2 (CHeCS 2).
Launch time is provisionally set for 1:35 am EDT from launch pad LC-39A. Read more on all launches....
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| late August |
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket is due to launch a classified satellite for the U.S. government. The mission is known by the acronym PAN. |
County Fairs & Festivals
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| 1st |
Have you ever wondered what possum ice cream tasted like? This year, the 40th Annual Wassau Possum Festival features Possum King and Queen contests, parades, possum stew plus live music from Johnna Kay Pierce, Dixie Land Grass and Royal City (www.wausaupossumfestival.com). |
| 7th to 9th |
The annual Key West Lobsterfest features locally caught lobster and Key West Pink Shrimp with live music from Techno Dread, Cool Breeze, Bubba System and Alphonse. The festivities start with the Duval Crawl on the Friday night and end with the Lobster Brunch on Sunday at the DibleTree Grand Key Resort (www.keywestlobsterfest.com). |
Museums, Parks & Zoos
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| 1st |
The 14th annual WaZoo takes place at Lowry Zoo in Tampa between 7:30 and 10:30 pm. It is billed as one of the top 10 greatest Beer Festivals in the USA with live music, wine, over 200 beers from around the world and food sampling from local Bay Area restaurants www.lowryparkzoo.com). |
| 22nd to 31st |
The annual Alligator Egg Hatching Fest takes place at the Gatorama alligator farm and attraction in Palmdale, west of Lake Okeechobee where you can watch thousands of baby alligators hatching from their nests (www.gatorama.com). |
Other Events
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| 15th |
The 9th Annual Grape Stomp & Music Fest takes place at Henscratch Farms in Lake Placid between 10 am and 2 pm. There is live entertainment by The California Toe Jam Band plus a walking tour, complimentary cheese and wine tasting and all-you-can-eat grapes. You can help crush over 2 tons of grapes for this year's "Foot Stomped Vintage" which can then be purchased in November complete with your picture on the label (www.henscratchfarms.com). |
| 22nd to 23rd |
The Annual August Stomp is held at Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards in Clermont between 10 am and 5 pm. There is live music from local musicians, grape stomping competitions, complimentary Winery tours and tasting plus food (www.lakeridgewinery.com). |
