Organizers of Gulfport’s Annual Gecko Ball have announced the results of public voting for the theme of the 2016 Gecko Ball: “20,000 Geckos Under the Sea!” The Eighth Annual Gecko Ball will be held next year on Saturday, Aug. 27th, 2016, at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, 5500 Shore Blvd S, Gulfport. The Ball will be a celebration of all things on, under and near the sea. The theme will lend itself to a host of maritime-related festivities. The Ball will feature music, dancing, food and drink, a bevy of silent auction items, the popular live auction of artist-created geckos, and much more. For more info, please visit www.facebook.com/geckoball.
The Florida Humanities Council is accepting applications for Community Project Grants that provide support for the planning and implementation of public humanities programs and resources that meet the needs and interests of local communities. Projects may include lecture series and panel discussions, reading and discussion groups, film series, oral history readings and more. Deadline is Friday, Jan. 15th at noon. For more info visit www.stpeteartsalliance.org.
The Florida Orchestra Guild of St. Petersburg will be hosting its Fourth Annual Holiday Tour of Homes and Cocktail Reception Weekend this month! The Cocktail Reception will take place on Friday, Dec. 4th, from 6:30 to 8:30pm. The Holiday Tour of Homes will be held the following day, Saturday, Dec. 5th, from 10am to 4pm. For more info, please call 727-528-6595 or 727-344-5500.
Don’t miss out on Carrie Schneider: Reading Women in the Helen and Dick Minck Gallery of New Media now through Sunday, Jan. 17th at The Museum of Fine Arts, located 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg. Also, make sure to check out John Scott’s I Remember Birmingham in the Lee Malone Gallery now through Sunday, Feb. 28th at the MFA as well. For more info, please call 727-896-2667 or visit www.fine-arts.org.
St. Petersburg Ballet Company will perform The Nutcracker on Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30p, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2p, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7:30p, Sunday, Dec. 6, 3p at Hough Hall at the historic Palladium. Suzanne Pomerantzeff is the director and chief choreographer for this timeless classic returning for its annual, beloved performances at the Palladium. Year in and year out, the St. Petersburg Ballet Company production of The Nutcracker showcases magnificent dancers and future students of world-renowned Juilliard, Boston Conservatory, Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theater, Cirque du Soleil, Lord of the Dance and more. Come enjoy this year’s holiday performance starring tomorrow’s superstars of dance. Reserved seating is $24. Youth, students and seniors: $12. Hough Concert Hall, 253 Fifth Avenue N., St. Petersburg.727.822.3590 www.mypalladium.com
St. Petersburg’s Arts Alliance presents its Third Annual MUSE Benefit for the Arts! This event will celebrate artistic inspiration on Friday, Jan. 29th at 7pm at the Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr N.E. in St. Petersburg. This fundraising benefit for the arts will recognize the breadth and beauty of art and culture in our City of the Arts, and pay tribute to those that continue to inspire and guide St. Petersburg to its standing as an international arts destination. Proceeds will benefit artists, arts education, and arts & cultural organizations through our Arts Alliance programs and services. For more info, please visit www.stpeteartsalliance.org or call 727-518-5142.
The St. Petersburg Opera Guild presents the 50th Annual Silver Bells: “Silver Bells and All That’s Golden” on Friday, Dec. 11th at 11am. This event will take place at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club located at 11 Central Ave in St. Petersburg. Featuring Mark Sforzini and members of St. Petersburg Opera Company with an original program of outstanding singing accompanied by an instrumental ensemble, this is something you do not want to miss! For more info, please call 727-367-2975 or visit www.stpeteoperaguild.org.
Don’t miss the St. Petersburg Opera Company’s main stage performance “Seasonal Sparkle” on Sunday, Dec. 20th and Monday, Dec. 21st at 7:30pm. These performances will take place at The Palladium, located at 253 5th Ave. N in St. Petersburg. Home for the holidays, you’ll enjoy some of your favorite opera arias and holiday hits, seasoned with new arrangements and spiced with surprises. With international soloists, the fabulous 40 piece St. Petersburg Opera Orchestra and the critically acclaimed St. Petersburg Opera Chorus performing. For more info, please call 727-823-2040 or visit www.stpeteopera.org.
The Treasure Island Art Guild is offering a $1,500 Scholarship Award to a high school student going on to study art at a university in 2016. This is a way the Art Guild has of giving back to the community by encouraging art students to prepare for the challenge of university life. Deadline for submitting application and portfolio is March 10th 2016. For more information please visit: www.TreasureIslandArtGuild.org.
How did rural Americans celebrate Christmas before malls, e-cards and twinkly electric lights? Experience a 19th century Florida Christmas in the Country at Mildred W. & Doyle E. Carlton, Jr. Cracker Country at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 Highway 301 North, Tampa. Christmas in the Country will take place Saturday, December 5th from 10am to 4pm. For more info, visit www.crackercountry.org.
Mark your calendars for auditions for St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival’s 2016 Season: CYMBELINE and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM! Auditions are Saturday, December 5th from 11am to 1pm. Audition location is 1000 3rd St S, St. Petersburg, 2nd floor – Harbor Hall on the USFSP Campus. For more info, email stpeteshakesfest@gmail.com to reserve an audition time.