By Nanette Wiser
BOAT PARADES Decorate your boat or throw a holiday viewing party for the 57th Annual Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Holiday Boat Parade which begins at the American Legion Post 273 at 6:30pm, travels all the finger canals through the city, and ends at John’s Pass at approx. 9:45/10pm. Watch it from R.O.C. Park, also host to the Merry Market 2-8pm with 150 vendors and live music while enjoying live music. Also 12/9 is the Clearwater Yacht Club’s 49th Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade. On 12/17 Indian Rocks Beach hosts their annual boat parade.
CHOPPER POWER On 11/4 @ 5pm, OCC Road House and The Magazine Lifestyle are hosting the first-ever “Salute to American Heroes” celebrity benefit concert for veterans with Rita Cosby, Emmy-winning television host and daughter of a WWII POW. Musical performers include Grammy-nominated Jimmie Allen and USA national recording artist Dave Bray. Also appearing are Paul Teutul Sr. of Orange County Choppers, and Nate Boyer, Green Beret, former NFL player and actor. The event will be filmed and later broadcast on Discovery Channel and other national networks. A tribute to humanitarians as well as an awards ceremony honoring two American heroes will also take place. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit Operation Healing Heroes and Oscar Mike. OCC Bikefest revs up 11/16-19 with concerts (20 bands), Athletes for Hearts Skyway Bridge Ride, vendor showcase and more. Headliner bands: 11/16 The Iron Maidens w/Special Guest Liliac, 11/17 Queensryche w/Special Guest Texas Hippie Coalition, 11/18 Lead Singer Tommy Decarlo w/Special Guest Beyond Frontiers. www.SaintPeteBikeFest.com
SPORTING GIFTS Fishing or golf gear, pickleball lessons, sports tickets and memberships (TopGolf, Freedom Boat Rentals) might thrill your significant other. How about a fishing excursion from Dolphin Landing, a parasail experience from Gulf Beach hotels, kayaking tours or tickets for the Innisbrook Resort’s annual PGA golf tournament? Or get creative and start a walking or biking club, a weekly Zumba meet-up and Saturday paddleboarding excursion for your friends’ work out and catch up. Motion is lotion and tonic for the mind/body/spirit. Just do it!