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Halloween Parade Starts Holiday Season

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: November 5, 2008

BRANDON - They just kept coming.

Every time Center Place executive director Darcy D'Onofrio expected the Halloween Horribles parade to end, another horde of Hulks, Hannah Montanas and hippies would turn the corner.

Lured by picture-perfect weather and the promise of Snickers bars and Smarties doled out by representatives of 78 civic organizations and businesses, an estimated 800 costumed children mobbed Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association on Oct. 26 for the 11th annual Halloween Horribles parade.

"We distributed 700 free tickets to children 10 and under," D'Onofrio said. "But older siblings and siblings in strollers came along, making it more like 800 kids. And when you include all the adults, there were about 2,000 people there. So, instead of taking an hour, the parade lasted more like two hours. It seemed to go on forever."

D'Onofrio isn't complaining, though.

"It was a huge success," she said. "Everyone really enjoys it. And it's a great way to kick off the holiday season at Center Place."

The season is well under way at the nonprofit arts center at 619 Vonderburg Drive, where the board of directors received an early Christmas gift.

In contrast to last year, when the Arts Council of Hillsborough County only partially funded Center Place's request for a grant, this year the council gave Center Place nearly the full amount requested, $22,161.

The money is used to enable lower-income students to attend children's theater productions at Center Place throughout the year.

Center Place kicks off the holiday season Thursday with its annual open house at Pat's Corner gift shop from 4 to 7 p.m.

The open house will let shoppers to get a jump on their Christmas shopping with 25 percent off shop merchandise, which includes jewelry, purses and handmade gifts. All proceeds go to Center Place children's programs and scholarships.

The open house will be followed by a first-time event, Santa's Holiday Workshop, Nov. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Children are invited to make six holiday crafts and decorate a dozen cookies. The cost is $5.50 for Center Place members and $6.50 for nonmembers.

Stages Productions will offer its first-ever family dinner theater at Center Place, "The Gift of the Magi," Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. It is the classic story of a husband and wife who are poor and agree not to exchange Christmas gifts, then surprise the audience with their love and generosity. Tickets are $5.50 for members and $6.50 for nonmembers.

Center Place will bring back community traditions, as well, including the annual Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree on Dec. 3. The event is co-sponsored by the Community Roundtable of Greater Brandon, which recently changed its name from the Presidents' Roundtable of Greater Brandon to reflect its membership.

The event will include the lighting of the community tree that floats in the center of Clayton Lake next to Center Place, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus and entertainment by 10 song-and-dance troupes.

The annual Lunch with Santa for children will be Dec. 13.

Capping off the holiday season, Stages Productions will return for the eighth year to present "Santa's Holiday Revue," a fast-paced musical tour of dances, songs and stories from Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other celebrations. Performances will be at 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 19. The cost is $5.50 for members and $6.50 for nonmembers.

For information, call Center Place at (813) 685-8888.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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