Tampa’s Festival of Lights | Santa’s Village Drive-Thru Winter Wonderland

The Hillsborough County Fairgrounds announces their ALL-NEW holiday light spectacular, opening on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, and running through Sunday, December Tampa Bay’s Festival of Lights and Santa’s Village will envelop guests in an enchanting winter wonderland from their entrance marked by a custom, signature light display on Route 60 to their exit through twinkling trees as they leave the Fairgrounds. One million lights will blanket the entire site.

This year’s event boasts a nearly two-mile drive-thru of continuous light features followed by a festive walking visit to Santa’s Village. Designed to appeal to all ages and backgrounds, the elaborate light displays themed to Florida and traditional winter holidays are complemented by individual presentations representing Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. From hilarious elves wrestling alligators to a giant gingerbread house with candy and cakes to a beautiful Feliz Navidad presentation, each area flows seamlessly along the driving route, ensuring continual guest amazement. Santa’s Village is filled with activities and treats that tempt the young and young-at-heart, such as Santa’s barnyard, holiday movies, visits with Santa and a plenty of social media-worthy photo opportunities.

For the first time, the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds Board of Directors named Fair Manager Suzanne Holcomb the Event Producer, ensuring that the Fairgrounds is wholly transformed into a spectacle of holiday cheer. Holcomb hired Brandano Displays Inc., nationally known for community holiday display events, as the lighting design firm to further elevate the event. Led by Pat Brandano, the team brings 45 years of design experience to the event.

“People who attend this year will feel as if they’ve been dipped in holiday magic while creating family memories. With enchantment in mind, we have added brighter lights, jaw-dropping displays, new activities and music that combine to create an unforgettable immersive experience,” said Holcomb. “We are focused on the guest journey from the time they enter the road leading to the gate to the moment they leave Santa’s Village.”

The immersion begins upon entrance, as vehicles travel through 80 themed display areas with more than 250 larger-than-life pieces. Convenient post-drive-thru parking allows guests to easily walk to Santa’s Village, which will be fully decked out in holiday décor and music, including more than 3000 feet of lights on buildings and 500 animated dripping lights on trees.

Planned Displays
• Pirates of Tampa
• Santa Driving an Airboat
• Colorful Florida Reef with Coral, Fish, Sea Creatures
• Candy Cane Lane
• North Pole Ski Shop
• Frosty’s Ice Cream Truck
• Rudolph’s Bakery
• Penguins Playing
• Others to be announced.

Planned Activities
• Santa’s Barnyard – a clean, interactive display of Santa’s favorite critters, including camel rides
• Family fun games/activities, including face painting
• Holiday movies and shorts
• Holiday treats and delicacies
• Visits with Santa and other social media-friendly photo ops
• Additional activities to be announced.

Tickets for this year’s event are on sale now and cost $25/car, the same price as last year. For more information and tickets, please visit http://www.hillsboroughcountyfair.com.

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Media Contacts: Melinda Hartline, HARTLINE Communications
melinda@hartlinecommunications.com
813-494-7768 (mobile)
Lisa Taylor, Osprey Nest Enterprises
Lisataylorcommunications@gmail.com
703-725-3465 (mobile)

Busch Gardens Summer Nights

For over 100 nights, guests can stay late and safely enjoy world-class coasters, electrifying entertainment throughout the park and more during extended hours at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay beginning May 28. On weekends and select dates, guests can look to the sky for the NEW “Spark! A Nighttime Spectacular”featuring an explosive NEW firework and special effects production, the biggest, brightest show ever!

Sizzling NEW Event Experiences!

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ALL NEW! Ignite the night with NEW “Spark! A Nighttime Spectacular”: For an epic finale to a coaster-filled day of adventure, guests will be drawn to the vibrant energy radiating from a unique new production on the Festival Field. As the most stunning show ever to light the park’s sky, “Spark!” will feature an explosive array of fireworks and exciting effects from dazzling lasers to graceful water elements and dramatic pyrotechnics.  “Spark!” is offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night at 9:15 P.M. from May 28 to September 6, including extra presentations on May 31 for Memorial Day, July 1-4 for Independence Day, and September 6 for Labor Day.

Long before the first burst of “Spark!” covers the night sky, guests can join in the evening excitement with NEW entertainment, music, food and drinks for the park’s biggest and brightest summer celebration:

NEW! Pre-Party on the Festival Pathway: Greeted by glowing lights strung among the trees, live music and more, the stunning visual journey on the Festival Pathway will spark the spirit of summer in everyone.

NEW! Seasonal Summer Menu: Senses will ignite with delicious bursts of flavor from a special menu inspired by backyard summer cookouts with a Busch Gardens twist. Guests will discover a walkable take on grilled classics, decadent sweet treats and more along the festival pathway and new locations throughout the park. Adults 21+ can indulge in NEW glow-in-the-dark summer cocktails or refreshing non-alcoholic drinks that are equally beautiful and satisfying for the perfect end to a summer night.

NEW! DJ Block Parties: As the sun goes down, electric summer vibes amp up on the Festival Field. It’s an open-air dance party with DJs, dancing, and endless energy to build the excitement before “Spark!” ignites the sky.

NEW! Giraffe Bar: Combining a perfect Serengeti sunset, delicious cocktails and savory snacks is the best way to fuel a night of summer fun at the NEW Giraffe Bar located on the second floor of Serengeti Overlook.

ALL NEW! “Cirque Electric” show opens: For awe-inspiring feats that spark the imagination, the dynamic performance of “Cirque Electric”, an ALL-NEW acrobatic stunt show exclusively produced for Busch Gardens, opening May 28 at the Stanleyville Theater. From the daring airborne aerialist to stunning displays of balance and strength and a fascinating act on wheels that cannot be missed, guests will be dazzled by world-class performers during select dates for Summer Nights.

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MORE Fan-favorite summer experiences return this season!

Award-winning “Turn It Up!” ice skating show returns: Starting May 28, the Moroccan Palace Theater will once again be home to “Turn It Up!” the award-winning ice-skating show, including late shows on select dates for Summer Nights.  

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Back by popular demand! Open-air block parties throughout the park: Complete with seasonal eats and electric beats, guests will encounter sizzling summer entertainment throughout the spacious 300-acre park, including:

Cheetah Hunt Plaza: Between dashing through the night sky on Cheetah Hunt and Cobra’s Curse, guests can dance to DJ beats throughout the evening.

Stanleyville Plaza: After taking on the daring launches of Tigris, guests will find refreshing tunes and classic summer flavors with a twist in the shadow of SheiKra.

Party All Summer with a Busch Gardens Annual Pass or Fun Card!

Celebrate all summer long and visit again and again with a Busch Gardens Fun Card, where guests can pay for a day and play all year!* For the price of a single-day ticket to Busch Gardens, the Fun Card allows access throughout the year, so you can visit again and again, and experience great events like Summer Nights, Bier Fest, Christmas Town,  and more! For the best value and benefits, guests can upgrade to a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Annual Pass to enjoy the perks they want most throughout 2021. Annual Pass Members* receive 12 months of visits with the best benefits ever, including FREE parking, up to 6 free guest tickets, and up to 50-percent savings on merchandise, Quick Queue, and more!

For a limited time, guests can take advantage of Busch Gardens’ Memorial Sale and save up to 50% on tickets, Fun Cards and Annual Passes. The deal ends May 31.

Guests can visit www.BuschGardensTampa.com for more information and reservations—and to purchase tickets, Fun Cards, or Annual Passes. Fans can stay up to date with park events, attractions and more by following Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SAFETY:

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees, and the animals in our care.  We have enhanced our already strict health, safety, and cleanliness standards to keep our guests safe. To learn more about our health and safety guidelines visit buschgardens.com/tampa/safety.

About Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure, offering 300 acres of fascinating attractions based on exotic explorations around the world. Busch Gardens is a unique blend of thrilling rides, AZA accredited zoo with thousands of animals representing more than 200 species, and exciting seasonal events all year providing unrivaled experiences for guests of every age. For more information, visit www.BuschGardensTampa.com. Busch Gardens is owned by SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS), a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world.

Florida State Fair Comes to Tampa February 8-19th, 2018

The Florida State Fair is coming to Tampa February 8–19, 2018. Visitors can enjoy shows, rides, agribusiness, “Cracker Country”, equestrian center, FAIR FOOD and more.

Chicken and Waffle Pizza

I haven’t been to a State Fair in… at least 25 years… but THIS is the year I’m coming back. My, albeit fuzzy, memories of it centered around the rides and of course the food. On the menu: all the standards you’ve come to love and expect from a fair (think hot dogs, corn dogs, funnel cakes, strawberry shortcake, kettle corn, elephant ears, cotton candy, BBQ, gyros, giant pretzels, fried Oreos, ) and then some on-no-they-didn’t creations including Chicken and Waffle pizza, Surf N Turf Sundae, Bacon Bomb Sandwich, Doughnut Burgers and Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake Sundaes.

Speaking of food, find out what The Sunshine State provides and be inspired to start a sustainable garden. Located just outside Gate 3, the Florida State Fair Learning Garden will give guests a “taste” of what it takes to grow your own plants. 

I enjoy learning new things and look forward to the interactive displays. Want to see how artisans spin yarn? Caroline Tacker from St. Petersburg will be demonstrating her craft to visitors. Stop by and say hi, and thank her for creating all-natural washcloths for chemo patients who have sensitive skin and cannot use regular washcloths. #KickCancer

My son is excited to ride tons of rides with his ride arm band. He’ll be tilting, whirling, zigging and zagging. (We’d best try the fair food after all that excitement!)

World’s LARGEST WORKING LEGO roller coaster

He’s also going to be glued to the Ninja Experience show. The martial arts experts will wow with their extreme breaking, kicking, and flipping that the whole family will enjoy. There will be three free shows daily at 11:30 am; 3:30 and 6:30 pm (included with ticket price). I know he’ll also go wild over the world’s largest working LEGO roller coaster built by Local Brick Artist James Burrows from The Brick University in Spring Hill.

There are so many things to do and see. Too many to list on this page without writing for hours! Visit the Florida State Fair Facebook page or their website to hear about performances and more. There’s a TON to do. Follow Florida State Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the lowdown on all things Florida State Fair!.

Mooove on over to the Salute to Ag Exhibit. Visit beef cows, dairy cows, chickens and a variety of other animals. Maybe you’ll be able to bottle feed a baby calf, hold a baby chick, or watch a calf being born in the Moo-ternity Ward!

While we’re talking social, visit my Instagram post and comment on my State Fair post for a chance to win 4 tickets! Hurry! One random poster will be selected at random to win Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.

Want more chances to win tickets? And love pizza? Check out the Hungry Howie’s pizza eating contest. While there’s no way I’d win THAT one, it’s going to be fun to watch. One lucky winner will receive pizza for a year!

I was given 8 admission tickets to the Florida State Fair in exchange for this post. All comments, opinions, and little-girl excitement are mine.

 

Don’t miss Kazual’s smooth a capella harmonies on the Sleep Number Stage with FREE shows daily at noon, 2 PM and 5 PM.

Meet Paw Patrol’s Chase & Marshall Feb. 8-11 at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM & 5:00 PM in the northwest corner of Expo Hall.

Catch all the excitement of Circus Hollywood at 12:15, 2:30 and 5:30 pm everyday from Feb. 9-20.

Tampa Lowry Park Zoo Offers Scary Good Fun

Looking for a scary good time? Or perhaps a not-so-scary Halloween scene?! Tampa Lowry Park Zoo offers goulishly good fun for all ages.

ZooBoo presented by floridacentral Credit Union
October 10-12, 17-19, 23-26, 30-31 & Nov. 1 • Opens 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay’s largest family Halloween event continues, with hair-raising haunts, family favorites, and some spooky species. The “Haunts” are on a skull rating system, with 7 skulls being the most terrifying! Both London Frightmare and Tangled Terror are in the “incredibly intense” category and are intended for mature audiences. The all new London Frightmare transports guests back in time to uncover dark secrets in the most haunted city in England while Tangled Terror has mad scientists in search of revenge! Slightly (only slightly) less intense haunts are the Pharoah’s Tomb of Revenge where artifacts come alive as the Curse is unleashed, and Wake the Dead, a graveyard of zombies and ghostly apparitions seeking to keep some of the visitors for themselves.

If this sounds a little too intense for you, have no (ahem) FEAR: There are family options for the more squeamish in the group (Read: SeaWorld Mommy, LOL).

The Little Beasties Bungalow features a not-so-scary world of friendly Halloween scenes and colorful lights. In the Spooky Fun Fair, kids will find bounce houses and skill games like Monster Basketball, Pumpkin Pitch, and more. Zoo rides will also be re-named for the season and are included in price of admission including Batty Bumper Boats, Pumpkin Patch Express (kiddie train), Roarin’ Roller-Ghoster (family coaster), Flyin’ Boo-nanas (kiddie flying bananas ride), Flume of Fear (water flume ride), and Scary-Go-Round (carousel).

Spooky Species is an opportunity to encounter Flying Foxes and Bats, along with Stingray Bay, the select animals on display for this special nighttime event.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $14 for children (ages 3-11). Zoo Pass holders receive discounted admission with valid I.D. at ticket windows. Hours are 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7-10 p.m. on other select nights. Find updates at www.LowryParkZoo.org and follow ZooBoo on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

Tampa Zoo $10 Deal Through September 26

Through September 26, Florida Residents can enjoy a day at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for just $10 per person (ages 3 and up)!

Make a quick escape to Africa, Asia or Australia – no passport required. Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo features 1,000 amazing animals on nearly 60 acres of natural habitats. Guests will find many interactive exhibits and opportunities to get closer to wildlife — feed a giraffe, hold a lorikeet, touch a stingray and more. The Zoo’s Manatee and Aquatic Center expands the traditional boundaries of a zoo, focusing efforts on critical care for injured, sick and orphaned wild manatees. Also at the Zoo: splash ground water play areas, rides and educational shows.

The special September savings offer is valid for daytime admission Sept. 17-26 for Florida residents only (ages three years and up). Adults must present valid state issued identification at ticket windows. Offer may not be combined with any other discounts.

Check out their other upcoming events: http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/calendar_events.php

See “Sea Lion Splash” Before It Slips Away

Time is running out! Now through May 31 visit some of the slipperiest Sea Lions you’ll ever want to meet at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. This limited-time exhibition features coastal sea lions in all their splish-splash-iest glory educating audiences not only about themselves and their habitats along the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, but also on conservation efforts through offering tips on keeping our earth beautiful by recycling.

Just beyond the splash zone, you’ll find a huge inflatable slide (that, ahem, grownups can slide down as well!), a bounce house for smaller guests, a giant sandbox, specialty gift shop, and food kiosk with pool party-inspired food and beverages.

Admission to Sea Lion Splash is $2 per person in addition to Zoo general admission.

We were invited to visit to check out the exhibit and went with another homeschooling family, though we weren’t able to see everything at the zoo in the one day. Tampa and surrounding area residents: This is a great place to get an  annual pass. Not only is Lowry Park Zoo ranked one by Parents Magazine (read more about it here), and accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (which is very important in my book) but there are lots of activities, rides, animals and more that are sure to keep you busy all year long.

We enjoyed using the KidQuest Science Adventures “Wild At the Zoo” workbook on our trip. We did a little research with it on the way, worked on it more at lunch, then reinforced what we learned on the way home. There were lots of cool activities. The kids in our group ranging in age from 1st to 4th grade especially liked working on Animal Profiles. We ran into a Docent in the Lorikeet Landing Aviary by the Asian Gardens and the kids were proud to have already learned what “docent” meant so they could share their knowledge with her, and ask questions in return!

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is a kid-friendly zoo that has lots of activities for visitors young and old alike. We look forward to our next visit to see our favorite animals and meet a few more we missed the first time.

Visit Lowry Park Zoo before the month is out to see Sea Lion Splash!

PS Here’s a special link from Twinkl.com for teachers and homeschool moms of preschool to early-elementary students to help in
combining beginning word blends with Sea Lions!
http://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-w2-20627-initial-letter-blends-on-sealions/alt338943 It’s free to join. Check them out.

Disclosure: I received tickets to visit Sea Lion Splash with no expectation for review or promotion. I did, however, enjoy it so much that I wanted to share my experience. All opinions are my own.

Adventure Island Kicks off Seasonal Opening with Youth Triathalon

The Inaugural Tampa Bay Kids Triathlon kicked off Adventure Island’s Seasonal opening Saturday, March 9. Junior Varsity kids (ages 7 to 10) participated in a 100 m swim, 1.5 mile bike ride, and a half-mile run. Varsity kids (ages 11-15) did a 200m swim, 3 mile ride, followed by a mile-long run.

About 200 participants were up for the challenge, a joint partnership of Busch Gardens’ Adventure Island and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.

Youth athletes sport their medals and celebrate after they completed the inaugural Tampa Bay Kids Triathlon at the seasonal opening of Adventure Island in Tampa.

Photo by Matt Marriott/Busch Gardens

 

Adventure Island is expecting a “season of fun!” offering their best season-long deal in their Adventure Island Weekday Pass.

• Play weekdays all season long – Enjoy unlimited weekday access to Adventure Island during the 2013 season with no blackout dates.
• Valid Mondays through Fridays, March 11 through Sept. 2, 2013
• Purchase at AdventureIsland.com, at the Adventure Island or Busch Gardens front gates or by calling 1-888-800-5447.
• The Adventure Island Weekday Pass is $51 for adults and children.

Head down to their Key West-themed paradise to enjoy thrilling slides and tube rides, including Riptide, Wahoo Run®, Key West Rapids, Runaway Rapids, Everglides®, Calypso Coaster, Aruba Tuba, Caribbean Corkscrew®, Water Moccasin and Gulf Scream. Or just kick back on the beach or in the 17,000-square-foot wave pool, play on professional sand volleyball courts, breeze through the tropical gift shop or let the current sweep you through a half-mile of lush landscapes and tropical waterfalls on the Rambling Bayou.

 

Preschoolers are FREE in 2012 at SeaWorld, Orlando and Busch Gardens

Preschoolers can enjoy all of 2012 for Free!

Children age 5 and younger get into SeaWorld AND Busch Gardens for all of 2012 for free! The Preschool Pass is good for unlimited admission with NO blackout dates the entire year. Every special event is included. Every festival. All of it! Click HERE to sign up.

Our resident preschooler is looking forward to the “Just for Kids!” festival featuring concerts by Lazy Town, Max & Ruby, the Doodlebops and Choo Choo Soul, along with plenty of family-friendly fun and activities on Saturdays, Jan. 14 through Feb. 4.

At Busch Gardens, Sesame Street Safari of Fun is ALWAYS a hit. New this year (and on our to do-list: Iceploration, premiering this February.

“Must-see” preschool attractions at SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld’s littlest guests can enjoy the wildly popular 4-acre play area, Shamu’s Happy Harbor.  It’s a kid’s dream come true, complete with kid-size rides, a 4-story net climb, and a great place for parents to relax while watching their kids have splashes of fun.  The park’s first family-oriented roller coaster, “Shamu Express” can be found here along with other kiddie rides to explore.

Of course no visit to SeaWorld is complete without being splashed by Shamu!  SeaWorld’s newest killer whale show, “One Ocean,” features majestic whales performing spectacular behaviors, including thrilling high-energy leaps, while educating and inspiring kids and their families to make a difference in this world.  And at “Blue Horizons” kids will be awed by graceful dolphins, false killer whales, a rainbow of exotic birds, and entire cast of divers and aerialists.

Kid-favorite “Pets Ahoy!” will leave children giggling as a menagerie of rescued dogs, cats, birds, rats, skunks, pot-belly pigs, and other animals performing a series of uproarious and amazing skits.

While older kids are flying, gliding and soaring on Manta, younger ones can experience the incredible underwater world of tropical fish and rays in the floor-to-ceiling aquariums.  Manta’s underwater viewing area is home to more than 3,000 species. Kids can even “pop up” in the middle of a small aquarium, surrounding themselves with hundreds of fish for some great photos.

At Dolphin Cove, kids (and parents) can touch and feed dolphins and also go below the surface for an underwater view where they just might see a dolphin blowing a bubble or two!

Plus, SeaWorld features a cozy Baby Care Center located at Shamu’s Happy Harbor with top-of-the-line changing facilities, private feeding rooms and pint-sized potties.  This brightly-colored building gives parents the privacy and comfort of a home-away-from home in the middle of all the fun and is a one-stop shop for baby necessities.

Busch Garden loves kids, too!

Don’t forget this awesome new FREE Preschool Pass also includes Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Just a short hour’s drive away, in addition to all the  wondrous animal encounters at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, preschoolers will delight in Sesame Street Safari of Fun, a sunny funny play land, filled with moments that your family can share for the first time — like a first coaster experience aboard Air Grover. And everyday smiles can be repeated time after time —clapping along to original shows, splashing in our expansive water play area and enjoying kid-size rides.

Sign up today!

The Free SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Pass is an exclusive online offer, available at SeaWorldOrlando.com or BuschGardensTampaBay.com. It is exclusively for Florida residents ages 5 and younger and is valid for unlimited admission – with no blackout dates – through Dec. 31, 2012 at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The Preschool Pass does not include parking or Premium Passport discounts or benefits.

After registering through either park’s website, registrants can pick up the Preschool Pass for their child by bringing a printed confirmation and a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate to any ticket window at SeaWorld’s or Busch Gardens’ front gate.

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Sesame Street Star Oscar the Grouch Was the Star of our Party

Oscar the Grouch is not one of the performers in the Busch Gardens Safari of Fun Sunny Day Theater (there’s something in his contract about personal appearances, LOL). That didn’t, however, stop us from making him the STAR of my son’s 4th birthday party.

Our invitations told everyone that, in Oscar’s opinion, the party was his “cup of mud.” And it was. And how could he not be thrilled at all the garbage trucks, disgusting sounding (not tasting!) foods, and trashy games? My son decided Slimey the Worm should be next to Oscar, crawling into the wheel.

When guests arrived, they were greeted by a huge sign that read, “Scram! No, wait. C’mon in for the Party!” with a giant photo of the monster himself. All over the back yard trash cans, garbage trucks, and recycling bins could be seen. Normally I try to clean before company, but whoo hoo… when you have a trash-themed party it’s not nearly as high on the “to do” list. We even had an autographed photo of Oscar he sent to us with his regrets that he could not, alas, attend. (I’m serious about the personal appearances clause!)

On the menu were Messy Meatballs, Dirty Rice, Filthy Fondue, Oscar Green Guacamole, Trashy Tortilla Chips, Sloppy Joes, Green Goopy Salsa Verde, and Can-D. (Get it?! In the trash can… Candy!) The cake was a recycling truck with donuts for wheels, ginger bread men for drivers, Pepperidge Farm Pirouettes as exhaust pipes, and of course chocolate pudding in the back with crumbled up Oreos and graham crackers for dirt with gummy worms.

Oscar The Grouch and Garbage Truck

Due to a sudden downpour, we grabbed the gang and headed in to our resi-dump for craft time. Before the party a friend and I cut out pattern pieces for an Oscar puppet. We pre-cut the green face shape, two eyes with pupils, two one brown unibrow, and a black mouth. Using white craft glue and glue sticks, the kids did their best at approximating facial feature placement. (You’ll find pdf files for each of the parts to the puppet at the bottom of this post.)

Oscar the Grouch Puppets

(Thanks home improvement store for the paint stir stick handles which we glued on before the party so they could dry, and Miranda for your exceptional cutting skills.)

Game time was a lot of fun, as we borrowed some bins from our town’s recycling center. We put three labeled bins on each end of the “playing field.” One of each: metal, plastic, paper. In the center of the yard we had two bins facing each other, one green, one orange. Team orange lined up behind their bin, and green did likewise. These bins had various recycling items inside for team members to sort. (Hint: If you use metal soda cans, cut circles of construction paper slightly smaller than the can top and securely hot glue them on, so as not to have a cutting hazard from the sharp opening.) Each child grabbed an item and ran to the “end zone” where a referee was on hand to point to the right bin, as many of the kids couldn’t read the words yet! After a successful dunk, they ran back and tagged the team bin, and the next child would be off to recycle!

On a side note: We’re on a first-name basis with all of our city environmental services personnel. They are the nicest guys and wave at my son every single day they’re there. We bake cookies for them on special occasions and they couldn’t be kinder to our family. Show some love to your trash men: Baked goods or cold water on a hot day.

We really enjoy having our friends and family at our home for parties, but if we lived closer we would have been tempted to have our party at Busch Gardens this year. You can have a preschool part there! The cost includes admission (after 1 p.m.) and features pizza and cake at a special meet-and-greet. Then the kiddos get to be in VIP seating for the 4 p.m. Sesame Street show. (We didn’t have a show at our party, although I had planned on reading a story and having us sing “Oh I Love Trash!” Alas, the rain put a damper on the entertainment portion of the party.)

The Busch Gardens party cost is $49.95 plus tax which includes invitations, decorations, party favors, package pickup for presents and special treatment with some very special monsters. Guests who are Passport members are $23 per person.

They also have a Birthday add-on for people who are already attending a “Dine with Elmo and Friends” event. (The Dine with Elmo breakfast is $18 for adults and $13 for 3- to 9-year-olds. Lunch with Elmo and the gang will cost $22 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-9). The add-on is a single charge that will provide your party with reserved seating, a cake, and a special birthday wish from the cast during the dine.

(Times, costs, and availability change from time to time, so be sure to visit http://www.buschgardens.com for current information.)

Say, I wonder if an adult can have their birthday party there? I’m over the preschool age—not saying HOW over!—but I STILL love those monsters.

Here are the pdf files you’ll need to create my adorable (IMHO) Oscar the Grouch puppets:

Oscar the Grouch Tongue; Oscar the Grouch Unibrow; Oscar the Grouch Eyes; Oscar the Grouch Face; Oscar the Grouch Mouth