December 2011 Contact Info For advertising inquiries: advertising@fun4gatorkids.com To submit information about events: kathy@fun4gatorkids.com Please send comments or questions to: kathy@fun4gatorkids.com
Holiday Events, Santa Photos, Holiday Lights and More! It’s the holiday season...already! I don’t know where the fall season went. This month, enjoy all the holiday lights, Christmas concerts and shows, and most of all have fun with your family!
Kathy Stewart INSIDE THIS ISSUE
For more fun ideas on things to do with kids around Gainesville, read Kathy ‘s articles on Examiner.com
Kids Events in Alachua County Holiday Events in Alachua County Places to See Santa Holiday Shows Lights, Decorations & Parades Holiday Concerts Kids Events Near Alachua County Winter Break Camps Donations Programs and Classes Library Programs Story Times Fun Around Town Giveaways Restaurant Fun Kids Eat Cheap At the Movies
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December 2011 Mon
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Kids Events in Alachua County Fri
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This page features all the NON-HOLIDAY EVENTS in December. Turn the page to see all the holiday related events
1 JBF Sale
2 JBF Sale Polar Express Train Show Soup R Sweet Social
3 Dudley Farm Cane Day GC Therapy Horses Tea Party JBF Sale Minority Health Fair Polar Express Train Show
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9 Newberry Rodeo
10 11 Danscompany’s Cinderella Doxa Dance Company Sleeping Beauty Gainesville-Divine Makeover Project Newberry Rodeo UF Volleyball Youth Clinic
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17 EARS Family Tour Once Upon a Giraffe Book Signing UF Softball Winter Camp
18 UF Softball Winter Camp
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30 EARS Children’s Tour
31 Madonna’s Equestrian Academy New Year’s Eve Camp Skate Station’s New Year’s Eve All Night Skate Sprout’s Hollywood Red Carpet New Year’s Eve Party
4 FLMNH Drums and Dance JBF Sale Polar Express Train Show UF Baseball Winter Camp
Giveaways www.fun4gatorkids.com/deals/giveaways
December 2011 Mon
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A Christmas Story at GCP Playing through 12/18
Holiday Events in Alachua County
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2 First Friday, Toys for Tots Gainesville Christmas Festival GCJB Holiday Concert Light Up the Village Night NFRMC Holiday Pond Lighting City of Alachua Tree Lighting
3 Best Christmas Pageant Ever Breakfast with Santa at Sprout Breakfast with Santa at CFA Breakfast with Santa at Piccadilly Cafeteria A Children’s Holiday Gainesville Christmas Festival GYC Holiday Concert Holiday Craft Festival Holiday Tree Lighting Toys R Us Christmas Kickoff
4 Best Christmas Pageant Ever Gainesville Christmas Festival GCB Christmas Concert Haile Homestead Holidays Holiday Craft Festival Sounds of the Season
A Christmas Carol at The Hippodrome Playing through 12/17 This Wonderful Life at The Hippodrome Playing through 12/21 It’s a Wonderful Life at High Springs Community Theater 5 SFC Winds’ Holiday Concert
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8 Archer Tree Lighting GCO Holiday Concert Singing Into the Holidays Concert
9 Best Christmas Pageant Ever Boar’s Head Festival Gainesville Christmas Festival Haile Homestead Candlelight Tours Illumination Celebration Journey to the Manger Watch Rudolph with Santa
10 Alachua Christmas Parade Best Christmas Pageant Ever Breakfast with Santa at little shop Gainesville Christmas Festival Gainesville Pops Concert Hawthorne Christmas Festival Holiday Homes Tour Lessons and Carols Madrigal Santa Dash Santa Photos at Learning Path Gingerbread House at CFA Twilight Christmas Parade
11 FBC Live Nativity Gainesville Christmas Festival Holiday Traditions Concert
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14 Mommy and Me Onstage
15 Nutcracker School Show
16 The Nutcracker
17 Christmas for Kids Messiah Sing Along Newberry Christmas Parade The Nutcracker Operation Santa Delivery Sugar Plum Tea
18 Festival of 9 Lessons & Carols Music for Flutes Concert The Nutcracker
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23 TUMC Live Nativity
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Places to See Santa Oaks Mall through 12/24 Santa’s Village at Sprout Learning Resources through 12/23 Santa on the Square Tu/Th through 12/22 Silver Springs Festival of Lights 12/16 –12/31 Wild Adventures Christmas through 1/1 Winter Wonderland through 1/1 Gainesville Christmas Festival—12/2-12/4 & 12/9-12/11 City of Alachua Tree Lighting 12/2 Light Up the Village Night 12/2 Holiday Pond Lighting at North Florida Regional Medical Center12/2 Breakfast with Santa at Chick-fil-A Oaks Mall 12/3 Breakfast with Santa at Piccadilly Cafeteria 12/3 Breakfast with Santa at Sprout Learning Resources 12/3 Chiefland Christmas Parade 12/3 A Children’s Holiday 12/3 Holiday Tree Lighting 12/3 St. Augustine Christmas Parade 12/3 Suwannee Lights 12/3 Cookies with Santa at Library Partnership 12/7 Archer Tree Lighting 12/8 Breakfast with Santa at the little shop 12/10 Lake City Winter Family Fun Day 12/10 Alachua Christmas Parade 12/10 Hawthorne Christmas Festival 12/10 Merry Melrose Parade 12/10 Santa Dash 12/10 Santa Photos at The Learning Path 12/10 Twilight Christmas Parade 12/10 Santa Extravaganza at High Springs Library 12/13 Visit with Santa at Millhopper Library 12/13 Life South’s Operation Santa Delivery 12/17 Newberry Christmas Parade 12/17
Holiday Shows A Christmas Story at GCP 11/25 - 12/18 This Wonderful Life at The Hippodrome 11/25—12/21 A Christmas Carol at The Hippodrome 11/26—12/17 Gainesville Christmas Festival at Westside Baptist 12/2—12/11 It’s a Wonderful Life at High Springs Community Theater 12/2—12/18 A Children’s Holiday 12/3 Best Christmas Pageant Ever 12/3, 12/4, 12/9, 12/10 Boar’s Head Festival 12/9 & 12/11 Journey to the Manger 12/9 Danscompany’s Production of Cinderella 12/10 Doxa Dance Company Presents Sleeping Beauty 12/10 Faith Presbyterian Church Living Nativity 12/11 The Nutcracker Ballet 12/15—12/18 Trinity UMC’s Live Nativity 12/23
Holiday Lights & Decorations & Holiday Parades Cedar Key Christmas through 12/12 Disney’s Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights through January 7th Festival of Lights at Stephen Foster Cultural Center 12/2—12/31 Suwannee Lights 12/3—12/24 Holiday Pond Lights at North Florida Regional Medical Center through 12/24
Silver Springs Festival of Lights 12/16 –12/31 City of Alachua Tree Lighting 12/2 Light Up the Village Night 12/2 Holiday Tree Lighting at the Thomas Center 12/2 Chiefland Christmas and Winter Festival 12/3 St. Augustine Christmas Parade 12/3 Haile Homestead Holidays 12/4 Archer Tree Lighting 12/8 Haile Homestead Candlelight Tours 12/9 Illumination Celebration 12/9 Christmas on Main Street in Trenton 12/9 Alachua Shop, Dine and Stroll 12/9 & 12/16 Light up Williston Christmas Parade 12/9 Alachua Christmas Parade 12/10 Fanning Springs Festival of Lights 12/10 Hawthorne Christmas Festival 12/10 Holiday Homes Tour 12/10 Lake City Christmas Parade 12/10 Merry Melrose Parade 12/10 Twilight Christmas Parade in High Springs 12/10 Newberry Festival of Lights and Christmas Parade 12/17
Holiday Concerts Gainesville Community Jazz Band Holiday Concert 12/2 Gainesville Youth Chorus Holiday Concert 12/3 Gainesville Community Band Holiday Concert 12/4 Nancy Gillespie Harp Concert 12/4 Sounds of the Season 12/4 Santa Fe Winds Holiday Concert 12/5 Anna Moo Holiday Concert 12/6 Harmony for the Holidays with the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra 12/8
Singing into the Holidays Concert 12/8 Gainesville Pops Holiday Concert 12/10 Lessons and Carols Performances 12/10 & 12/11 Madrigal 12/10 Holiday Traditions: A Musical Celebration 12/11 Alachua County Youth Orchestra Concert 12/11 Holiday Concert at the Library 12/16 Messiah Sing Along 12/17 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 12/18 Music for Flutes Holiday Concert 12/18
Holiday Events Near Gainesville ORLANDO Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party through 12/18 Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights through 1/7 Epcot’s Holidays Around the World through 12/30 Sea World’s Christmas Celebration through 12/30 ICE! Featuring Shrek the Halls through 1/2 Kung Fu Panda Awesome SNOW! through 1/2
SOUTH OF ALACHUA COUNTY Silver Springs Festival of Lights In Ocala 12/16 –12/31 Light Up Williston Christmas Parade in Williston 12/9 Fanning Springs Festival of Lights in Fanning Springs 12/10
NORTH OF ALACHUA COUNTY Wild Adventures Christmas in Valdosta, GA through 1/1 Winter Wonderland in St. Augustine through 1/1 Festival of Lights at Stephen Foster Cultural Center 12/24 Suwannee Lights in Live Oak Through 12/24 Festival of Trees in St. Augustine12/2—12/11 Lake City Winter Family Fun Day in Lake City 12/10 Merry Melrose Parade Arts and Crafts Festival in Melrose 12/10
WEST OF ALACHUA COUNTY Chiefland Christmas and Winter Festival 12/3 Christmas on Main Street in Trenton 12/9 Cedar Key Christmas through 12/11
Winter Break Camps City of Gainesville Both Weeks Dreamstone Farm Horseback Riding Camp Both Weeks Elite Pro Ball Academy Week 1 only Florida Museum of Natural History Week 2 only Florida Fencing Academy Both Weeks French, Fun, Food and Foreign Languages Both Weeks Gatorball Academy Week 1 only Girls Place, Inc. Both Weeks Harn Museum Week 1 only Jonesville Tennis Center Both Weeks Madonna’s Equestrian Academy Both Weeks Skate Station Funworks Both Weeks Sprout Learning Resources Both Weeks Sun Country Sports Center Both Weeks Twin Oaks Stables Both Weeks World Martial Arts Week 1 Only YMCA—Northwood Location Both Weeks YMCA Camp McConnell Both Weeks (Overnight)
Donations Needed Children’s Coat Drive through 12/6 Storm & Chris Warm & Fuzzy Holiday Jammie Drive through 12/10 Angel Tree Holiday Toy Drive through 12/15 Salvation Army Angel Tree through 12/16 Children’s Home Society Holiday Drive through 12/18 Toys for Tots all month Food 4 Kids Weekend Backpack Program ongoing Miracle on Main Street 12/3
December 2011 Mon
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EVERY Saturday Dance, Music and Movement French Club Living History Days Planetarium Kids Matinee Retirement Home for Horses Skate Station Skating Lessons
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Programs & Classes Fri
1 2 Family Tot Time Safety Night Feed-a-Frog Friday Sun Country Little Lunchers Sun Country Stay and Play Sun Country Gym Jam
Sat 3 Home Depot Kids Workshop Michael’s Family Events Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinic
Sun 4 Family Fun Shoot Michael’s Family Events
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6 7 Sun Country Stay Barnyard Buddies and Play Cooking Studio Zumba Kids Class
8 Harn Museum Night
9 10 Sun Country Family Fun Night Dudley Kids Hogtown Reptile Shop Kids Sun Country Gym Jam Program Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinic Michael’s Family Events
12 Art Classes With Jane Gravois
13 14 Sun Country Stay Barnyard Buddies and Play Cooking Studio Zumba Kids Class Mommy and Baby Get Together
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16 Family Jam Night Sun Country Stay and Play Sun Country Gym Jam
17 18 Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinic Family Fun Shoot Corks N Colors Family Class
19 20 21 Michael’s Fam- Sun Country Stay Barnyard Buddies ily Events and Play Cooking Studio Zumba Kids Class
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23 Sun Country Stay and Play Sun Country Gym Jam Michael’s Family Events
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26 Art Classes With Jane Gravois Michael’s Family Events
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30 Sun Country Stay and Play Sun Country Gym Jam
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27 28 Tot Time Barnyard Buddies Sun Country Stay Cooking Studio and Play Zumba Kids Class
11 Family Fun Shoot Michael’s Family Events
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December 2011 Library Mon
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See the next page for library story times Turn to page 16 for movie times at the library
Thu 1 Gaming 2PM
Programs
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3 4 Musikgarten 11AM Afternoon Music 2PM
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6 Anna Moo Concert 10:30AM Crafty Kids 3:30PM Homework Help 3:30PM Junior Panther Den 3:30PM Wii Fun 3:30PM
7 8 9 Cookies with Santa 11AM Gaming 2PM Tonewood Music 1:30PM Arts & Crafts: 4PM
10 Puppet Man & Storybook Lady 11AM
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12 Scenes from Dicken’s A Christmas Carol 10:30AM
13 Santa Extravaganza 2:30PM Homework Help 3:30PM Junior Panther Den 3:30PM Visit with Santa 6:30PM
14 Girls Tea Party 4:00PM
15 Gaming 2PM
17 Game Day 2PM
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20 Tonewood Tuesdays 1:30PM Holiday Crafts 2PM Junior Panther Den 3:30PM Wii Fun 3:30PM
21 Gingerbread House Contest 1PM
22 23 Holiday Pro- CLOSED gram 11AM Gaming 2PM Arts & Crafts: 4PM
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27 Junior Panther Den 3:30PM
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16 Holiday Concert 3-7PM Holiday Signing Time 4PM
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Color Code Guide: Alachua Archer Library Partnership
Cone Park Hawthorne Headquarters High Springs Micanopy Millhopper Newberry Tower Road
Click HERE to go directly to the Alachua County Library Event Calendar
Story Times Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
the little shop 9:30AM November 14th & 28th
Library Partnership 9:30AM
Learning Path 10:30 (RSVP PLEASE)
Headquarters Library 10:30AM 1st & 2nd Thurs.
Sprout Learning Resources 10:00AM
Millhopper Library 11AM—1st & 3rd Wednesdays
Milhopper Library 10:30AM
High Springs Library 11AM
Micanopy Library 11AM 1st & 2nd Wednesdays
Alachua Library 11AM
Tower Road Library 10:30AM & 7:00PM 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
Newberry Library 11AM
Millhopper Library 6:30PM on 12/19
Chick-Fil A 5:30PM 2nd Tuesdays
Saturdays Books a Million 10:AM Millhopper Library 10:30 12/3
Fun Around Town Family Fun Days/ Nights
Kids Drop Off Programs
Game Night at Wild Iris Books Mondays at 6:30PM
O2BKids Parents Night Out Fridays 6:00-10:30 PM
Chick-fil-A Family Fun Night Tuesdays 5:30-7:30PM
Friday Fun Night at the YMCA 4th Friday night of the month 6-11PM
Sun Country Sports Stay & Play Tuesdays and Fridays 9-11
Gator Game Day Drop Off Program Every home game
Beef O’Brady’s on 43rd Family Safety Night 1st Thursday Night 5:30-7:30PM
Mommies Day Out Monday-Friday
Family Jam Night at Studio Percussion Night TBA 6:00-8:00 PM
Academy Preschool Parents Day Out Wednesdays 8-12 or 8-5
Sun Country Sports Family Fun Nights 2nd Friday night 6:30-8:30PM
Sun Country Little Lunchers First Friday of the month 11-1
Skate Station Funworks Family Fun Nights Friday nights
Sun Country Gym Jam Friday nights 5-7PM
Mommy And Me Lunch at the little shop Tuesdays 11:30-1:30PM
Trinity UMC Parents Night Out 3rd Friday night of the month 5:30 –8:30PM The little shop Weekend Night Play Studio Every 3rd Friday and Saturday night 6-8PM
Restaurant Fun Space Walk Bounce House Burger King Archer Rd & Newberry Rd—Friday Nights Beef ‘O’ Brady’s on Archer Road—Tuesday Nights
Magic Mike Beef O’Brady’s on 43rd St: Tuesdays 5:30-8:30 Leonardo’s 706 : Wednesdays 6:00 –9:00 Sonny’s on Archer Road: Fridays 5:30-8:30 Moe’s on Newberry Rd: Sundays 12-3
Cody’s Roadhouse Monday Nights The Magic Man performs tableside
Chick Fil-A Fun Nights Tuesday Nights Arts & Crafts, Games and Entertainment
Gator’s Dockside Tuesday Nights Clown / Balloon Artist
Texas Roadhouse Tuesday Nights Arts & Crafts, Entertainment, Games and Prizes and Andy the Armadillo
Mexico Lindo Tuesday Nights Mariachi Band
Napolatano’s Trivia Night—Monday Nights Live Bands—Sunday Nights
Kids Eat Cheap Sundays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Mamma Mia Kids eat FREE at buffet w/ adult purchase
Beef O'Brady's - Kids 12 and under eat FREE with adult purchase /Dine In Only from 4 - 8pm
Applebee’s – Kids eat for .99 price w/ adult purchase
Steak and Shake - Kids 12 and under eat FREE with purchase of adult meal Venice Café—Kids 10 and under eat free with purchase of adult meal
Mondays Bubbaque’s—Kids 8 and under eat FREE with paying adult Cody’s Original Steakhouse -Kids 10 and under eat FREE with adult purchase David's Real Pit BBQ - One FREE kid's meal with one adult meal purchased Newberry’s Backyard BBQ—$1.50 Kids meals with adult purchase Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q - Kids 12 and under eat 1/2 off with adult purchase Venice Café—Kids 10 and under eat free with purchase of adult meal
Chick-fil-A— Kids eat free with adult purchase 5:30-7:30PM CiCi's PIZZA - $1.99 Kids Buffet with every Adult Buffet purchased Cody’s Original Steakhouse Kids 10 and under eat FREE with adult purchase
Haile Village Bistro - Kids eat FREE O!O Tapas and Tinis—Kids eat free off the kids menu with adult purchase Joe’s Place – Kids 10 and under eat FREE with each adult meal purchase Zaxby’s - 2 kids meals for $.99 with adult purchase
Gainesville Ale House - Kids 12 and under eat FREE with purchase of adult meal Gator’s Dockside - Kids under 12 years of age, l child per adult eat FREE / 6:00-8:30 PM I Love NY Pizza in Haile—Kids 10 and under eat free with adult purchase Kazbor's Grille - Kids 10 and under eat FREE with adult purchase Texas Roadhouse - Kids 12 and under eat for $.99 with adult purchase / 4 8pm
Thursdays Captain D's - Two FREE kid's meals with any adult entree purchase / Dine in only Piccadilly Restaurants - .99 Kid's Meals and $1.99 Big Kids meals / All day Thursdays /11-4 on Saturdays
Fridays Burger King—Kids eat for .99 with adult purchase
Every Day Bahn Thai— Kids eat free at the lunch buffet with adult purchase CiCis PIZZA - Kids under 3 eat free from the buffet w/ adult purchase. (Drink not included) Crispers - Kids 12 and under eat for .99 when wearing Kids Club t-shirt IHOP - Kids 12 and under eat FREE with purchase of adult meal / 4 -10pm
Saturdays Piccadilly Restaurants - .99 Kid's Meals and $1.99 Big Kids meals / All day Thursdays /11-4 on Saturdays Steak and Shake - Kids 12 and under eat FREE with purchase of adult meal
At the Movies Free Movies at the Library Every Monday 4PM / Headquarters Saturday 12/3 2PM / Millhopper Sunday, 12/18 3:30PM / Micanopy
Click HERE for current show times