SCREAM-A-GEDDON Haunts Tampa This Fall

SCREAM-A-GEDDON

SCREAM-A-GEDDON to Attract

Thrill-Seekers This Fall

New Halloween Attraction Unleashes Terror in the Tampa Bay Area Starting Late September

 

SCREAM-A-GEDDON, a new horrifying Halloween attraction coming to Tampa Bay, will begin haunting the public on Friday, September 25th, 2015. The new horror park features six haunted attractions with a Monster Midway spread over a sinister 60 acres of Old Florida forest.

“SCREAM-A-GEDDON is a brand new type of horror park that Central Florida has never experienced before. Simply put, words can’t describe the terror within,” says Jonathan Pianki, Marketing Director. “It truly needs to be experienced in order to be believed.”

The owners and operators of SCREAM-A-GEDDON bring to bear their combined expertise running similar attractions across the country to create a unique Horror Park in the Central Florida area. The park features several never-before-seen, bone-chilling attractions with Hollywood special effects and exclusive interactive elements throughout the park.  

“Being an independent Halloween horror park allows us to stretch the boundaries of what customers have come to expect at the more ‘corporate’ Halloween attractions in the Tampa Bay and Orlando areas,” says Mark Bremer, Creative Director at SCREAM-A-GEDDON. “Victims who want a more interactive, intimate and terrifying haunted experience will be thrilled when our facility opens this fall.”

 

SCREAM-A-GEDDON will be open to the public on select nights from September 25th through November 1st. For more information, please visit www.SCREAMAGEDDON.com.

 

About SCREAM-A-GEDDON:

SCREAM-A-GEDDON is the newest Halloween attraction in the Tampa Bay area featuring six horrifying attractions spread over 60 acres. The “Monster Midway” will feature carnival games and a variety of food and beverages, including beer. For more information about SCREAM-A-GEDDON, please visit www.SCREAMAGEDDON.com

 

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TreeHoppers Aerial Zip Line Adventure Park Set to Open in Dade City in August

TreeHoppers
Photo: TreeHoppers on Facebook

TreeHoppers Aerial Zip Line Adventure Park Set to Open in Dade City in August

Indiana-based Owners Invest $2 Million in Aerial Adventure Park

 

TreeHoppers, an aerial/zip line adventure park in Tampa Bay, breaks ground this summer and plans to open to the public in August 2015. Indiana-based White River Zip Lines purchased a 60-acre wooded tract in Dade City on March 2nd property to develop TreeHoppers and another attraction to be named in the coming months.

TreeHoppers will feature dozens of zip lines, rope bridges and aerial climbing elements. The attraction will have eight unique courses and nearly 100 aerial features catering to adults and children ages five and up.

“We are thrilled to offer this new experience to the Tampa Bay area,” says Benjamin Nagengast, CEO at TreeHoppers “Our team carefully and thoughtfully selected Tampa Bay for our newest attraction and we can’t wait to introduce TreeHoppers to the community. There is nothing like it anywhere in Florida.”

The property features several acres of beautiful, hilly forest with sprawling live oak trees that will stretch down to a five-acre lake in the back of the property. TreeHoppers will fully utilize the property, allowing adventurers of all skill levels to traverse through the canopy trees, crossing the picturesque landscape. Climbers will be provided with the latest safety climbing technology and full safety instruction from highly-trained climbing monitors before setting out on the course. The aerial adventure park concept was brought to the United States from Switzerland six years ago after an increase in popularity in Europe.

With an exact August opening date still to be determined, TreeHoppers will be open year-round, 7 days a week and is located at 27839 Saint Joe Road Dade City, FL, only 35 minutes north of Tampa.

For more information, please visit www.treehoppers.com.

TreeHoppers

About TreeHoppers:

TreeHoppers is a new aerial/adventure park which hosts eight unique courses and over 100 aerial elements for adults and children ages five and up. It’s the perfect activity for the entire family. Leisure fun seekers to expert climbers can venture through a variety of zip lines, rope bridges and aerial climbing features. TreeHoppers is an ideal attraction for birthday parties and corporate events. TreeHoppers is located in Dade City, Florida just north of Tampa. For more information, visit www.treehoppers.com.

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Move Live On Tour with Derek and Julianne Hough

Move Live On Tour
Move Live On Tour

This past weekend I had the opportunity to see the new show, Move Live On Tour, featuring Derek and Julianne Hough of Dancing With The Stars fame. If you are at all a fan of DWTS or Derek or Julianne, I highly recommend catching this show in the next five weeks as they finish up their tour.

I have been a fan of dance my whole life, taking ballet and ballroom lessons when I was younger, and even some basic tap and jazz while at a seven week summer camp. Having watched Dancing With The Stars ever since its sophomore season, I didn’t hesitate for a second when my mom invited me to join her and my grandma to go see Move Live On Tour in Sarasota.

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you may have noticed I have a slight obsession with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, my favorite pro dancer on DWTS. Derek is a very close second favorite, and in my opinion, the best choreographer the show has seen and one of the best period. Julianne left the show a few seasons ago to pursue a singing and acting career, but has reappeared to perform a few times and she has also shown up as a guest judge recently.

Move Live On Tour was everything I wanted it to be, but I went in without any specific expectations. It was only as I was sitting there in the moment that I would think to myself that I’d love to see a Paso Doble or a Jive or a Quickstep. Again, having been a fan of dance and the Dancing With The Stars show, I quickly recognized the Ballroom and Latin dance elements as they were being performed. Move Live On Tour though was so much more than just a dance exhibition.

The show program describes the tour as follows: “Superstar siblings Julianne and Derek Hough star in their own all-new dance production, MOVE LIVE ON TOUR, a complete stage production with sets, costumes and a cast of talented dancers, with the Houghs headlining in solo, duet and group performances in styles ranging from ballroom and tap to salsa and hip-hop and everything in between.”

During the show, we were treated to singing from both Derek and Julianne including classics like Wilson Pickett’s Mustang Sally and Anything You Can Do from Annie Get Your Gun. The dance numbers were ranging in numerous styles, using mostly popular music like John Legend’s All Of Me and Happy by Pharrell, and even brought in audience participation and including the performers coming into the aisles during the show.

As much as I love Dancing With The Stars for what it is, it is incredible to see almost two hours chock full of performances just from the professional dancers. In addition to Derek and Julianne, there were about ten other dancers who performed with them in a variety of numbers. The brother and sister duo worked the mic quite a bit to pump up and interact with the audience.

Move Live On Tour was a very humorous show and made me love these very talented dancers even more than I already did. I was even lucky enough to catch Derek mid-show while he was cruising the audience to get a selfie. 🙂 If you enjoy Broadway style music and dance numbers, contemporary dance or more traditional Ballroom or Latin styles, this show is for you.

It was honestly one of the best performances of any kind I’ve ever been to as far as being entertained from start to finish. Check out the video below to get a taste of the type of show you’d be in for if you are lucky enough to catch one of the remaining performances.

Have you seen Move Live On Tour? Are you a fan of Dancing With The Stars or Derek or Julianne individually? Let me know your thoughts below and check out some of my pictures from the show this week.

 

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Adventure Island in Tampa 2014 Season

Adventure Island

Adventure Island Kicks Off New Season With A Special Offer

Splash into spring when Adventure Island® begins the 2014 season of fun in the sun on Saturday, March 8. It’s time again to splash in the wave pool, amble down the Rambling Bayou, race down speed slides, including Everglides® and Riptide, or just kick back on the beach amidst a tropical Key West setting. 

Adventure Island

Now, for a limited time, the best value to visit all season long is the Adventure Island Fun Card:

  • Pay for a day and enjoy unlimited access to Adventure Island all season long with no blackout dates.
  • Valid March 8 through Oct. 12, 2014.
  • Purchase at AdventureIsland.com, at the Adventure Island or Busch Gardens® front gates or by calling 1-888-800-5447.
  • The Adventure Island Fun Card is $47 for adults and $43 children.
  • Add Busch Gardens for a combined Fun Card for $129 (adults) and $120 (children) at AdventureIsland.com.

 Adventure Island

CABANAS – make the most of your Adventure Island visit and rent a cabana for a shaded, exclusive spot for your family and friends to gather throughout the day. Each cabana includes four chaise lounges, a locker, a mini-fridge with bottled waters and four souvenir towels. Daily rental prices range from $99.99 to $189.99, based on the time of year.

Adventure Island

ADVENTURE ISLAND

From the moment guests enter Adventure Island®, they are immersed in a Key West-themed paradise. The 40-acre water park features 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. Guests can also 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 them through a half-mile of lush landscapes and tropical waterfalls on the Rambling Bayou.

Visit AdventureIsland.com for daily operating hours. Single-day admission tickets for Adventure Island are $47 for adults and $43 for children. Children ages 2 and younger are free, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. All prices are per person, plus tax. Park hours are subject to change. Visit AdventureIsland.com for more information.

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South Florida Museum and Parker Aquarium

Mastodon at South Florida Museum
Mastodon at South Florida Museum

Recently I visited the South Florida Museum and Parker Aquarium in Bradenton for the first time. This museum, aquarium and the neighboring Bishop Planetarium have been on my list of things to do for quite some time. As a kid, my mom used to take me to the planetarium for a rock laser light show when we would come to town to visit. Sadly, although the museum is only five minutes from my house, it has taken more than 15 years of me living here to finally get there.

South Florida Museum

The South Florida Museum focuses mostly on the history of the South Florida area. From pre-historic times with a model mastodon and fossils from several extinct species. There are areas of the museum that concentrate on the wildlife with displays of several different ecosystems with animals that inhabit each. Other sections are primarily exploring the history of the discovery and development of the South Florida area.

McKechnie Field history
McKechnie Field history
Mickey Mouse camera from 1950
Mickey Mouse camera from 1950
Walt Disney World groundbreaking
Walt Disney World groundbreaking
Snooty on deck
Snooty on deck
Snooty Time Line
Snooty Time Line

Parker Aquarium

Accompanying the South Florida Museum is the Parker Aquarium, which is home to Snooty the manatee, the world’s oldest known manatee who was born in captivity. Snooty is somewhat of a celebrity here in Bradenton at 65 years old. He has even made national news and has his own Snooty cam! While at the South Florida Museum I had an opportunity to see Snooty getting fed and a question and answer session with one of his trainers. I highly recommend this to anyone who gets a chance to catch this as it is great fun to watch Snooty and the other two manatees get fed and the Q&A session is very informative and interesting.

Bishop Planetarium

The Bishop Planetarium is the one section of the South Florida Museum that I had visited previously, but it had probably been a good 15 – 20 years. Since I had been last there was a fire and the planetarium had been renovated. Just after I visited, the planetarium closed for another refurbishment, which I understand is to upgrade the projection software. The renovation is scheduled to be finished in a few weeks with a current date listed as “mid-October.” I finished touring the South Florida Museum and Parker Aquarium, so before the rock hall of fame show in the planetarium I was able to catch a star show. This show was interesting as it highlighted what we would see in the night sky specifically in our geographic location at this time of year. I’d like to go back and see this again at different times of year to see the different constellations and planets that may be visible.

In peak season (January – April) the South Florida Museum is open 7 days a week. The rest of the year the museum is closed on Mondays. Hours are 10am – 5pm, except on Sundays, which are from 12pm to 5pm. Other than the aforementioned Mondays, the museum is only closed New Year’s Day, the second Monday in March, the first Saturday in November, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Regular admission is $15.95, $13. 95 for 65+, $11.95 for children 4-12, children 3 and under are free with paying adult. Active duty military with id are free. Family Night is the first Saturday of each month and offers everyone half price admission after 4pm with extended hours until 8pm. Family Night also usually includes screening of a family friendly (often Disney) movie. Currently since the Bishop Planetarium is closed, there is a $4 discount off admission.

I’m so glad I took the time to discover the South Florida Museum. It is a fantastic way to spend a few hours for kids and adults alike. You can go just for the laser light show with a discounted admission, but then you’re missing out on some of the best of what this complex has to offer. I hope to soon take advantage of one of the other great features of the museum, Film Fridays. Almost every Friday night the museum offers a $5 movie. The films range from classics like Meet Me In St. Louis and Some Like It Hot to Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. The upcoming series, “Greetings from Florida,” features movies set in Florida. This is a great way to catch classic films and re-releases up on the big screen.

If you find yourself with an extra day, or even an afternoon, take the opportunity to come explore the South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium and Parker Aquarium in Bradenton. It is a great value and a fun day trip. Have you been to the museum? If not, Snooty is waiting to meet you. Come on down!

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Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Title Sponsor Gasparilla

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Renews 

As Title Sponsor of Gasparilla Pirate Fest


Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Gasparilla Logo

Gasparilla Treasures Mixer Planned for September 19, International Talk Like a Pirate Day

 

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa (SHRT) will be the title sponsor of the Gasparilla Pirate Fest for the next three years, it was announced today by SHRT President John Fontana.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, SHRT is throwing a Gasparilla Treasures Mixer on International Talk Like a Pirate Day – Sept. 19 – at the Hard Rock Café from 4-7 p.m. There is no cover charge and drink specials will be offered. Colorful pirates from Ye MysticKrewe of Gasparilla will join in the fun to allow for some great photo opportunities.

“We’re proud to once again be an integral part of such a premier event here in central Florida,” said Fontana, who revealed SHRT’ssponsorship would run through 2016. “We believe this title sponsorship exemplifies our core values of uplifting the community throughout the year and it allows us the ability to bring the fun from our place to Tampa Bay and beyond.”

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Gasparilla Float

The 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest is scheduled for Saturday, January 25th and will feature the historic GasparillaInvasion and Parade of the Pirates presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, as well as the Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival.

“The Gasparilla Pirate Fest is a very important celebration for the Tampa Bay community and provides a big boost to the economy each year,” added Fontana. “With that said, we want to see it grow even more successful.”

“We’re delighted Seminole Hard Rock has opted to sign a multi-year agreement to sponsor Tampa’s Gasparilla Pirate Fest,” offeredEventFest’s Darrell Stefany. “We look forward to working as a team to help develop ways to expand the Gasparilla celebration, while continuing to make a positive impact on the community.”

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Logo 

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa recently completed a $75 million expansion, making it the world’s sixth-largest casino, based on gaming positions or number of seats at a table or slot. This ultimate entertainment destination features 118 table games including Blackjack, Mini and Midi-Baccarat, Pai Gow Tiles and Poker, Three Card Poker and Texas Hold ‘em Poker, along with over 5,000 slot machines and a smoke-free poker room with 50 tables offering high stakes action. The luxurious High Limit Table Games Room features 17 tables for blackjack and midi-baccarat and offers higher table limits, a personal cashier and attentive bartenders. For the sixth year in a row, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has awarded this 250-luxury room hotel its prestigious Four Diamond rating. Guests can enjoy a new pool area and restaurants including the Hard Rock Cafe Tampa, part of Hard Rock’s 142 globally recognized rock ‘n’ roll themed restaurants, the award-winning Council Oak Steaks & Seafood Restaurant, and Rise Kitchen & Bakery™, which features freshly baked breads and entrees made with fresh ingredients. The new Asian gaming complex JubaoPalace features 17 table games and an accompanying 15-seat, quick service noodle bar. Valet and more than 5,000 free, self-parking spaces are available. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is located off of I-4 at North Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue, between I-75 and I-275, about 10 minutes east of downtown Tampa. For more information, please call 1-800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrocktampa.com  or www.facebook.com/seminolehardrocktampa. Follow us on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/SHRTampa.

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