A Spectacle of lights and more!

December 5, 2009

GULFPORT, FL---It's time to get your holiday cheer in gear! Feeling Scrooge-y? A fun-filled festival will do the trick. The Gulfport Merchants association presents the first annual Holiday Hoopla! Holiday Hoopla is sponsored by the City of Gulfport, The Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, Brighthouse Networks, The Industrial Art Center, Domain Home Accessories, Domain Food & Spirits, SIK Promotions, Beachlife, Paradise News and The Gabber. A portion of the proceeds from the event on December 5th will benefit Operation Santa.

For the past 18 years, Gulfport’s City employees have sponsored a program called “Operation Santa” in which toys are donated to needy children that live in the City of Gulfport.  Operation Santa has always been very successful in part due to the contributions they receive. We ask you for your help in the form of donations.  Last year, Operation Santa helped 51 families and 141 children. The Gulfport Merchants Association will collect donations for Operation Santa from now until December 10th.  Donations may be made in the form of cash, checks, gift cards or new unwrapped gifts.  Collection boxes are located at Domain Food and Spirits on the Corner of Shore and Beach Blvd, at the Gulfport Police Station and at the Main Stage during the Holiday Hoopla event. Any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  If you have any questions about Operation Santa, please call either Francine Whitten at 893-1653 or Cynthia Hayes at 893-1049.

Holiday Hoopla is a celebration of arts, crafts, foods, live music and roving holiday characters set in a waterfront atmosphere amid bright, twinkling, colorful lights, and Santa & Mrs. Claus. Stroll the decorated streets filled with up to 200 talented exhibitors and unique shops. The festival will provide shoppers with one-of-a-kind gifts that cannot be found anywhere else, and all of your holiday shopping can be done in one place! No running around to different stores or wandering thru acres of mall space, shopping can be done at a leisurely pace while finding unique one-of-a-kind items. Featuring art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, glass, wood, music, photography, toys, Christmas décor, and much more makes this a gift buyer’s delight.  The Industrial Arts Center will offer Blow Your Own Glass Masterpiece and Make a Memory sand casting from 2-6 p.m.

You will be enchanted by a variety of festive and fun holiday-themed music, holiday carolers, dance performances, and roving street performers. Many types of entertainment will perform during the Hoopla, from school bands and local musicians to area performing arts groups. Live entertainment will include Gulfport Elementary School, John Hopkins Middle School, Osceola High School, Next Exit, Gypsy Joe, and more! Oh, yeah, and the big guy in the red suit and Mrs. Claus will be there, too, from 3-6pm!   
 
Be sure to relax after all that shopping at one of the many Downtown restaurants, pubs, and cafes. With over a half mile of shopping, food, fun, and holiday splendor this festive event will soon become a Tampa Bay holiday tradition! Whether you’re a Gulfport resident or a visitor from out of town, there’s plenty to see and do at Gulfport’s Holiday Hoopla Festival. Want to know more about Gulfport and where to stay, shop and dine? Visit the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce website for more information.

Brighten your holidays with a visit to Beach Blvd. in Gulfport at the Holiday Hoopla, on December 5th, 2009 from 10 am to 6 pm! FREE.

http://gulfportma.com/