By Nanette Wiser
BOAT BONANZA Do you dream of sailing away? Explore the St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show, Presented by Progressive in downtown St. Pete Jan. 18-21 (10am-6pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; Sunday 10am-5pm). The event is located at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater – Yacht Basin and Albert Whitted Park, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg.
For 40+ years, Informa/U.S. Boats has brought the most comprehensive display of vessels, from fishing boats to luxury yachts, displayed on land and in the water. There’s a 40,000-square-foot tent showcasing marine gear. A portion of the ticket sales support Tampa Bay Watch’s education programs and eco-tours and the Discovery Center on The St. Pete Pier downtown.
The Annapolis School of Seamanship and Progressive have teamed up to provide on-the-water boater training programs for free to a select few attendees who pre-register through the website. Additional seminars are updated continually on the website, including the Kids Fishing Clinic. Presented by Hook the Future, the clinic takes place at 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, Jan. 20, and Sunday, Jan. 21, for children ages 4-16. All attendees will have the opportunity to connect with boating experts and learn about the latest features and innovations in the marine industry at 300+ exhibits.
Tickets are on sale now and must be purchased online at www.stpeteboatshow.com. General admission is $22 for adults, and children ages 15 and under attend free. Veterans and active-duty military show proof of military service for a free ticket.
HOLLY BALL NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship. Dec. 14-17 at Tampa’s Amalie Arena hosted by USF and Tampa Bay Sports Commission. The NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament is an annual event that leads to the championship in women’s volleyball from teams in Division I contested by the NCAA each winter since 1981. The championship field consists of 64 teams in a single-elimination tournament. Texas will enter the 2023 season as the defending champion after beating Louisville in the 2022 championship game in Omaha. Info https://bit.ly/3szrDr5 Tickets https://bit.ly/47w15WA
A Tampa Bay New Year’s tradition returns to Raymond James Stadium when the ReliaQuest Bowl (previously called the Outback Bowl) 2023/2024 game kicks off. Tickets are on sale now for the Jan. 1 play-off. Contested each year since 1986 by two teams drawn from the Big Ten and SEC conferences, the Outback Bowl has a reputation for close games and exciting finishes. www.outback.bowl2021.com