ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The weekend weather forecast is shaping up to be wet and even potentially severe. Because of the slight risk of bad weather, several events across Tampa Bay scheduled for Saturday have been canceled or postponed.
The brunt of strong or potentially severe storms, even an isolated tornado threat, comes Saturday afternoon into overnight Sunday — our 10 Weather team has everything you need to keep you informed, prepared and connected.
The forecast calls for the potential of between 2-3 inches of rainfall, or more, over the next 48 hours. To put that in perspective, usually, that amount of rainfall is all the Tampa Bay area sees during all of December, our dry season.
To ensure everyone stays safe and can have a fun time, the following events have been either canceled entirely or have been rescheduled to a later date:
Treasure Island Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
Rescheduled to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22.
Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis holiday celebration
Rescheduled to 5-7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 to coincide with the boat parade. City leaders say the location is a "festive viewing spot" and right where the parade starts.
15th Annual Joy of Giving Celebration with Titus O'Neil
Because of the severe weather threat, the 15th Annual Joy of Giving Celebration, hosted by Thaddeus Bullard, aka WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil, and the Bullard Family Foundation has been rescheduled, event organizers said in a release.
It will now be held on Dec. 23 at the Thaddeus M. Bullard Academy at Sligh Middle Magnet School.
Ho Ho Ho with the Po-Po
"Due to expected severe weather this weekend, the Polk County Sheriff's Office has rescheduled Ho! Ho! Ho! with the Po-Po," the sheriff's office said in a release. "The free Christmas event was scheduled for this Saturday (December 16th), but we will instead have it on Saturday, December 23, 2023 from 6pm to 9pm.
"We apologize for any inconvenience, but we figured it would be way more inconvenient if all of the decorations and booths were blown all around and everyone got soaking wet.
"So we hope to see you all on Saturday, December 23rd at our Northeast District, 1100 Dunson Road, Davenport."
Indian Rocks Beach Christmas Boat Parade
"Due to impeding weather the city of Indian Roach Beach Christmas Boat Parade scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16 has been canceled. It will not be rescheduled. See you next year."
Third Saturday Indie Faire: Holiday Edition in Gulfport
"Due to the expected inclement weather, the Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce Third Saturday Indie Faire: Holiday Edition, scheduled for Saturday, December 16th, 2023, 2 pm-9 pm, in downtown Gulfport, has been canceled.
"Our top priority is the safety of our community. At this time, the City of Gulfport can anticipate possible heavy rain, strong to severe storms, and coastal flooding. Gusty, rainy conditions are expected through the weekend.
"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding in this matter. We hope to see you at our future events, where we will continue to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all. Thank you for your support and stay safe."
Downtown Lakeland Farmers Curb Market
The Dec. 16 event is canceled "due to high winds & severe weather." It'll be open on Dec. 23 and 30.
Safety Harbor Holiday Nights at Folly Farm
The free event, held multiple nights per week at Folly Farm, is canceled on Dec. 16 due to severe weather.
Largo Old Fashioned Christmas Parade
"This was not an easy decision to make as there were months of work put into this and we genuinely love the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade," organizers said on Facebook. "Due to impending severe weather, including strong winds and heavy rain, expected on Saturday the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade has been canceled for this year."