SEBRING — For 66-year-old Mark Manley, Monday night was the first time since 1960 – when he graduated – that the bass drummer stepped foot into a high school. Manley was preparing for a joint Christmas concert with about 40 members of the Highlands County Concert Band and 40 Sebring High School musicians. "The students enjoy music and performing – it's their spirit and enthusiasm for music," said Manley. "They want to show what they can do." It was difficult to hear the voice of concert band director Vic Anderson between tunes, during what he said was a "chaotic scene," but when the instruments were raised, the high school band room turned into a winter wonderland. "The kids are better behaved than the adults," said Anderson. "The adults act like junior high kids. The adults are all talking and the children are all listening." ...more

December 7, 2007

Getting Santa's attention was never so easy. At the 25th annual Santa Fest on Saturday in Ybor City, scores of children wrote the jolly old elf letters, arranged for phone calls from the North Pole and climbed onto the lap of the red-suited toy maker. ...more

December 2, 2007

AVON PARK — Patty Phillips remembered seeing this parade when she was only 2 years old. Her mother, Cheryal Phillips, said she went to them ever since the city began having them. "We go to them every single year," said Patty, a 26-year-old Avon Park native. It became a family tradition for the Phillips, and Patty sat on the curb near the corner of Main Street and Butler Avenue with her two daughters, Madison and Morgan. ...more

November 28, 2007

Things To Do is a list of some of the most interesting upcoming events. For a complete list of Tampa Bay area events, see this week's Friday Extra. ...more

November 28, 2007

FAIRS & FESTS Today-Saturday Festival of Lights; a winter wonderland featuring twinkling lights, neon holiday scenes, lighted boat parade, costumed carolers, choirs, musical stage show including Santa and more; 6 to 8 p.m. today and Saturday; $12.99 adults, $8.99 children 3 to 10, free children younger than 3; Silver Springs Park, 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Silver Springs; (352) 236-2121 ...more

November 23, 2007