Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Things to do this holiday weekend

Happy early Thanksgiving! By now, you've probably planned your menu for tomorrow's Turkey Day fest. But have you figured out what you're going to do for the weekend?

For those early bird shoppers, when the clocks turn mid-night for Black Friday, one place to be is Ellenton's Prime Outlets for the Midnight Madness Pajama Jam. The first 500 shoppers to stop by Guest Services wearing their pjs will get a gift bag filled with a pair of brand new pajamas and other treats. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the extra discounts many of the stores are offering. The event lasts until 8 a.m. Friday. For more information, go to www.primeoutlets.com.

And while you're out shopping, don't forget those less fortunate this holiday season, especially the children. If you can, pick up a toy and donate it to the Manatee Players toy drive. The theater troupe is collecting toys and gifts for the area's abused and neglected children and teens to benefit Manatee Children's Services. New, unwrapped toys can be delivered to the theater at 102 Old Main St. in downtown Bradenton.

If you rather stay at home and watch football, but want to keep the kids busy for a little while, download snowflakes from www.sarasotaballet.org for its Snowflake Coloring Contest. Those with the most artistic snowflake in each of the four age groups (ages 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 and 13-adults) will each win four tickets to the Sarasota Ballet's holiday program of the snow-filled "Les Patineurs" and "The Two Pigeons." To find out more, check out the ballet's Web site.

Lastly, if you're not a shopper, football fan or coloring fanatic but are looking for something entertaining to do for the holiday weekend, check out tomorrow's Weekend section for lots of movies, theater, music and performing arts ideas.

- January Holmes

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