FEBRUARY FAMILY EVENTS

We’re only two months into 2014 and its already turning out to be a great year for families in Tampa Bay! With this mostly beautiful weather we have in the Sunshine State there’s so much to do this month for families.

Here’s a look at what February has to offer.

Cookie for St. Joe’s
February 1 -14
From now until February 14, for every Valentine cookie purchased at any Panera Bread bakery-café 100% of the proceeds will be donated to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.  For more information, visitwww.paneratampa.com .

Suited for Space
February 1 – April 27
Opening Feb. 1 at the Tampa Bay History Center, this interstellar exhibition takes you on a journey through nearly a century of spacesuit design and development. From the earliest high-altitude pressure suits to the iconic white suits of the Apollo mission, stunning X-ray images allow you to examine the details of every suit, including the interior construction.

Children can get up close and personal with objects and artifacts, and take a photograph “wearing” an Apollo suit. And they can even walk in Buzz Aldrin’s footsteps on the gallery floor! Go towww.tampabayhistorycenter.org to learn more or purchase tickets.

Bay Area Renaissance Festival
February 22 – April 6
Lords and ladies of the kingdom are invited to MOSI on weekends for this annual medieval gathering. Festivalgoers will be transported through time and enjoy warhorse jousting, the Washing Well Wenches and acrobatics by Acrobellum. You also can enjoy authentic food from the era and participate in crafts, human chess and more. Visit www.bayarearenfest.com for times and ticket prices.

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live
February 28 – March 2, Various Times
Erth’s DINOSAUR ZOO Live takes you on a tour through pre-historic Australia, bringing an eye-popping array of ancient creatures to life on stage. You will observe and interact with extraordinarily life-like creatures, just like those that inhabited the Southern Hemisphere millions of years ago. Meet a menagerie of insects, mammals and dinosaurs in their ancient environment, in this highly imaginative, entertaining and educational live show. To purchase tickets, visitwww.strazcenter.org .

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
March 1 and 2
Artists and art lovers from around the country migrate every winter to the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. The nation’s most accomplished artists and rising stars will vie for the $15,000 Best of Show Award and an additional $59,500 in prize money. Held annually in downtown Tampa, it is a true showcase. Featured art includes ceramic, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood. Go to www.gasparillaarts.com to learn more.

For more February events for the whole family, visitTBParenting.com/calendar .