Compiled by Kathy L. Collins, Arts and Entertainment Editor

If you are looking for something fun to do over the weekend, let this be your guide finding fun, creative and exciting things to do in the area. The Greater Brandon area and Tampa Bay have tons of activities going on every weekend. Get out and enjoy all that this area has to offer.

Young, local thespians will be performing “A Tribute To Broadway” on Friday, January 14 at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, January 15 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The evening shows are a dinner theatre and tickets are $22.50. The Saturday matinee is an afternoon tea. Songs from Broadway hits such as “Phantom of the Opera,” “South Pacific,” and “Fiddler on the Roof” will be performed. Don’t miss this opportunity to see up and coming young talent perform live on stage locally at Lenna Hall, 602 Lenna Ave. in Seffner. For information and to get tickets, contact Bonnie Tekampe at btsunlover@tampabay.rr.com or call 760-2691.

If you are a chocoholic, then you have to go to MOSI this weekend for “The Festival of Chocolate.” The festival includes tasting, sales of gourmet chocolates, cookies, brownies and more. There will be creative workshops for children and an Educational Chocolate Museum. Don’t miss the “Best of” Chocolate Indulgence Competition and Chocolate Decadent Raffle Drawing. MOSI is located at 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa. The festival runs from Saturday, January 15 through Monday, January 17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and until 5 p.m. on Monday. Please call 987-6000 or visit www.mosi.org for more information and tickets.

On Saturday, January 15, the public is invited to the Grand Opening of The Regent (formerly known as the Brandon Community Advantage Center). The Regent is located at 6437 Watson Rd. in Riverview. The facility will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be food, music and a program at 1 p.m.

Be among the lucky theatre goers and see “Wonderland” before it makes its Broadway debut in April. “Wonderland is on stage at the Straz Center in Tampa now through January 16. “Wonderland” is a new musical about Alice, who has lost her joy in life. It takes a trip to Wonderland for her to discover what she’s lose and reclaim what’s most important to her. Shows are on Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and on Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information call 222-1002 or visit www.tbpac.org.

On Sunday, January 16, at 3 p.m. you can enjoy a violin/piano concert performed by Alfonso Lopez, Concertmaster of the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra and Dr. Michelle Tabor, Professor of Music at Florida State University. The concert will take place in the sanctuary at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church located at 1239 Del Webb Blvd. W. in Sun City Center. Tickets are $9 and can be obtained at the door or the reception desk of the church. For more information, please call 642-8125 or 634-1252.

Email kcollins@ospreyobserver.com with any upcoming arts and entertainment events you would like to include in this weekly column.

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