Weird, Wacky And Wonderful Holidays- April 2018 Beer Day * Zoo Day * Big Wind Day * Shrimp Scampi Day * Hair Appreciation Day

.Did you know that there are an abundance of daily holidays and special days every month? Some are immersed in tradition, while others may be silly, bizarre, unique, special or inspirational. Unofficial Holidays are not traditionally marked on calendars but are celebrated by various groups and individuals. Some are designed to promote a cause or to recognize historical events not recognized officially, while others are fun holidays, generally intended to just be humorous. So, in the midst of our busy lives, maybe consider taking time to enjoy some of the entertaining but lesser-known holidays throughout the year.

Corona, Bud Light, Blue Moon? Whatever your choice in beer, you will be happy celebrate these awesome ales on National Beer Day, Saturday, April 7. Effective April 7, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt repealed the 13-year prohibition and people could once more legally buy, sell and consume their beloved brews. At the stroke of midnight an on that first National Beer Day, Americans consumed 1.5 million barrels of legal beer and ale. Today, beer is the third most popular beverage in the world behind water and tea. To honor this historical day, we should all lift up our frosty mugs, bottles and cans in celebration. There is no shortage of places to celebrate, but if you are looking for a special location, you may want to hop on over to Stein & Vine or Craft Beer Cellar, both located in Brandon. Or if you have a hankering to learn how to brew your own beer, visit Bootleggers BREWWORX, a homebrew supply store who offers a full line of ingredients and supplies for making beer. They are located at 650 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon.

After your beer celebration, how about a fun trip to Lowry Park Zoo? Sunday, April 8 is National Zoo Day and who doesn’t love the zoo? Its fun for the whole family, so load up the kids, the neighbor’s kids – even the grandparents – and go enjoy some lions, tigers and bears at the Lowry Park Zoo located at 1101 W Sligh Ave. in Tampa. For more information about prices and times, visit www.zootampa.org.

Thursday, April 12 is a day that will BLOW your mind. National Big Wind Day commemorates the highest wind speed ever recorded on the planet. Can you guess where? Surprisingly, it wasn’t in the middle of a tornado or even a hurricane. On April 12, 1934, the staff of the Mount Washington Observatory recorded the highest surface wind ever measured, anywhere on earth, officially recorded at 231 miles per hour. How can you honor this windy discovery? Visit iFLY in Brandon, an indoor simulated skydiving in a wind tunnel that is safe and fun for the whole family. Don’t let this day blow by you, visit www.iflyworld.com.

If you are a fan of the tasty crustaceans covered in warm butter and garlic, then National Shrimp Scampi day on Sunday, April 29 is your special day. Don’t be ‘shellfish’ and let this delicious day pass you by. Shrimp scampi is simple and easy to make. But if aren’t in the cooking mood, you many want to visit Beve Cibo located at 5622 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Lithia. They have a shrimp scampi dish that is ‘shrimply’ delicious.

What does the bee-hive, bouffant, bob, shag, and mullet have in common? These are all hairstyles that hold a special place in our hearts during Hairstyle Appreciation Day on Monday, April 30. Hairstyle Appreciation Day celebrates the uniqueness of all styles of hair -whether long, short, curly, blonde, brown, red or a combination. Maybe this is the day you should consider a new color or cut. Maybe give Boulevard Salon in Brandon a call at 571-5800 and let them know that your ‘do’ needs a new ‘do.’

I would be remiss if I did not add this very important final day to this story. Wednesday, April 18 is National Columnists Day, recognizing the importance and value of newspaper columnists. The National Society of Newspaper Columnists was founded in 1977 and sponsors this day in support of columnists and journalists around the world. The staff at the Osprey Observer Newspaper is dedicated to bringing good news, supporting local businesses and community awareness to the Southeastern Hillsborough area. To learn more about the Osprey Observer newspaper, become a Facebook follower at www.facebook.com/OspreyObserverFans