Happy Holly Day Promises Fun and Community

If a fruit cake bake off and ugly sweater contest are your idea of fun during the holidays then Happy Holly Day is the event you'll want to check out.

The high energy festival celebrating all holidays will happen on Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Northdale Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive.

This marks the first year of the event, organized by Kim Kenney, founder of the Carrollwood Northdale Area Community Organization.

"Happy Holly Day," will include 100 vendors, crafts, an ugly sweater contest, fruit cake bake off and entertainment by area school musicians. 

The event is an effort by numerous influential groups in the community including CABA, The Northdale Civic Association, OWL's, Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department, Business Networking International along with Kenney's organization.

"We wanted to create community involvement not just a family festival," Kenney said.

Money raised from the event will go to the various local schools who provide entertainment at Happy Holly Day. And vendors will not only sell their products they'll also offer activities and crafts for the public at their tables.

Rick Valdez, area program superivsor at Northdale Recreation Center, jumped at the chance to work with Kenney on the event.

"We're always looking for good partners to offer events to the community and after talking with her and getting to know her a little bit I realized she was genuine and her true inteest are in build the community and connect people which is one of our missions," Valdez said.

The goal of Happy Holly Day is draw between 3,000-5,000 attendees.

Valdez is optimistic about making that goal.

"We won't know for sure for a while, but by the looks of things, everything looks to be going really well," he said.

To learn more about Happy Holly Day check out their Facebook Fan Page.