
Tampa's annual tradition of spreading holiday cheer and two-wheeled gifts rolls on tomorrow, with Mayor Jane Castor leading the operation alongside local community leaders. This year's Caroling with Castor event, in collaboration with the local non-profit onbikes, is set to give away 120 bicycles and helmets to children from Parks and Recreation programs. According to the City of Tampa press release, these bicycles are more than just holiday gifts—they represent freedom, discovery, and the simple joys of childhood.
The festivities commence Friday afternoon, with the Temple Crest Community Center as the first pit stop. Kids there will get more than just a glimpse of their city mayor on a full-blown Gasparilla float; they're in for a personal shout-out from Mayor Castor as they pick out their helmets and lay hands on their new rides. The organizers, powered by the lights of Microlumen and the support of Tampa General Hospital, have ticked all the boxes, ensuring each bike fits each child just right.
Cheer and goodwill will flow through a total of three events, with the Caroling with Castor crew travelling in festive style between locations. Each delivery marks a milestone of not just gifting bikes but also fostering community and brightening futures. Here's how the afternoon shapes up: At 2:00 P.M., the preparations rev up at 8413 N 37th St. By 3:00 P.M., the first group of children at the Temple Crest Community Center will be wheeling away with their new bikes. After that, the parade rolls on to Rowlett Activity Center for a 3:45 P.M. hand-off, and finally, George Bartholomew Center by 4:30 P.M.
Since forming in 2011, onbikes has handed out thousands of bicycles to at-risk youth in Tampa, building a legacy that peddles past simple charity and into the realms of empowerment and community building. Tomorrow's event marks not just the season's giving spirit, but also a continued commitment to investing in younger generations. As the announcement on the City of Tampa's website suggests, each bicycle and helmet provided is appropriately sized for the age of the child, showing the care and consideration at the heart of this annual event. The joy of the season, wrapped in the spokes and frames of a child's bike, rolls on in Tampa.