Mary Rathman

Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, will host a vacation Bible school called Expedition to Everest July 13 to July 17 from 9 a.m. to noon, for kids ages 3 to 10. There will be songs, games, crafts, Bible adventures and snacks. There will be a sneak peak open house July 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. To register online, visit GroupVBSpro.com/vbs/ez/Harvester, or email Candice Wolff at .

Barnes & Noble at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28152 Paseo Drive, Suite 100, in Wesley Chapel, will host a read-a-thon of the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” July 13 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Community members and local personalities will read the novel out loud, in anticipation of the release of Harper Lee’s lost novel “Go Set a Watchman” on July 14. For information, call (813) 907-7739.

The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will meet July 14 at 7 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. There will be a panel discussion on propagation techniques. Guests can bring questions about their yards. There will be light refreshments and a native plant drawing. For information, call (727) 207-1853.

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce will present Christmas in July in Historic Downtown Dade City on July 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be an arts and crafts indoor festival, activities, goodies, a food truck rally and sidewalk sales. For information, call the chamber at (352) 567-3769.

The East Pasco Venue for Arts is looking for vendors with unique handmade items for the Christmas in July event in Dade City on July 18. This is an indoor venue. The vendor cost is $25. For information, call (352) 437-3876, (813) 263-0933 or (813) 783-4052.

The Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St., in St. Petersburg, will host the exhibit “Holocaust by Bullets, Yahad-In Unum – 10 Years of Investigations” until July 19. Guests can learn about this lesser-known side of the Holocaust, through eyewitness testimonies, photographs and maps. The exhibit presents Yahad’s identification of five steps of the crime that took place for every mass killing throughout Eastern Europe leading up to the executions. For information, visit FLHolocaustMuseum.org.

Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive in Tampa, will celebrate Independence Day on July 4 with live entertainment, food trucks and a fireworks display. Live music and the food trucks begin at 5 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.

The Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City, will host Sparklebration July 4 starting at 3 p.m. There will be live entertainment, food trucks, eating contests, bounce houses, pony rides, fireworks and more. There will be festival seating, but guests can bring blankets and chairs. No personal fireworks, pets, coolers, alcohol or food will be allowed. Admission is $5, but children younger than 12 are free. Parking is $5.

The Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., in Tampa, will host Red, White & Zoo July 3 to July 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members of the military (active-duty, retirees and veterans), and up to three dependents, get free admission with a valid military photo ID. There will also be a Teddy Bear Picnic on July 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information, visit LowryParkZoo.com.

Connerton, 21100 Fountain Garden Way in Land O’ Lakes, will have its second annual Nation Celebration July 3 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be free carnival games, bounce houses, balloon artists and face-paint artists. Food trucks will be available. There will be a Build-a-Buddy booth for children for $15 each. Fireworks will begin at dusk. Guests can bring blankets and chairs. For information, visit Connerton.com/July3.