Innovative collaboration, creative cupcakes, cats ‘n dogs ‘n costumes — ’n lots more!

1. Acrobotic. The multi-talented Nicole Hays — a nationally known body artist who’s also an amazing acrobat — adds another dimension to her oeuvre this weekend at the Gallery at Creative Pinellas with “Acrobotic,” a futuristic circus featuring partner acrobatics, contact improv and her trademark “Spinning Sphere” act. Also in the gallery: an exhibit of Hays’s body-painting prints, created in collaboration with local photographers Michael Sheehan and James Henderson.  Sat. 8/3, 7 p.m.; Sun. 8/4, 3 p.m. Free admission. 12211 Walsingham Rd, Largo, creativepinellas.org.
2. The Hundred Dresses. Innovocative Theater brings to life the beloved children’s book about an ostracized young girl whose drawings of dresses ultimately answer the bullies who plagued her. A multi-generational cast and post-matinee talkbacks continue Innovocative’s tradition of presenting socially conscious scripts that encourage discussion. Fri. 8/2-Sun. 8/11 at Stageworks Theater, 1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., West Building #151, Tampa. innovocativetheatre.org. 
3. The Florida Björkestra: Nick Drake & Joni Mitchell. Two towering icons of pop get the inimitable Björkestra treatment, in which a troupe of mad musical geniuses led by Jeremy Douglass find inventive ways to cover familiar (and not so familiar) music. This time the ensemble is smaller than usual, better to suit the more intimate sounds of the artists being honored, and the performance, usually seen in the Palladium’s big Hough mainstage, moves to the Side Door Cabaret. Sat. 8/3, 8 p.m., 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, mypalladium.org.
4. Tampa Bay Comic Convention. Why are all those people parading around downtown Tampa in capes and masks and other super-heroic regalia? Because they’re among the predicted 50,000 (!) cos-players slated to descend on the Tampa Convention Center to meet sci-fi and fantasy stars from the likes of Hellboy and Harry Potter, pore over graphic novels, play console games and meet (and speed-date and maybe even marry) fellow geeks. Fri. 8/2, noon-midnight; Sat. 8/3, 9 a.m.-midnight; Sun. 8/4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa tampacomicconvention.com.
5. Pet Shows #1: Vets & pets at Florida CraftArt. In conjunction with the gallery’s delightful Woof, Meow, Chirp and Slither show, there’ll be panels Saturday afternoon on topics like indoor cats and goat yoga, plus an ask-a-vet session and a Yappy Hour. Sat. 8/3, 1:30-5:30 p.m., Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, floridacraftart.org.
6. Pet Shows #2: “Paws & Effect” at Sparkman Wharf. Head to Tampa’s Channel District on Saturday to visit adoptable pets and purchase “paws” for $6 apiece to be placed along the wharf, with proceeds going toward construction of a new shelter for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Sat. 8/3, 4-8 p.m., Sparkman Wharf, Tampa, sparkmanwharf.com.
7. First Friday End of Summer Bash. Some who live near the 200 block of Central Ave. in St. Pete may wish this event were celebrating the End of First Fridays, but for the rest of downtown’s merry revelers, the monthly block party will offer a good excuse to celebrate (rather early, but whatever) the end of the summer doldrums, with music, food and general festiveness. Fri. 8/3,  5:30-9:30 p.m., Central Ave. between 2nd and 3rd streets, St. Petersburg.
8. The Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest. The Morean turns to the culinary arts on Saturday in this, its ninth annual cupcakery competition. Registration has closed, but the best part is the tasting, right? Judging will be based on icing/frosting, flavor/texture and presentation/creativity, and there’s a People’s Choice award, too. Sat. 8/3, 12-3 p.m., Morean Center for Clay, 420 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg, moreanartscenter.org.
9. Way Beyond Water. A free public reading of a new play by the multi-talented Jan Neuberger, winner of a grant from the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance. You might have seen Jan perform at American Stage or perhaps even on Broadway, but she’s also a talented playwright. Way Beyond Water is set in 1963 Alabama, where the Civil Rights struggle brings two strangers together when they discover a shared tie to a dying man. Featuring Dee Selmore, Don Walker, Angela Bond, Olivia Sargent and Naire Poole. Directed by Vickie Daignault. Thurs. 8/1, 7 p.m., Opera Central, 2145 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg.
10. Plays-A-Poppin’. It’s a good weekend to catch up on your theater-going, because three of the best-reviewed shows of the year are still on the boards — Fun Home (at American Stage through 8/18), Pippin (at freeFall through 8/11), and Constellations at Jobsite, which closes on Sunday. Plus, there’s The Gap and the Glue, a free performance of a brand-new short play by American Stage apprentices that follows select performances of Fun Home. americanstage.org, freefalltheatre.com, jobsitetheater.org.