It may be the dog days of summer, but that doesn’t mean the number of special events in Pasco has diminished. Visitors to the area – and local residents – can still find something to do almost every weekend from August through September.

This month, take a stand against crime by participating in the National Night Out street party in downtown Zephyrhills on Tuesday, Aug. 3. The event will feature live entertainment all night, along with educational displays, games and, of course, plenty of food. The fun begins at 6 p.m. and continues through 9 p.m.

On Aug. 14, downtown New Port Richey will be the scene of a Key West-style celebration as the Night in the Tropics kicks off with live music on two stages, including the Caribbean Chillers, back by popular demand. Billed as the coolest party on the hottest night of the year, the tropical fun includes two beer gardens, street performers, kids’ activities, bounce house and rock climbing wall, classic car cruise-in and arts and crafts. What more do you need on a hot summer night?

The month of September brings two of the County’s most well-known events – the Pioneer Florida Days Festival in Dade City on Labor Day weekend and RocktemberFest – formerly known as Founders Day - in downtown New Port Richey on the last weekend of the month.

Held Sept. 5 and 6 at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village north of Dade City, Pioneer Florida Days is the museum’s annual celebration of early Florida heritage, including live Civil War re-enactments, authentic craft demonstrations, a mock court martial, 1860s fashion show, children’s activities and live entertainment.

RocktemberFest, held in downtown New Port Richey from Sept. 24-26, will feature some new traditions, including scarecrow making and pumpkin painting, as well as the traditional Founders Day favorites of live music, classic cars, kids entertainment, a craft show and, of course, food. Be sure to celebrate the end of the summer in style with one of Pasco’s many unique events!

Celebrate Christmas in July in Dade City

Celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas in July in historic downtown Dade City!

Stores will feature sales, specials, antique appraisals and demonstrations. See below for more information. Email Dade City Main Street at mainstreet01@embarqmail.com or call 352-567-0284.

Old-Fashioned Christmas in July Promotions

Grapevine Antiques - Will be offering FREE Clock AppraisalsAntiques on Main Street - All Furniture 20% Off, Enter to win a $25 Gift certificate with any purchase.

Wee Grow'd - FREE Gift with any purchase

The Coffee Mug Cafe - LIVE Music, Christmas goodies including eggnog and candy cane milkshakes, cookies, bread and more!

Peddlers Village - In store promotions and drawings.

Quilts on Plum Lane - Will be offering $10 verbal or $40 written appraisals, Tatting Demonstrations by Edith Wooley and all Christmas Fabric will be 25% Off!

4 Alarm Tan and Essentials - Door Prizes, Special Pricing and Enter for a chance to win one of two raffles!

Williams Fashion Center - Large assortment of summer lightweight jackets and burnout shirts on sale for $35!

Lunch on Limoges - Fresh Peaches will be featured on our menu!

Sugarcreek Too - enjoy refreshments while you browse our store featuring sales 25%-50% off!

Annetta's Antiques - Storewide savings on selected items.

Annetta's Attic - Be part of Dade City's Version of Antiques Roadshow FREE verbal appraisals(Max. 3 items per person please). Does not include appraisals of: Precious Gems, Fine Art or Oriental Rugs.

Top Drawer Antiques - 1pm - 3pm Ask the Expert about your pocket and wristwatches. Special Discounts throughout the store from 10%-50% on selected items. Find the impression of "One Eyed Joe" the 12' alligator on the wall and be entered into a drawing to win a special item!

Kumquat Kuriosities - 50% Off Sale!

Ivy Cottage Antiques and Wine Merchant - Join us for "A Taste of the Holidays" Wine Tasting.

Be sure to set aside Saturday, July 10 and visit downtown Dade City for Christmas in July!

Fireworks Exploding All Over Pasco This Year

No matter where you live in Pasco County, you can find a Fourth of July celebration not too far away.

In West Pasco, the Angelus in Hudson will hosts its 2nd Annual Patriotic Fireworks Family Fun Extravaganza on Saturday, July 3, with all proceeds benefitting the Angelus, a group home for severely disabled children and adults. Gates open at noon and the event includes local musicians Wiley Fox, JoDell and N-Kahootz, as well as arts and crafts, food and a large fireworks display. The Angelus is located at 12413 Hudson Avenue in Hudson. Cost is $5 per carload.

If you are in East Pasco, your best bet for fireworks and fun is the Annual Sparklebration Festival & Fireworks Celebration at the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City. As always, the Sparklebration lineup is packed with fun, family entertainment, including the popular Fritzy’s one-man circus, country and pop musician Dennis Lee, magician Steven Marcus, an Elvis tribute artist, plus pony rides, a petting zoo, kids games, animal shows, hot dog and apple pie eating contests and more. Gates open at 4 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Admission is $3 and parking is $5.

“California Dreamin’” Becomes Reality at Main Street Blast

KIAFest Main Street Blast 2010, the 13th edition of this award-winning special event, will take place from 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturday in Sims Park and around Orange Lake in downtown New Port Richey.

The concert theme is “California Dreamin’” and hearkens back to the music of Southern California in the 60s and 70s, with tribute bands playing the music of the Mamas and the Papas, the Beach Boys, the Doobie Brothers and the Eagles.

Also on stage will be young Tiffani Cruz, performing the National Anthem, and comedian Lou Angelwolf.

“This event has always featured classic rock music, and we like to recreate certain facets of that fantastic era,'' said Judy DeBella Thomas, executive director of Greater New Port Richey Main Street, the organizer of the event. "Last year we paid homage to the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, and this year we want to take everyone back to the California beach culture that was such a big part of those fun times. John Gilliss of Friendly KIA has ‘tricked out’ a Surfin’ Soul and a Sorento ‘Woody,’ which will be on site.''

In addition to the music, KIAFest will feature its annual fireworks show, sponsored by Lucas, Green, and Magazine, scheduled between 9:30 and 10 p.m., weather conditions permitting, at Orange Lake. The 9th Annual Miss Firecracker Contest will offer cash prizes and other goodies for the winners. And the event’s annual salute to our troops will devote special attention to the "sand soldiers" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Southern Cruisers Riding Club and the Gulfside Car Club will be combining to raise funds for soldiers, and both clubs will have their vehicles, motorcycles and classic autos on display at the event, along with a motorcycle raffle managed by the Cotee River Bike Fest. There will be a dunk tank sponsored by Advanced Research and manned by Marine veteran Adam Randall.

Look for a special appearance by The Swampmaster, Jeff Quattrocchi, who gained worldwide fame at Main Street’s recent Cotee River Seafood/Blues Fest. In addition, there will be river cruises along the Cotee River aboard the Miss Daisy, food and beverage vendors, and two beer trucks to offer cold refreshments.

To deal with the heat, there will be shade tents in the concert venue and areas with cooling mist hoses.

“We want people to get out, relax and enjoy a great day in the park to celebrate our independence,” said DeBella Thomas.

For more information, visit http://www.nprmainstreet.com/ or call 727-842-8066.

Giraffe Ranch Tours Opens North of Dade City

Have you ever fed a giraffe? Have you ever smelled their grassy breath?

These are memories that will last you a lifetime. At Giraffe Ranch in Dade City, Florida you'll experience first hand, the lives of giraffe and other species from around the world
living under huge live oaks in a setting that is right out of Africa.

Giraffe Ranch is a licensed working ranch that specializes in exotic species as well as domestic cattle and horses. Visitors learn about exotic animals from an expert guide from the comfort of specially designed 4-wheel drive vehicles. The ranch is also helping to preserve species that are extinct in the wild.

Located in east Pasco County 45 minutes north of Tampa, Giraffe Ranch is on 47 acres
of rolling countryside. With huge live oaks, native orchids and lush pastures and wetlands, the ranch is also a native wildlife preserve. Every night up to 200 sandhill cranes roost on the grounds.

Experience Giraffe Ranch farm tours with an experienced driver/guide in customized safari tour vehicles. Visitors are safe, comfortable and have a terrific view, as each vehicle is fitted with shade canopies and stadium seating. Learn about native and exotic animals and their habitats from the safari guides. See the ongoing conservation efforts with endangered species and some that are extinct in the wild.

On safari you can feed giraffe, zebra and other animals from Asia, Africa, and the
Americas. See a working herd of Austrian Haflinger horses and tiny Irish Dexter cattle. Giraffe Ranch has one of the largest herds of these diminutive cattle in Florida.

Giraffe Ranch is not a zoo or theme park. It is a hands-on, working game farm and
wildlife preserve where animals have room to roam. Family-owned and operated for over 10 years, Giraffe Ranch is open by reservation only. The farm has two tours per day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tours are strictly limited in size and are fun, educational adventures.

Giraffe Ranch is accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) and licensed
by USDA. Visit Giraffe Ranch for the ultimate ecoadventure! Call (813) 4823400
or visit www.girafferanch.com for more information or reservations.

Anclote Eagles Lure Birders from Around U.S.

A pair of bald eagles that has made its winter home just outside Anclote River Park in Holiday has drawn the attention of birders from around the world. Because the nest is so clearly visible from the road, the word has spread and birding enthusiasts have followed the progress of the pair and their baby chicks. The eagles have flown back to their summer home but return each year to nest and raise their young. Local photographer Andrea Pico Estrada spent the past few months documenting the eagles and created two beautiful You Tube slideshows of images. Click on the links below to observe the eagles and their young. Anclote Eagles on You Tube, January 2010
Anclote Eagles on You Tube Part 2, May 2010 Click here to learn more about Anclote River Park and nearby Anclote Gulf Park, Key Vista Park and Eagle Point Park.

Art Gallery in Dade City to Host Caricaturist

Local artist Samuel David Carroll Freeman will be set up outside the HiBrow Art Gallery in historic downtown Dade City from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, in conjunction with Dade City ’s monthly car show.

Samuel is a 17-year-old high school student at Springstead High School in Brooksville. A resident of South Carolina until the age of eight, Samuel has been “drawing with precision since he was two” and winning both school district and county fair awards with his artwork since elementary school.

Freeman is a fan of original forms and fantasy art, and he works with a montage of mediums, including charcoal and airbrushes. He is also versed in the art of digital photography. His established workplace is his garage, where he takes and fills weekly orders for his work.

These orders, along with hours spent at charity events doing face-painting, not to mention his school work, all make for a pretty tight schedule, but Samuel finds it all worthwhile, and he hopes one day to go into “original comic artwork, digital design, and animation.”

Don't miss this great celebration of the arts in historic downtown Dade City! HiBrow Art Gallery is located at 14123 Seventh Street on the Historic Courthouse Square across from Beef O’Brady’s. Admission to the gallery is free and this event is open to the public.

For more information on the gallery or other HiBrow events, including Artist of the Month, Gallery Talks and Art Fridays, contact Brittany Rathbone at (352) 521-3823.