Adventures of a Pasco Tourist

Holiday Events All Over Pasco This Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:34:00 +0000

If you are looking for a quick blast of holiday spirit this weekend, Pasco has plenty of opportunities to liven up your inner Scrooge!

At Crews Lake Park off State Road 52 and Hays Road, you can ride through the woods to see a lighted Christmas display courtesy of Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 17 and 18. Cost for unlimited rides is only a donation of $2 per person. Kids three and under ride free. On Saturday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. kids of all ages can ride the rails to visit Santa at the "North Pole.'' They will have hot dogs, sodas, hot chocolate and water for sale. For more photos and directions, visit the website at http://www.cpgrr.org/ Click here for a map or directions.

A great spot to brighten your holiday spirits is the Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, where the Symphony in Lights takes place each night on the hour from 6 to 9 p.m. Featuring thousands of lights choreographed to holiday music, the spectacle is sure to warm even the Grinch's heart!

Wiregrass also the area's first outdoor ice skating rink, just like Rockefeller Center. Through the end of the year, the synthetic ice rink will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Prices are $8 during the week and $10 on weekends.

In Dade City, take a stroll through Christmas past at Church Street Christmas, which begins Monday, Dec. 21 and continues through Wednesday, Dec. 23. Sponsored by residents, neighbors and friends of Historic Church Avenue, the event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. and features beautifully decorated homes, lighted luminarias, strolling carolers, choral groups and free hot cocoa!

For a complete schedule, visit http://www.churchstreetchristmas.com/

Pasco Bug Jam Sets World Record for Most People in a VW Bug

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:57:00 +0000

DADE CITY --- The fledging economy didn’t stop Volkswagen owners from flocking to the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City, FL, for the 21st annual Pasco Bug Jam on Sunday, Nov. 8. Nearly 500 VWs, representing most all models of the “People’s Car,” entered the show, along with more than 125 swap vendors and plenty of new VW parts vendors and sellers of all things Volkswagen.

The Bug Jam, noted as the largest VW show in the Southeast, also received international recognition when event hosts organized an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Record™ for the most people “crammed into an old-style VW Beetle.”

“The old figure was 15, set in December 2008 in Brazil,” said Carol Jeffares Hedman, Bug Jam coordinator. “I was doubtful when we got the ’71 Bug and looked inside that more than that could possibly fit.”

But about 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, 17 people twisted and turned and squeezed into the small VW, remaining in the pretzel-like mound with the doors and windows shut for 5 seconds --- breaking the world record.

“We didn’t even know there were 17 in there until they started literally pulling the arms and legs out doors,” Hedman said. “It was great. The DJ started playing ‘We Are the Champions’ and the crowd and participants started whooping and hollering and giving high-fives.”

To be an official attempt, Guinness Book of World Records™ requires various forms of documentation to make sure its requirements were met, Hedman said. That includes all persons being 18 or older and taller than 5 feet. The Bug Jam participants ranged in ages from 19 to 56 and from 5-feet-1 to 6 foot tall.

“We have sent the required documentation and are now just waiting to hear back from Guinness for the official word,” Hedman said.

Other winners at the Bug Jam included the 1952 Beetle owned by Lindy Herrell of Carrollton, GA. It took home Best of Show honors, along with best interior. Other awards went to Tee and Evelyn Watkins, of Bardstown, KY, with a 1973 Thing for the best engine; Kevin Arsenean, of Chugiak, AS, 1965 21-Window Microbus, best paint; and Donna Morse, of Lyndon, IL, 2000 Beetle GIS, best display.

A crowd of more than 7,000 attended the Bug Jam, held annually on the second Sunday of November at the 40-acre Pasco County Fairgrounds.

The Bug Jam is organized by the non-profit Pasco County Fair Association Inc., a 501 (c) 3 organization, and all proceeds go to non-profit organizations, including All Children’s Hospital that has received nearly $200,000 since the Bug Jam was conceived 21 years ago. It is also supported, in part, by the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

For more information about the Bug Jam, call the Pasco Fair Office, (352) 567-6678, e-mail bugjam@pascocountyfair.com, or visit the Web site: http://www.pascobugjam.com/.

Symphony in Lights Returns to Wiregrass

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Combine 250,000 lights, Trans-Siberian Orchestra music plus computer-animation and you have an exciting new holiday tradition for Pasco County. With a quarter of a million LED lights, 1,000 watts of sound, and 10 tons of holiday décor combine to create “Symphony in Lights,” one unbelievable holiday experience that returns to The Shops at Wiregrass on November 21st and runs nightly through December 31.

To celebrate the show’s kick off on November 21, a concert will be held in Center Court featuring The Alan Darcy Group that will play throughout the night. The Shops at Wiregrass, Pasco's newest Town Center shopping destination, is located at SR56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel.

The twinkling, blinking, ever-moving, computer-programmed extravaganza, choreographed to the holiday music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), runs four times per evening, every hour on the hour, beginning at 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

“Symphony In Lights” illuminates the night with the area's newest holiday tradition, a show that’s simply unlike anything that currently exists in the Greater Tampa/St. Pete area,” said Greg Lenners, general manager, The Shops at Wiregrass. “The Center will be trimmed top to bottom with 250,000 LED lights that only take as much energy to run nightly as it takes to light a single home. ‘Symphony in Lights’ will delight the whole family and is well worth the trip, no matter where you live in the area,” he added.

The first “Symphony in Lights” was created in Mason, Ohio, when holiday light hobbyist Carson Williams conceived a fantastically creative light show on his home, set to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It made its way across the United States via the Internet appearing on The Today Show, Ellen DeGeneres, the Miller Lite beer commercial and You Tube, drawing the attention of developer Forest City, owner and manager of The Shops at Wiregrass and other centers across the country.

Forest City was so inspired by Carson’s creativity, that they partnered with him and brought in professional designer John Carter from Parker 3-D.com to create commercial-sized, choreographed lighting exhibits set to the music of TSO.

Slither over to San Antonio for Rattlesnakes & More

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:28:00 +0000

Ok, where else can you go and see trained snake handlers in one show and racing gopher tortoises (sort of) in another? Then, walk over to the corn toss tournament or western wear contest? Sound intriguing? Then, you'd better "slither" on over to San Antonio for the 43rd Annual San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival.

If you've never been, it's a Pasco County treasure you truly have to see to believe. There is so much to do and see that you really do need two days to see everything. From arts and crafts to kids games, a petting zoo, inflatables, live entertainment, custom car show and 5-mile or 1-mile fun runs, there is no way you won't be entertained. Or at least really, really scared. (Just kidding! All of the snakes are handled only by trained experts and spectators are a safe distance from the dangerous ones at all times.)
For the foodies, did we mention there is also a Pancake Breakfast and Chili Cook-off? And of course, what would any small town festival be without a pageant? The Miss Rattler Pageant will be held Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. in Dan Cannon Auditorium at the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City. Don't miss it!

Bikers to invade Downtown New Port Richey

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:43:00 +0000

If you are a biker or just a bike fan, then you will want to make plans to head to Downtown New Port Richey the weekend of Oct. 9-11. The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce will present its Fifth Annual Cotee River Bike Fest at Sims Park and around Orange Lake. There will be live music on two stages, a vintage ride-in bike show, $1,000 Daisy Duke contest, truck pull, tattoo contest and the "Disc-Connected K-9s,'' world-famous frisbee dogs.
Again this year, Sheriff Bob White and the Sheriff's Foundation will host the Annual Sheriff's Charity Ride to benefit the PACE Center for Girls. The 50-mile ride starts at Gulfcoast Harley Davidson on State Road 54 and ends with VIP parking at the Bike Fest. Riders will be escorted by the Pasco Sheriff's Motorcycle Unit.

A second good cause at the Bike Fest will be the Bikers Against Hunger food drive and fundraiser. Visitors to the festival are encouraged to bring canned food, baby food, toilet paper and other non-perishable items to the Volunteer Way tent at the festival. It's a great way to have a good time and help others! To find out more or volunteer, visit the website or call the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce at 727-842-7651.

Weekends Packed with Events in Downtown New Port Richey

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:04:00 +0000

Things are really jumping in downtown New Port Richey for the next few weekends. Greater New Port Richey Main Street and Progress Energy Art Gallery sent us the updates below. Check it out and get downtown!

Greater New Port Richey Main Street will host its September Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Railroad Square in New Port Richey. During the summer months the market has been on a monthly schedule, which will continue through October.

The September market will include a community garage sale where people can sell household items in a relaxed atmosphere. Entertainment will be provided by Greg Rabelo, guitarist and
singer for the local band Bone Yard Dogs, who will be appearing at Main Street’s Founders Day Fall Celebration in Sims Park a week later.

“The Downtown Farmers Markets are a part of Main Street’s program to get people to enjoy the beautiful downtown we have here in New Port Richey, and at the same time do a little bargain
shopping while taking care of their produce needs,” said Judy DeBella Thomas, the Executive Director of Greater New Port Richey Main Street. “We feel that the more folks visit our downtown, the more they will want to come back!”

For information about the Downtown Farmers Market, or to apply for vendor space, visit http://www.nprmainstreet.com/ or call 727-842-8066.

Florida State Quarter Illustrator to Appear at Art Exhibit
Progress Energy Art Gallery will host prominent artist/illustrator Ralph Butler on Sept. 26. Mr. Butler’s paintings have been on exhibit at the gallery as part of the Viva L’Florida show featuring art that depicts the state of Florida. The gallery is located at 6231 Grand Boulevard in downtown New Port Richey.

Mr. Butler will present the original illustrations that were selected for the 2004 Commemorative Florida Quarter design, called "Gateway to Discovery."

Mr. Butler also designed the very rare Bicentennial Medal for Florida, through the Franklin Mint. Due to the rarity of this medal it will only be on exhibit the evening of his appearance, under guard. The artist will also sign your own Florida State quarter, so check your piggy banks and pockets for Florida State quarters.

Progress Energy Art Gallery is a project of Greater New Port Richey Main Street, whose mission is to assist in the growth and redevelopment of historic downtown. The art gallery was founded in May of 2003, with the purpose of giving local artists an opportunity to show their work and to enhance cultural quality in the West Pasco area. To learn more, visit http://www.nprgallery.com/ or call 727-848-6500.

Birding Events and Trips Hosted by West Pasco Audubon

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:44:00 +0000

The West Pasco Audubon Society recently released its fall schedule of birding programs and field trips. Here is the scoop!

The fall calendar begins Sept. 12 with a program at the Starkey Education Center, located inside the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey. "Birding in Paradise, Birds of Hawaii" will be presented by Agnes Condon at 3 p.m.

The group's Annual Migration Count will be on Saturday, Sept. 19. Be sure to count your backyard and neighborhood birds and email Ken Tracey at kftracey@verizon.net with your species list and the total birds seen. County parks will also need bird counters. Be sure to record the park name. Use the list of birds seen on previous counts to record your sightings.

The photo contest for this fall and spring 2010 has started! See the rules and entry form for complete details. Photos from the 2009 contest can be picked up at the Sept. 12 meeting. Check out last year's first place winner in the Native Bird category by Mark Turnau!

Finally, a couple cool field trips are planned.

Honeymoon Island: Saturday Sept 26 at 7:30 a.m. Meet at the Burger King located at Moog Road and U.S. 19 in Holiday. Agnes Condon will lead the group.

Pelagic Trip on the East Coast: Sunday Nov. 15th, Contact Murray Gardler at
mangrovefirst@tampabay.rr.com or Michael Brothers at mbrothers@co.volusia.fl.us for
costs and times.

For more information on these and other fun birding activities, contact Ken Tracey at kftracey@verizon.net or visit the website at http://www.westpascoaudubon.com/ Happy birding!

Visit these attractions during Tourism Week

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:58:00 +0000

What better way to recognize National Tourism and Travel Week by checking out some of the very cool tours and attractions that Pasco County has to offer. If you are visiting, you'll have a great time discovering the meaning of Pasco's "It's Only Natural" slogan. If you are a local, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the unique and offbeat activities you can do in your own backyard. Check out a few below, along with these fun facts about tourism in Florida and the U.S.

Travel Industry Fun Facts

Did You Know that travel and tourism is a $1.6 trillion industry in the United States? If one dollar bill equaled a second of time, then $1.6 trillion would equal almost 51,000 years.

Did You Know that travel and tourism generates $110 billion in tax revenue for local, state and federal governments? If you place 110 billion one dollar bills end-to-end, they would circle the world 419 times.

Did You Know that each U.S. household would pay $995 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry? $995 will buy about five weeks of groceries for a family of four, will fill the average car with gas 17 times, or will even pay the average cost of a ticket to a Michigan vs. Ohio State football game.

Did You Know that the travel and tourism industry is one of the country's largest employers with 7.5 million jobs? You could fill the Louisiana Superdome a hundred times over with people directly employed in the industry. For more, visit the U.S. Travel Association's website.

So, what's there to do in Pasco County? Plenty! Check out some of these cool spots this summer.

Florida Estates Winery, State Road 52 in Land O' Lakes - Open daily, the winery also hosts a monthly Fresh Market with produce, arts and crafts vendors, wine tasting and live music. http://www.floridaestateswines.com/

Empire Winery, 11807 Little Road, New Port Richey - Provides tours and wine tastings. Call (727) 819-2821 or stop by. Visit them online here.

Dade City's Wild Things Zoo - Meridian Avenue & 17th Street, Dade City. A non-profit sanctuary and zoo on 22 acres, Wild Things offers feeding tours, educational tours for school groups and private tours. Visit the website here.

Miss Daisy Boat Tours on the Cotee River - Docked at the Seaside Inn in Port Richey, the Miss Daisy provides short jaunts on the Cotee River and into the Gulf of Mexico. Captain Kelly and First Mate George share the vibrant history of Pasco County as they cruise by homes of Gloria Swanson, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, & Johnny Cash. Visit their website here.

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Have a comment about Pasco Tourism? Click the "Comments" link below to discuss great places to visit in Pasco County or to recommend a destination for an upcoming Adventure.

Benefit "Art for Kids" at Suncoast Arts Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:33:00 +0000

Organizers of the Suncoast Arts Fest, being held this year at the Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, are promoting the event as a low-cost option for kids and families to enjoy. See below for more details from the event website. The art festival is free and proceeds benefit art education programs for kids.

Suncoast Arts Fest, May 2 - 3

Everyone has been affected by the recent down-turn of the economy either directly or through someone they know. The good news is there are still opportunities to make happy memories on a tight budget and the Suncoast Arts Fest May 2—3 at The Shops of Wiregrass is one of those opportunities. There will be something for everyone. This annual event will feature the works of over 80 fine artisans and craftsmen in all price ranges and for all tastes.

Looking for that special gift maybe for an important birthday? Something for mom on Mother's Day? Or to celebrate an anniversary? Well, here’s a helpful buying hint - buy an original piece of artistic treasure. When you select a handcrafted, one-of-a-kind piece of magic, the special persons who receives it will always think of you when they see it or use it. Here's another idea - buy a one-of-kind memento that will remind you of the wonderful day spent at the Suncoast Arts Fest with family and friends.

There's so much at the Arts Fest for everyone to enjoy at no cost. Children can hone their artistic instincts in the hands-on children’s art tent. You and your friends can enjoy a variety of both professional and local musical talent, everything from rock to blues to polka. Enjoy the wonderful food and spirits available at the merchants of Wiregrass.

Admission is free and there is plenty of convenient parking. Everything is handicapped accessible. Come out, relax and forget your troubles at the Suncoast Arts Fest on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Remember, this event is put on to benefit "Arts for Kids in Pasco County."

For additional information, visit www.suncoastartsfest.com or call 727-247-6182. The Suncoast Arts Fest is a production of The Fine Arts of the Suncoast, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit 501(c)(3) with the mission to "promote cultural awareness in Pasco County." Proceeds from the event will go to "Art for Kids in Pasco County" and help supplement funding for arts education in schools.

Eat BBQ & Raise Money for a Good Cause

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Where else can you ride your bike for a good cause and chow down on some of the best barbecue around? Only at East Pasco Habitat’s Orange Blossom Special BBQ & Bike Festival, of course! Choose from individual, family fun or team rides of up to 62 miles through the hills around Dade City or along the Withlacoochee State Trail. Follow that with a fabulous BBQ lunch and live entertainment including country, gospel and fiddlers at the Dade City Business Center Festival Courtyard. The BBQ competition is officially sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association and includes cash prizes. There will also be crafters, civic booths and vendors and the Citrus History Museum will be open all day. To keep the kids entertained, there will be a Kiddie Corner with face painting, clowns and old‐time games. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit http://www.ephabitat.org/ for more info.

Winery Featured on Call-In Radio Show

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Wine lovers will want to check out a new call-in radio show featuring local wine expert Ron Hunt of Florida Estates Winery in Land O' Lakes. The show is broadcast online every Thursday at 7 p.m. Listeners can call in and "Ask Ron" about Florida wines. Visit the show's link here.

This weekend is also the vineyard's monthly Wine Festival & Market, including a yummy sampling of Florida wines. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and includes vendors offering sauces, arts & crafts, jewelry and plants, plus live music. Meet the winemaker (Ron) and sample some of his latest creations. The winery is located four miles west of I-75 on State Road 52. Visit the website here.

Pasco Featured on Visit Florida Website

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:28:00 +0000

Pasco County has gotten some great publicity recently from the state's official tourism site, VisitFlorida.com. The Visit Florida site has been ranked the No. 1 travel site in the country by a number of different experts and being featured on the site is a nice shout-out for events and attractions in Pasco.

St. Petersburg Times outdoor writer Terry Tomalin recently posted an item on "Hiking, Paddling and Biking" in Pasco County. You can read his article here.

Authentic Florida Expert Lucy Tobias recently made a trip to Dade City for the Kumquat Festival and also dined at Lunch on Limoges. Check out her writeup on the festival here and her review of Lunch on Limgoes here.

Unrelated to Visit Florida, but still great publicity for Pasco attractions, St. Pete Times writer Barbara Fredricksen recently did a nice piece on the beautiful murals in downtown New Port Richey that depict scenes from the city's glamorous Hollywood past. Read it here and check back to Adventures of a Pasco Tourist frequently for more fun features on Pasco County!

Little Everglades Steeplechase Thunders Into Town

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Dade City ‐ It was recently named Best Attraction in Florida by Florida Monthly magazine and now it’s returning for another exciting year of pageantry at the 2,000-acre Little Everglades Ranch north of town. With its elegant lawn boxes and "parties on the homestretch,'' the Steeplechase takes place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 8. It is the largest steeplechase event in Florida, with a purse of more than $45,000. This year, downtown Dade City will welcome the event with the first‐ever Steeplechase Parade on Saturday, March 7 at 11 a.m., followed by a BBQ with music at nearby Agnes Lamb Park to benefit the Dade City Youth Council.

For the uninitiated, the steeplechase is way more than just horses running and jumping, although that is very cool. Spectators can check out the Parade of Hounds by South Creek Foxhounds, the popular ‐ and hilarious ‐ Jack Russell Terrier Races and the Hat Contest featuring prizes for most unusual and most elegant.

To view an award-winning video on the event, A Day at the Races, click here.

For a complete race day schedule and tickets, visit the Steeplechase website

Championship Rodeo Returns to Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:13:00 +0000

The dirt will be flying as cowboys and cowgirls ride again at the Fourth Annual Pasco County Fair Rodeo on Friday, Feb. 20 and Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City. Admission to the rodeo is free with admission to the 62nd Annual Pasco County Fair, which runs from Feb. 16 to Feb. 22. The fair offers something for everyone, including arts and crafts, beauty pageants, livestock shows, entertainment, great food and, of course, the famous midway rides.

Here's the complete scoop on the rodeo from the fair website, along with some great photos:

Friday night's rodeo is being billed as "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night in support of breast cancer awareness. Charlie Lowery of 4-L Rodeo will bring his top rodeo stock to challenge professional rodeo riders in performances that are sure to excite audiences of all ages. Sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and Professional Women's Barrel Racing, the rodeo will include the events of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, bullriding, and barrel racing.

Junior barrel races will be open to local participants. The junior barrel races will follow the professional women's event. There will also be rodeo clowns and other specialty acts. For complete details on the rodeo and the fair, visit the fair site.

Time for Dade City's Annual Kumquat Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:18:00 +0000

If you’ve always wanted to try the tiny citrus fruit called a kumquat, now is your chance. The Greater Dade City
Chamber of Commerce will host the 12th Annual Kumquat Festival in downtown Dade City on Saturday, Jan. 31.

The event celebrates the harvest of kumquats, a sweet and sour fruit that can be eaten skin and all but tastes best as part of a yummy kumquat pie. The festival is held in the heart of Dade City’s historic downtown and includes more than 200 arts and craft booths, live entertainment, a farmer’s market, wagon rides, antique fire trucks, a car and truck show, beauty contest and recipe contest.

For a full schedule of events, visit the festival site at
http://www.kumquatfestival.org/ or call the chamber at 352‐567‐3769. For a complete list of kumquat recipes, including kumquat pie and ice cream, visit www.kumquatgrowers.com/recipes.html

Also, if you are planning to attend the event, be sure to check out the great event rates at Hampton Inn Dade City.

Pasco Hosts Powerman Florida in San Antonio

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:54:00 +0000

It was a great day to run, bike and run some more through the hills of San Antonio on Saturday. More than 200 top athletes from around the United States and Canada and as far away as Denmark and South Africa participated in Powerman Florida, the sole qualifying event in Florida for the 2009 World Championship in Switzerland. Powerman returns to Florida after a hiatus of more than a decade. The event was co-sponsored by the Pasco County Sports Commission, Florida Sports Foundation and Exclusive Sports Marketing. Powerman is a grueling competition known as a duathlon: 8K (5 mile) run followed by a 53K (33 mile) bike race and another 8K (5 mile) run. The event also included a shorter Powerman Sprint, which covered half the distance of the main event.
Professional athletes were among the weekend competitors, including five-time Ironman champion Heather Gollnick, Powerman Malaysia champion Jason Spong and the reigning US Elite National Duathlon Champion, Anne Curi Preisig. To learn more about Powerman, visit http://www.powermanflorida.com/

Skydivers jump for Thanksgiving Boogie

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:45:00 +0000

More than 380 jumpers from 19 countries came to Zephyrhills last week for Sky Dive City's annual Thanksgiving Skydive Boogie. Although the numbers were down a bit this year, jumpers completed more than 4,000 successful skydives, according to manager T.K. Hayes. Skydive City is one of the world's premier drop zones and the Thanksgiving event has been going on for 40 years. Check out the full story at Zephyrhills News or find out more at the Skydive City site.
(photo courtesy of Zephyrhills News)

Thanksgiving Weekend Packed with Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:09:00 +0000

Not in the mood for the usual round of Thanksgiving Day parades and football? Want a little more action in your holiday weekend? Well, Thanksgiving is an action-packed time of year in Pasco County. Would you believe this area will host a sky diving extravaganza, cricket tournament, foxhunt AND an appearance by a NASCAR favorite all in one weekend? Check out the details below and have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

The Thanksgiving Sky Dive Boogie & Turkey Meet is a high-altitude tradition at Sky Dive City in Zephyrhills. Hundreds of the best jumpers from around the world come to east Pasco to compete for fun, prizes and the admiration of fellow jumpers. Spectators can enjoy the thrill of eight, ten and 16-man jump competitions, plus a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. The boogie actually started last week and continues through Sunday.

If race cars are more your style than jumping out of airplanes, consider the David Reutimann 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament & Auction at Silverado Golf & Country Club in Zephyrhills. Reutimann is a Zephyrhills native and NASCAR favorite who hosts a cookout and auction of NASCAR and other sports team memorabilia to benefit a variety of Florida charities. The cookout and auction is Friday and the golf tournament is Saturday. For more information, call 813-788-1225.

Cricket is not a sport you hear too much about in the Tampa Bay area. But that could change as the Wesley Chapel Cricket Club has been generated a lot of buzz for the sport in recent months. The club will host its first Tampa Bay Thanksgiving Cricket Festival on Saturday and Sunday at Wesley Chapel District Park. Not sure what this bat-and-ball-style game is all about? Check out these articles on the club that appeared recently in the St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune. Get full details on this weekend's tournament at the cricket club website or call 813-994-8481.

Finally, we might have to root for the fox in this one but a new event to this area is the opening meet of the South Creek Foxhounds at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City on Saturday. South Creek Foxhounds is the oldest foxhunt in Florida and the sport itself dates back to the early 1800s in Great Britain and Canada. In today's version of the hunt, according to the club's website, the fox is not killed. Whew. For information on the club or this weekend's hunt, visit the club website.

Whether you make it to any of these events or not, you can stay on top of all the events in Pasco County throughout the year at our online Events Calendar and Sports Calendar.

Farmer's Market & Book Signings This Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:13:00 +0000

With cooler weather finally arriving, organizers of the successful Downtown Farmer's Market in New Port Richey are planning for even more vendors and cool activities this weekend.

In addition to the usual fresh produce, plants, herbs and teas, two local authors will sign their recently published works: Adam Carozza, author of Images of America - New Port Richey and Jim Rathbone, author of There's a Pirate in the Family. Also for sale will be Florida's Monuments & Memorials, a book that includes two New Port Richey sites, the George Sims Monument and the city's colorful downtown murals. For kids who wish to make their own Christmas gifts while their parents shop, a local church will offer arts and crafts activities.

Starting this weekend, the Saturday Farmer's Market moves to a new location, the newly renovated Railroad Square on Nebraska Avenue east of Grand Boulevard.

"The city did such a wonderful job beautifying Nebraska Avenue with Railroad Square, it made sense to put it to use,'' said Judy DeBella Thomas, executive director of Greater New Port Richey Main Street, which organizes the market.

For information on other downtown New Port Richey events, visit the Main Street website or call 727-842-8066. You can also check out the Pasco Tourism website and our Calendar of Events.

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VW Bugs Fill Pasco County Fairgrounds

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:57:00 +0000

There were bugs of every shape, size and color at the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City this weekend. Not the creepy, crawly kind - the cool and fun Volkswagen kind! Organizers estimate there were nearly 500 VW bugs, campers, dunebuggies and buses exhibiting at the 20th Annual Pasco Bug Jam, one of the largest shows of its kind in the U.S. Visitors came from all over the country and as far away as the UK and Canada. It was a beautiful day and a fun event. Plus, all proceeds benefit All Children's Hospital. Cans of food were also collected for the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank. Check out these great photos from Pasco County's Kevin Jadick. To learn more about the Bug Jam, visit www.pascobugjam.com

Bug Jam Rolls Into Dade City This Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:03:00 +0000

If you have never seen 400 Volkswagen bugs of every color gathered in one place, you can do exactly that this weekend in Dade City. Rumored to be the largest gathering of VW enthusiasts in the Southeast, the Pasco Bug Jam roars into town on Sunday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City. More than 400 vintage and new Volkswagens will be on display, along with VW collectibles, a swap meet, auction, games and live entertainment. Awards will be presented in multiple categories including Best Engine, Best Paint and Best Interior. They will even recognize the vehicle driven the farthest to participate in the show. Admission is $5 plus one can of food for the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank. For more information, visit www.pascobugjam.com

Find Unique, Independent Shops at Local Shopper Site

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:52:00 +0000

If you're visiting Pasco County for the first time, you'd probably rather check out the unique, local shops around town than hit the same big-box stores you could find back home. If that's the case, then do we have a hot new site for you! Check out the Local Shopper at www.localshops1.com and you'll find plenty of locally-owned, indepdent shops in Pasco County and throughout the Tampa Bay area. It's free to browse and free to get listed so if you know of a great mom 'n pop shop or chic, indie boutique, send a note to shoplocally1@gmail.com and spread the local love!

We recently found a whole bunch of great new shops to check out, including a place that specializes in used records - remember those? Tunes, Tales and Treasures in Hudson also has turntables (gasp!) and a huge selection of used books, videos, DVDs and CDs. But that's just one of more than 500 shops listed on the site - everything from art, clothes and jewelry to tools, outdoor gear, flowers and more. In addition to browsing for new shops, you can post your comments on a local shopper's forum, sign up for contests and events and check out a wide range of locally-owned online shops. During these uncertain economic times, it's important to support the unique, local shops that make this area so special. Happy shopping!

Saddlebrook Receives Green Lodging Designation

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:59:00 +0000

Congratulations to Saddlebrook Resort, which was formally designated a Florida Green Lodging property this week. For all you green travelers out there, this means Saddlebrook meets strict requirements set by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for environmentally sound practices, including recycling in guest rooms, use of low-flow showers and toilets and linen reuse programs.
Saddlebrook is the second Pasco property to receive the Green Lodging designation and we are hoping many more will follow that lead. (The first was back in July when the recently opened Residence Inn Northpointe, located at the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54 in Lutz, was designated as a Green Lodging site by the state.)

To find out more about Saddlebrook's commitment to the environment, click here.

To learn more about the state's Green Lodging initiative, click here.

Train Museum Now Open in Dade City

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:44:00 +0000

If you are a train buff, a history buff or just looking for a fun day trip, check out the new Train Depot Museum in historic downtown Dade City. Operated by the Dade City Trolley Tour, the museum features an elaborate model train display, a real working train signal and tons of memorabilia from the early days of the railroads in Florida. Be sure to catch the excellent short film on the history of railroads, "A Tale of Two Henrys," on the lives of Henry Flagler and Henry Plant. Kids will enjoy ringing a real locomotive bell from the Savannah Central Railroad and seeing the lifelike "travelers" and train depot personnel stationed throughout the site. The depot was built in 1912 and until recently was a stop on the Amtrak line.

Visitors can come directly to the museum, located at Meridian Avenue and the US 98 bypass, or take the downtown trolley, which stops at the museum. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children ages five to 12 and children four and under are free with paid adult admission. For tour information, visit the Trolley Tour website at www.dadecitytrolleytour.com. And stay tuned for details on the museum's official grand opening later this fall!

Great Shots from Sky Dive City

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:52:00 +0000

Check out this amazing photo from Skydive City's recent Tandem Jump Photo Contest. Kind of makes you want to jump out of a plane and see the sights for yourself, doesn't it?

If you aren't quite that adventurous, you can at least view a number of great photos at the drop zone's online photo gallery. And if you are getting ready to take the plunge, you can see how it's done by checking out one of the site's cool online videos.

Skydive City is one of the world's premiere skydiving centers and they draw jumpers and students from around the world. In business since 1989, Skydive City is carrying on the long tradition of high quality skydiving, training and fun that has been in Zephyrhills since the 1960's. Check them out at http://www.skydivecity.com/