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.

Don't Miss the Cotee River Seafood and Boat Show!

Greater New Port Richey Main Street invites you to join us for this award winning event that combines live Blues music performed by local, regional, and national legends all weekend, tasty seafood, beautiful boats, an arts & craft fair and activities for the entire family.

Event Overview

Activities & games for kids

Live Alligator Show with the Swampmaster

Fishing & boating demonstrations

30-45 minute Miss Daisy boat tours up the historic and picturesque Cotee River through downtown New Port Richey

A variety of beverage & food vendors offering a variety of seafood treats

Arts & crafts fair focusing on nautical and natural themed hand-crafted items.

Appearances and photo opportunities with Miss Firecracker 2008 and 2009.

Personalities from TrueOldies 106.3 and Tampa Bay on Demand on our stage.

Admission to the festival is free. Most, but not all, activities are free of charge.

A Gorgeous Day for Chasco Boat Parade

Organizers of the "Viva Las Vegas" Chasco Boat Parade could not have asked for more picture-perfect weather today.

The sun was shining, a gentle breeze was blowing and the crowds were just a-chilling all along the scenic Pithlachascotee River in downtown New Port Richey.

In case you missed the parade, here are a few of our favorites. We'll post the official winners as soon as they are available.

This last boat has our very own County Commissioner Jack Mariano, Clerk & Comptroller Paula O'Neil, Sen. Mike Fasano, and Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley. A great day to be out meeting the public!