Bargains–April

by Adele Woodyard

Wherever you live, or go, around the state this month there may be a festival, even a parade. And a lot of them are FREE.
April 1-11: Naples leads with a “cheapie” tour of two of Columbus’ ships. Imagine how the seamen must have lived on these (replicas) of the Nina and the Pinta as they sailed across the Atlantic. Docked at Tin City, open 9 a.m. -5 p.m. $8 adult, $7 senior, $6 student ages 5-16, 4 and under FREE. 1200 5th Ave. S. 787-672-2125.
April 8-10: Venice 19th annual Shark’s Tooth Festival at the local airfield, has arts and crafts, kids games, fossils, food and more. 4-9 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. $3 adult, FREE kids under 12. 941-412-0402.
April 9-10: Art in the Park Miami presents jewelry, paintings, sculpture and other examples of Fine art at Bayfront Park. Music and a kids’ zoo make it a family affair. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. FREE. http://www.artintheparkmiami.com
April 10: Pinecrest Earth Day features “green” from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in one of south Florida’s loveliest botanical gardens. Wildlife show, plants, a Farmer’s Market and more are all FREE. 305-234-2121.
April 15-17: 49th annual Delray Affair is one of the largest arts and crafts street festivals in the southeast. Art, crafts, and entertainment are part of the mix over a 10-block strip of Atlantic Ave. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. FREE. http://www.delrayaffair.com
April 16: Hollywood’s Spring Marshmallow Drop is a great fun day for kids (who must be with an adult). At 10 a.m. there’s an easter egg hunt for ages 3-5, while 6 to 12 year olds enjoy a marshmallow drop. Open 9-noon, there’s also entertainment, face painting, meet the “bunny”, and more. FREE. Boulevard Heights Community Center, 6770 Garfield St. 954-921-3404.
April 16-17: Hollywood Beach Boardwalk presents the 5th annual Seaside Craft Fair. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. you can view, and hopefully purchase, jewelry, ceramics, wall art, or more. A Green Market has plants, orchids and homemade soap. FREE admission. 954-921-3404.
April 17: Jacksonville Beach downtown has a Parade at 2 p.m. with floats and marching bands. 904-247-6236. http://www.jacksonvillebeach.org
April 23: is a FREE Hooked on Music Festival in downtown Fort Pierce from 3-10 p.m. Take in the arts and crafts while you move to the beat. 813-235-3459.
April 22-24: The 47th Ron Jon Surfing Festival is a 4-day water sport event that brings surfers from all over the world to compete in their particular specialty. No Charge for you to watch from the Alan Shepard Park or Cocoa Beach Pier. You can also attend the Eater egg hunt, view evening movies, parties and the Sunrise Service. 321-799-8888. http://www.eastersurfest.com

A Pirate Invasion

by Adele Woodyard

They got to the kids first. Last Saturday, younguns with bandana-wrapped heads and make-up scarred faces, wielded plastic swords in the annual Gasparilla Parade just for them. They rode on brightly decorated home-made floats or marched along Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard to the music of high school bands.. Rough-looking grownup pirates from the ship, the Jose Gaspar, saw that the beads and plastic gold coins the little ones threw, reached even smaller tykes that lined the route.

Saturday, January 29, is the adults’ turn to party with a Festival in the name of a legendary pirate, that began in 1904. Fierce-looking Blackbeard look-alikes line the sides and yardarms of the ancient vessel, as it sails up Tampa Bay surrounded by assorted pleasure craft. Their aim? To invade the city. Once they’ve swarmed ashore at the Convention Center, and wrested the Keys from Mayor Iorio, the Victory Parade begins. Over 300 units that include more than 90 floats and 14 marching bands, wind past crowds of onlookers reaching for colorful beads that fly through the air.

When the parade ends about three hours later, pirates and party-goers alike head downtown for the Pirate Fest. Live entertainment, that has occupied the stage at Curtis Hixon Park since 10 a.m. before the invasion even starts, lasts until 10 p.m . The evening ends with a huge display of fireworks. Choreographed to music, they fill the sky from waterborne barges.

Except for food and drink, the Gasparilla Festival is FREE to all comers. One caveat: you must present a valid ID to purchase beer, or Captain Morgan run and cola. If you want reserved seats for the parade, tickets cost $28.04 per person. If you wish to be present at the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch, or Lunch (new in 2011) reservations start at $58.88 adult, $49.53 ages 3-12. Number of tickets are limited and on sale NOW. http://www.gasparillapiratefest.com

Early-rising Pinellas County residents and visitors can join the flotilla escorting the Jose Gaspar pirate ship on a Victorian-themed paddlewheel , the Starlite Princess Riverboat… The all-day 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. cruise starts with a Continental breakfast and includes sit-down lunch and dinner service, plus a reserved seat for the Gasparilla parade. There’s live entertainment during dinner and a full liquor cash bar. The boat departs the Vinoy Basin, St. Petersburg. $195 per person,. 727-462-2628; 800-444-4814. http://www.starlitediningcruises.com

The Gasparilla Festival is a major celebration that has spawned three months of related and non-related festivities, such as the Krewe of Sant ‘Yago’s Illuminated Night Parade. in Ybor City. The Florida State Fair runs from February 10-21, and discount tickets are available at Sweetbay Supermarkets and online now until February 9, to save on admission, armbands, and rides. 813-621-7821, 800-345-3247; http://www.floridastatefair.com

Big Party Time

by Adele Woodyard

Halloween has always been a fun time to have a party and two affairs that can draw 50,000 or more celebrants occur in Florida. One even lasts more than a week If you’re on vacation, looking for a weekend break, or have just a day to get away from it all, here’s where you can find a BIG PARTY .

Key West: This year’s famous Fantasy Fest runs from Oct. 22 to Oct. 31, and its theme is Habitat for Insanity. Bars, restaurants, hotels, shops all get into the act, with madcap contests, big prize money, and creative costumes, or lack of same, that make you blush. Want to pretend you’re like Adam and Eve? You can dally at a Garden of Eden, clothing optional, rooftop bar–body painting for the modest–from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. And that’s every day. Despite Fantasy Fest’s reputation for adult entertainment, there’s plenty of opportunity for the whole family, even pets, to enjoy themselves. And much of it is for little or no money. For full schedule, click on http://www.fantasyfest.net

Oct. 22 & 23 start with GOOMBAY, a family friendly street party to the sound and taste of the Caribbean. Noon-midnight; FREE. Saturday evening from 7-9 p.m. there’s music, dancing, food and drink at Fort Zachary Taylor’s Vampire Ball. Plus a costume contest.

Oct. 25, local artists, decorate, model and auction off one-of-a-kind bras at the 4th Annual “Pinking of You.” 6 p.m. Money collected benefits WomanKind, Inc. for breast cancer education. .
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Pets join the party in a Pet Masquerade and Parade on Oct. 27 afternoon. FREE to watch, Fee to participate.Next evening Mom and Dad can enjoy the FREE Monster’s Ball, an annual costume party that starts at 10 p.m at the Green Parrot Bar.

Oct. 29 brings more Freebies, with the Fantasy Fest Street Fair from noon-10 p.m. and a Masquerade March that begins at 5 p.m.

Saturday, Oct 30 is a major event with the floats, bands and dancing groups in the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade. 7 p.m. FREE. Children’s Day wraps up the festivities from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31.

Oct. 30 Ybor City/Tampa celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Mama Guava Stumble Parade, with Guavaween, a one day affair. The Family Fun Fest is FREE from 10 a.m.-3 p.m..with trick-or-treat, spooky story times, and a costume parade and contest. In between these activities, you can enjoy live entertainment on multiple stages.

After 3 p.m. the entry fee is $17. The Mama Guava Stumble Parade for adults begins at 8:30 p.m. Non-motorized this year in honor of the anniversary, it calls for the creative thinking so prevalent at its start in 1985. There are prizes in ten categories, including Best and Worst in Show, with a $3 rebate on admission for participants. A costume contest has a $2,000 prize for the first place winner. http://www.cc-events.org

Memorial Day’s Weekend Events

by Adele Woodyard

The long weekend that welcomes the start of summer begins with festivals. It ends with the day to remember the men and women who continue to give their lives for our country. Here is some of what’s happening around the state.

May 28-30 celebrates our state’s cultural heritage at the 58th Annual Florida Folk Festival with a wonderful mix of music, dance, food, crafts, and storytelling. Over 300 performances include such well known country music stars as Mel Willis and Billy Dean. Days are filled with jam sessions, demos and workshops where you can participate in, or just watch, how to make a rope, throw a trot line, create a grass basket and more. Listen to bluegrass, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, Latin, Caribbean, and Zydeco. There’s a Seminole Indian camp, country and ethnic food, and crafts to die for. Motels, hotels and campgrounds are available nearby. Advance tickets: $20/day, $40 weekend; $4 weekend ages 6-16; $25/day and $5 weekend, at gate. Advance tickets , must be purchased by 5/21; call 877-635-3655, M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, U.S. 41 N. White Springs, 386-397-2733. http://www.FloridaFolkFestival.com

May 29 you can take a self-guided sensory walk and scavenger hunt at Fort Mose Historical State Park during the day, or hop on the Old Town Trolley for an 11 a.m-1 p.m stop.. Other historic stops on their Oldest Ports Tour are Castilla de San Marcos, Fountain of Youth and St Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. Call 904-829-3800 for price. Weather permitting, the St. Augustine Spanish Garrison will be at Fort Mose from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact terri.newman@dep.state.fl.us Fort Mose open 9 a.m-5 p.m.
$4 per car up to 8 people; $2 if trolley passenger. Saratoga Blvd. 904-461-2033. http://www.floridastateparks.org

May 29, 30 Fort Clinch State Park honors WWII with military displays including vehicles and assorted memorabilia. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
$6 car 2-8 people + $2 to enter fort. 2001 Atlantic Ave. Fernandina Beach; 904-277-7274. http://www.floridastateparks.org

May 28-31: Palatka’s 22nd Annual Blue Crab Festival begins with music at the Entertainment Tent along the banks of the St. John’s River, Friday, 4 -11 p.m Saturday opens with a Seafood Cookoff, more music, food, arts and crafts, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sunday 12-10:30 p.m. A $10 helicopter ride adds to the fun.. On Monday there’s a Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m. followed by a Ceremony at the downtown Amphitheatre. For more information: 386-325-4406; http://www.bluecrabfestival.com

May 28-31: Live music on the Events Plaza stage from 7-9 p.m. Friday kicks off a nightly performance during a holiday open to the public, at the Village of Baytowne Wharf. A Roaring River water slide, kids activities, and fireworks are scheduled at various times over Saturday and Sunday. The Memorial Day program presented by Sandestin Vets just before sunset, includes a performance by the brass band section of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra. Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort, 866-931-3678. http://www.sandestin.com

May 31: National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum will hold their first Memorial Day Service at 10 a.m. before the new SEAL soulplate created by Vermont artist Roy Shifrin. Speaker will be Jack Oulette, father of SEAL Brian Oulette, killed in action, Afghanistan.
3300 Hwy A1A, Fort Pierce; 772-595-5845. http://www.navysealmuseum.com

May 31: Sanford’s Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m and marches through the downtown historic district. The “Sanford Remembers” tribute with honorary guests, a 21-gun salute, and Sheriff’s Office fly-over follows at Veteran’s Memorial Park on the waterfront. 407-330-5657.