Friday, March 15, 2013
Organizers of the annual Halloween-time celebration have announced the parade will return to the lineup this year. Do you think this is a good idea, Tampa Bay?
Costumed revelers will once again return to the streets of Ybor City when this year’s Guavaween festivities get under way. The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce announced the return of the boisterous Mama Guava Stumble Parade earlier this week, The Tampa Tribune reported. The annual parade, known for its large, costumed and often drunken crowds, was canceled last year in favor of a music festival. A lack of funding for the event was to blame, CBS reported at the time. The parade has a reputation for rowdiness. During the 2010 event, 14 kids were arrested for underage drinking, there were 25 misdemeanor arrests and two felony arrests, according to Bay News 9. The annual event draws an about 250,000 people from all over the Tampa Bay area, …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Organizers behind the second annual festival say there’s more to the event than meets the eye.
Scan the lineup for the upcoming Gasparilla Music Festival and it is clear organizers are hip on the idea of delivering an eclectic mix of sounds with artists ranging from blues and country to jazz and rock. What might not be clear is the vision for the festival, its future and the reasons why this one might be worth the short drive from Land O' Lakes to attend. Now in its second year, the festival was designed with two main purposes in mind, organizers say: “We want people to come out and see positive change (in downtown) and see what a great place Tampa is to live in,” said David Cox, president of the nonprofit festival’s board of directors. The intent is to “not just draw for one day, but also (to provide) a draw to stay.” Roots for the…
The second annual music event takes place in Curtis Hixon Riverfront Park and Kiley Gardens.
Land O' Lakes residents with music on their minds need only drive to Curtis Hixon Riverfront Park this weekend to get an earful. The second annual Gasparilla Music Festival gets under way Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m. Mayor Bob Buckhorn is expected to open the event with an 11:15 a.m. address to the crowd. This year’s lineup includes acts from all over the Tampa Bay area and beyond with music planned for four stages. Some of the draws include The Meter Men with Page McConnell, Dr. Dog, the Mt. Zion Sanctuary Choir and Applebutter Express. Kiley Garden will play host to a number of events just for children from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There’s even a related photography exhibit that will be open from noon to 5 p.m. at the nearby Florida Museum of …
Friday, February 1, 2013
What's going on in Land O' Lakes and beyond? Check out this Patch Minute for weekend event suggestions.
It's big, it's fun, and it's green: Learning Gate Community School's EcoFest will take over the school's 27-acre campus on Saturday. The event will feature 120 local vendors, from local artists to green products, organic farms and alternative health practicioners. It also will include live music, entertainment, a kids' zone workshops and demonstrations. And, of course, there will be more than a few pies thrown at Patch editor Keli Sipperley. She agreed to be pied after the Land O' Lakes Patch Facebook page reached 1,000 fans. There will be a random drawing to select the lucky pie tossers. Want to double the pies? Become a Lutz Patch Facebook fan. If You Go: When: Feb. 2, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Learning Gate Community School, 16215 Hanna …
Friday, January 25, 2013
What's going on in Land O' Lakes and beyond? Check out this Patch Minute for weekend event suggestions.
The 109th Gasparilla Pirate Festival is coming up this weekend, and Don Barnes, executive officer for Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, is ready. In a warehouse in downtown Tampa, pirate floats and convertibles for dignitaries are just waiting to saunter down the parade route for an expected audience of more than 200,000 people. “We’ve been doing this for 109 years, and our goal is to make sure it goes on for another 109 years,” said Barnes, who spends the whole year planning for the annual event. The way to reach that goal is to focus on safety. “We’ve really been pushing for what we call ‘Responsibility Matters,’ ” he said. “Responsibility Matters” is an educational campaign that aims to stop underage drinking. It’s a concerted effort that …
Friday, January 18, 2013
What's going on in Land O' Lakes and beyond? Check out this Patch Minute for weekend event suggestions.
In this Patch Minute, we bring you a preview of the Suncoast Arts Fest in Wesley Chapel. Want to see your Land O' Lakes event or activity featured in a Patch Minute? Post the details on our calendar. ****** Artist Sherri Calkins of Wesley Chapel finds much of the inspiration for her mixed media artwork through religion. “To me, art is not about the eqipment, it’s not about the tools,” she said. “It’s about your voice and your soul and your composition.” Calkins is one of about 115 fine artists and crafters who are participating in the eighth annual Suncoast Arts Fest this weekend at The Shops at Wiregrass. The event runs Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ceramics, clay, drawings, graphics, photography, printmaking…
Friday, January 11, 2013
What's going on in Land O' Lakes and beyond? Check out this Patch Minute for weekend event suggestions.
Temple Terrace is going to the dogs this weekend when the Family Recreation Complex hosts the city’s first-ever Soggy Doggy Day. The event takes place Saturday, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and is open to pups from all over Tampa. Admission is $5 per dog. “The sponsors that have contributed to the event are Temple Terrace Animal and Bird Hospital and Lowry Park Zoo,” said Scott Andrews, recreation supervisor for the City of Temple Terrace said. “They have contributed fantastic prizes for our contest winners. I have also had great community support from PNC Bank in Temple Terrace.” For more information, call Andrews at 813-506-6600 or email him at sandrews@templeterrace.com. Check out other events happening in the Tampa area this weekend below. Grand…
