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Come spot a kumquat
By MICHELLE JONES, Times Staff Writer DADE CITY -- The tiny orange fruit started out as an ornamental decoration. Then someone discovered how delicious the smallest member of the citrus family was by itself, or in a variety of recipes. On Saturday the kumquat rules in Dade City as the fifth annual Kumquat Festival takes place around the historical courthouse. Kumquats will be found in jams, cakes, pies, bread, cookies and anything else that cooks find enticing to the taste buds. It will also be used as an ornament on tables, wreaths, in store windows and even to decorate a hair style or worn on clothing. Sponsored by the Dade City Chamber of Commerce, the event has received a big boost over the past year with publicity on national television and in nationally circulated magazines. "Everything is falling into place, and next year the event will probably have to expand into more of the city to fit everything in," said Phyllis Smith, executive director for the chamber. She said the event has lined up 264 vendors and entertainment on four stages. To start the day, a 5K race is scheduled at 8 a.m., followed by a 1-mile run at 8:45 a.m. at the Four Seasons Park off Meridian Avenue, a block west of the heart of Dade City. Other activities are scheduled throughout the day beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. An opening ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the historic Courthouse. Kumquats and other fresh fruits and vegetables, along with honey, herbs and plants, will be available to purchase at a farmer's market. And more than 200 booths will offer arts and crafts by local artisans and crafters. Two of the crafters are Mary Nevarez of Plant City and Jill Zakaroff of Seffner. They will bring more than 200 of their hand-painted rocks to sell. Prices range from $2 for lady bugs to $40 for the more elaborate animals such as wolves and deer. Nevarez, 51, has been painting all her life and been painting rocks since the 1970s. Last year she won a blue ribbon at the Nativity Catholic Craft Show in Brandon for one of the designs. Zakaroff, 43, says she plans her vacations around rivers so she can gather rocks for her craft. "River rocks are the best," said Zakaroff. "They are usually of uniform shapes and the water makes them smooth." They use acrylic paints and five to seven coats of sealer to protect them from the weather. "If you keep them outside, I suggest keeping them in the shade and redoing the sealer each year," said Nevarez. She also does rocks with scriptures on them as well as animal designs. Zakaroff says the wolf is her favorite to paint, but she says penguins are fun too. The painting takes anywhere from two to 10 hours, depending on how complicated the design. Several events are scheduled prior to the festival. A Kumquat Pageant with girls and babies vying for titles was held earlier this month, and kumquat recipe contest winners will be announced during the 4-H sponsored barbecue chicken dinner tonight. Set from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the National Guard Armory in downtown Dade City, the dinners will feature barbecue chicken, baked beans, coleslaw and tea for $5. For those who just want to take brisk or leisurely walk on Saturday, a 5-K and 10-K route begins between 8 a.m. and noon, sponsored by the Suncoast Sandpipers Volkssport Club. Entertainment including dancers from Blackwell Studios, gospel singers, country, western and bluegrass music, cloggers, square dancing, along with songs by Rainelle Zaumbaugh and Mike Harper will keep hands clapping and toes tapping. A petting zoo and face painting for children, and, of course, food will round out the day's activities. "The Kumquat Festival is here, whether we're ready or not," said Smith. "We're trying to get things to go as smoothly as they have in the past." -- Times staff writer Chase Squires contributed to this report. If you goWhat: Kumquat Festival Where: Dade City around the Historic Courthouse on U.S. 301 and Meridian Avenue. When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Cost: free.
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