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Get Away Hot Ticket
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 20, 2003
A festival for the senses
Country songwriter/singer Phil Vassar (Lucky as Me, Rose Bouquet) will headline Country Concert on March 29, the main entertainment event at the 81st annual Chasco Fiesta in and around downtown New Port Richey.
But there is lots more going on during the 11-day festival, which opens today and goes through March 30.
The fiesta's featured event, the Native American Festival, starts tonight with music and dance in Sims Park (take Main Street east off U.S. 19, go over the bridge and the park is on the left) and continues throughout the fiesta. Native peoples from Mexico and the United States will hold dance contests, sing, tell stories, sell art and crafts, and host other activities during regular fiesta hours.
There also will be a carnival daily, a street parade at 1 p.m Saturday a River Raft Race at 1 p.m. Sunday , the Kiwanis Flea Market 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, the Chasco Art Fiesta March 29-30, and the Chasco Boat Parade at 1 p.m. March 29, plus many other events.
Food specials include the West Pasco Sertoma Beef Barbecue 5 to 10 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; the Cotee River Lions Club all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and March 29-30; and the Cotee River Lions Club Fish Fry 4 to 8 p.m. March 28.
Besides the Vassar concert, there is Disney's "Magical Night of Entertainment" at 6 p.m. Friday; the Talent Search Showcase from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday; bluegrass music at 6 p.m. Monday; Broadway Review at 6 p.m. Wednesday; T.C. Carr, Willie Lomax, Damon Fowler and Bo Diddley in "Rhythm and Bluesmasters" at 6 p.m. March 27; contemporary Christian music at 7 p.m. March 28; and Big Band music at 2 p.m. March 30.
Tickets for the Vassar concert are $20; call (727) 842-7651. Opening acts are Daniel Lee Martin and Wiley Fox.
Chasco culminates with the Pasco-Hernando Community Foundation's Suncoast Sampler tasting feast at Gulf View Square Mall from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 30. More than 25 area restaurants will offer their specialties for $25 in advance at the mall information center and all PHCC bookstores or $30 at the door.
For details and entry forms, see www.chascofiesta.com.
It's a small world after all
About 40 countries will be represented this weekend at the 28th annual St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS) Folk Fest. The Times Arena at Bayfront Center will hold booths of wares, costumed villagers and entertainment representing the native culture of Ireland, China, Laos, Russia, Vietnam, Fiji, Mexico, Venezuela and more.
And don't miss the food. Many of the ethnic and cultural groups will be selling their native tastes.
The fair is open to school groups only today and Friday morning. It opens to the public from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The grand opening ceremony and Parade of Nations will be at 1 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $8 adults, $5 seniors, $4.50 for ages 4-14. The center is at 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 551-3365 or (727) 892-5767.
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