In its 19th year, the Hudson Seafest is offering a larger carnival, entertainment and its special group dinner.
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN
Published November 13, 2003
HUDSON - The Hudson Seafest carnival opens at 6 tonight to kick off the 19th edition of the popular seafood celebration.
All other events and activities will be open Friday through Sunday, with ongoing entertainment under the tent and the famous Seafest Grouper Dinner for sale.
"We have more than 5 acres just for the carnival," said Steve Diller, a longtime Seafest volunteer. "We're getting rides in there that people around here have never seen - big, beautiful, exciting ones."
For the first time, the Seafest will be held behind USA Fleamarket (take State Road 52 west off U.S. 19 and follow the signs).
"We'll have a lot more room than we've ever had," Diller said. "And the biggest tent we've ever had."
The move also means room for adjacent parking, so patrons won't have to cross U.S. 19 on foot or walk for blocks to get to the festivities, as has happened in the past.
As always, volunteers from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative will fry the grouper dinners.
"They have some fabulous, experienced seafood chefs over there," Diller said. "They've been doing this for years."
Musical entertainment goes from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday. The headliner is Tarpon Springs recording artist Bertie Higgins, whose Key Largo topped the charts in 1981. Higgins and his band play at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Another popular entertainer is Elan Chalford, a fiddle champion who plays folk, "down home" and classical music. Chalford plays with the Dapper Dan Band at 7 p.m. Saturday.
In addition, there will be arts and crafts booths and a fishing tournament.
There is no admission charge to the festival; parking is $3.
If you go
The 19th Annual Hudson Seafest, Friday through Sunday. A carnival kicks off Seafest tonight at 6 p.m.
