By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN
Published March 25, 2004
Pasco County's largest annual celebration, Chasco Fiesta, continues today through Sunday in Sims Park along the banks of the Pithlachascotee River, with the Native American Festival, kayak races, nightly entertainment, a boat parade, a carnival and the Pasco Country Concert featuring Joe Nichols and Craig Morgan.
Tonight's concert at the Sims Park amphitheater, 6 to 11 p.m., features Rick Derringer, Damon Fowler, Mikki Taylor, Willie Lomax Blues Revue and Shawn Brown. Tickets are $5.
Friday's contemporary Christian concert, 7 to 11 p.m., features Andrew Peterson, Desert Rain and Heaven's Harmony. Tickets are $5.
The Joe Nichols and Craig Morgan concert is at 7 p.m. Saturday. Opening acts are Jenna Thomas and Wiley Fox. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $22 prime seating, $12 general admission. Chairs are furnished.
Sunday, three high school bands play from 2 to 4 p.m.
The Native American Festival continues 5 to 10 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
On Saturday, there are the Chasco kayak races at 9 a.m. and the Chasco Fiesta Boat Parade at 1 p.m.
The final Chasco Fiesta event is the Pasco-Hernando Community College Foundation's "Suncoast Sampler," a tasting feast featuring more than 30 restaurants, at Gulf View Square Mall, 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $30 at the door.
To reach the festival site, go east on Main Street off U.S. 19 in New Port Richey. Go over the Cotee River bridge; the festival is on the north side of the street.
Free off-site parking and shuttle available from 5 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church and the West Pasco Realtors on Sunset Road off U.S. 19, just north of Main Street, and at the city's recreation center on Van Buren Street.
- Barbara L. Fredricksen, staff writer
Happy birthday, Salvador Dali
The Dali Museum continues its celebration of the 100th anniversary of Salvador Dali's birth during its annual DaliFest on Saturday. The family festival gives kids a chance to make Dali-inspired arts and crafts. Adults can participate, too, if they wish. There are games, roving entertainers, storytellers and performances by American Stage, plus Latin music by the Freddy Montes ensemble at 1 p.m., Brazilian jazz by O Som do Jazz at 2:30 p.m. and Afropop and worldbeat by Cold Joon at 4 p.m.
It's all free, outdoors in Poynter Park next to the museum, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Those who want to go inside and tour the largest collection of the Spanish surrealist's works outside of Spain can do so for a reduced fee: $9 for adults and seniors, $7 for students. Ages 12 and younger are free.
