Friday-Saturday: St. Johns River Catfish Festival, Crescent City. This event about 70 miles northeast of Orlando draws about 20,000 people annually. Fried catfish - fingerling-sized blues and channel cats - headline the Cracker food menu, along with swamp cabbage, 'gator tail and strawberry shortcake. You can get ribs, hot dogs and burgers, too. Friday is gospel day, with singing from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday highlights include a 5K run, a classic car show, arts and crafts, and the King Catfish parade at noon. Free. (386) 698-1644 or www.catfishfestival.com
Friday-Saturday, April 9-10: FSU Flying High Circus Homeshow 2004, Tallahassee. America's only collegiate circus, celebrating its 57th year, is an extracurricular activity, with students performing for the fun of it. Acts include trapeze and other aerial feats, plus bicycling, juggling, skating and more. There are no clowns or animal acts. At the FSU Big Top, across the street from the baseball stadium. Admission. 850 644-4874 or www.fsu.edu/~circus
April 13-18: Florida Winefest and Auction, Sarasota. One of the nation's largest charity wine events, and one of the most elegant tastings around. Dinners, grand tastings, seminars and a top-dollar auction of rare vintages. Individual events range from expensive dinners to a $15 Sip and Stroll around St. Armands Circle. At Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. Admission. Toll-free 1-877-352-9463 or www.floridawinefest.com
April 13-19: Sun 'n' Fun Fly-In, Lakeland. Annual weeklong aviation convention is open to the public, with hundreds of planes arriving from all over the country. The Fly-In has daily air shows; workshops; displays and exhibits of special aircraft, museum and experimental planes; and airplane races. Admission. 863 644-2431 or www.sun-n-fun.org
April 23-May 2: Conch Republic Independence Celebration, Key West. Parties, parties, parties and parades, drag queen races, bed races, fiddle contests, car shows commemorate the "secession" of the Florida Keys and formation as the Conch Republic on April 23, 1982, in response to a U.S. Border Patrol blockade of the Florida Keys. (305) 296-0213 or www.conchrepublic.com/schedule.htm
