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Festival of the twangy and the tangy

By WILMA NORTON
Published March 4, 2005

Strawberry shortcake and country music are the stars at the Florida Strawberry Festival, which opened Thursday and continues through March 13. Headline concerts this weekend: the Charlie Daniels Band, 4 and 7:30 p.m. today; Aaron Tippin, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Lorrie Morgan, 4 p.m. Sunday and Clint Black, 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Limited free seats are available for each show. Reserved seats are $10 to $15. The annual festival also includes lots of free entertainment and all the trimmings of a fair, including a midway, horticulture and livestock exhibits, and arts and crafts. The festival is in Plant City. Take Exit 19 from Interstate 4 and follow the signs. Gates open at 10 a.m. daily; the midway opens at 10 a.m. Sat.-Mon. and noon Tue.-Fri. Admission $9, $5 ages 6 to 12. 813 752-9194; www.flstrawberryfestival.com

. . . And one with something for all

The 83rd edition of Pasco County's Chasco Fiesta also started Thursday and runs through March 13 along the banks of Pithlachascotee River, in Sims Park, at Orange Lake and other areas in downtown New Port Richey. The fiesta offers something for all tastes in entertainment: acts sponsored by Radio Disney from 6 to 11 p.m. today; Get Back, the cast of Beatlemania, 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday; Talent Search Showcase, 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday; and a bluegrass concert, 6 to 11 p.m. Monday. The nightly concerts continue next week. Also this weekend, in addition to the midway: the Chasco Street Parade, 1 p.m. Saturday and a car, truck and bike show, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. 727 842-7651, call toll-free 1-877-424-2726 or www.chascofiesta.com

Other offerings on the festival menu: Weeki Wachee Swamp Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Linda Pederson Park at Jenkins Creek, on Shoal Line Boulevard, Weeki Wachee. (352) 596-2567 or (352) 596-3757. Harbor Sounds Seafood and Music Festival, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Marina Park, 131 S Bayshore Blvd., Safety Harbor. $3, kids free. (727) 726-2890. Floral City Strawberry Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Floral Park, U.S. 41, 2 miles south of County Road 48, Floral City. $2, kids free. (352) 726-2801.

More than 300 artists from across the country will show their work throughout 13 blocks of downtown Tampa at the annual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts on Saturday and Sunday. Besides the art and fine crafts, you'll find entertainment, arts and crafts activities for the kids, and a food court. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Franklin Street and Lykes Gaslight Square Park areas, downtown Tampa. 813 876-1747; www.gasparilla-arts.com Free.

The annual Little Everglades Steeplechase is a mix of horse racing and tailgate parties with hat contests, Jack Russell terrier races and other fun thrown in. Gates open at 9 a.m. Sunday with the last race at 5:15 p.m. The Little Everglades Ranch is on Jordan Road near Dade City. $10 per person general admission or $40 per carload. Tailgating information on the Web site. Tickets 352 521-3661 or call toll-free 1-866-770-5654; www.littleevergladessteeplechase.com

Michael Sanderling, a Berlin cellist, joins his older brother, conductor Stefan Sanderling, with the Florida Orchestra this weekend. The program includes Beethoven's Coriolan Overture, Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 2 and Dvorak's Symphony No. 7 in D minor. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday,, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg; 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Morsani Hall at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa. $15.50 to $50.50. (813) 286-2403 or call toll-free 1-800-662-7286.

[Last modified March 3, 2005, 09:35:04]