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Pow Wow singing contest new

The Seminole Sings competition brings new fun to join the familiar midway, parade and fireworks.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published March 9, 2005

SEMINOLE - One contestant burst into tears. Another encouraged the audience to clap along to the beat of her song. A third was so self-assured that she came into the audience as she belted out I Want to Dance with Somebody.

Those were just three scenes from last week's final qualifying round for Seminole Sings, an American Idol style competition that will conclude at this weekend's Pow Wow.

Fifteen have made it to the semifinals, which are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday on the Pow Wow's main stage. Ten of those will move into Saturday's finals at 1 p.m. in the St. Petersburg College Digitorium.

"It's going to be the show of shows," said Gerry Cachia of William Clare Entertainment, which is sponsoring the contest with the Seminole Chamber of Commerce.

The grand prize winner will receive a recording session at Jeff Arthur Productions, a complete photo shoot, compliments of Lawrence and Associates Photography, and dinner for two at the Wine Cellar - complete with limousine service.

This is the first year for the Seminole Sings contest, which seemed to mesh nicely with the 37th Pow Wow Festival.

"We try to include the community as much as possible," said Jim Sheets, Seminole's recreation director and festival chairman.

Actually, last year was the first time the city ran the festival. It was previously handled by volunteers but had grown too big.

The first was held in 1967 as a way to raise money to finish Seminole High's football stadium. It missed a year, which is why this is the 37th and not the 38th festival.

As it grew, the main purpose ceased to be fundraising and became fun raising, with carnival rides, food booths, fireworks and other activities scheduled. The city tries to keep it low cost to attract lots of people, so that the money basically covers the festival costs.

There still is a charitable component, however, with proceeds from the Seminole Sings - tickets to the finals are $5 - going to the chamber's Education Fund. Some other activities also benefit other groups.

The festival will kickoff at 6 p.m. Thursday with the Seminole Junior Women's Club Wine and Cheese tasting.

It continues Friday and Saturday with car and motorcycle shows, a carnival and a parade.

It will conclude Saturday night with a fireworks display that has been moved to 8:45 p.m., an hour earlier than usual to accommodate children's bedtimes, Sheets said.

That conclusion should be pretty spectacular. Rachel Potter, the new Miss Seminole, will sing the national anthem.

Said Sheets: "When she completes the last note of the anthem, the fireworks will blow."

For information about costs and activities, call the Seminole Recreation Center, 391-8345, or go to www.powwowfestival.com

A partial schedule of this year's events:

Friday

5 p.m. Festival and midway opens

5-9 p.m. All-Children's charity auction

6-10 p.m. Street car show

6:15 p.m. Opening ceremony

6:30-8:30 p.m. Seminole Sings semifinals

11 p.m. Midway closes

Saturday

7-11 a.m. Kiwanis breakfast

10 a.m. Noon Pow Wow parade

Noon Midway opens

1-3 p.m. Seminole Sings finals (St. Petersburg College Digitorium)

2-2:15 p.m. Miss Teen Seminole

6:30 p.m. Seminole Sings champion and runnerup

8:50 p.m. Fireworks

10 p.m. Midway closes

[Last modified March 9, 2005, 00:55:19]