Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Entertainment

Need to get into holiday spirit?

Here's how. There's no lack of local Christmas celebrations this weekend, including a parade.

By JORGE SANCHEZ
Published December 10, 2005

The Inverness Christmas parade makes its merry way down Main Street today, beginning at noon.

The parade is one of several events taking place on or near the Courthouse Square today, with activities scheduled from morning until night.

The parade will feature local floats, along with motorized units from the Tampa Bay Shriners Association and the Citrus County Mass Band, and musicians from all three high school marching bands will perform. The parade route is along Main Street from Citrus High to Highland Boulevard.

Also today, a holiday arts and crafts show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Courthouse Square in Inverness. The show, sponsored by the city Parks and Recreation Department, will feature holiday crafts for sale and a free photo with Santa beginning at 2 p.m.

Finally, capping off a full day of activities at the Courthouse Square is an artist's reception for photographer and artist Laurie O'Shea Canfield. She creates award-winning photo collages by scanning vintage photos of her family against creative backgrounds. She will have about 18 pieces in the exhibit at Galeria San Sebastian, 107-A Courthouse Square, Inverness. The reception begins at 7 p.m. Call 344-3838. Admission is free. In other events:

Homosassa Music on U.S. 19 in Homosassa Springs will host guitarist Matt LaPorte for a two-hour clinic beginning at noon today. LaPorte is the guitarist for rock bands Savatage and Circle to Circle. He has just returned from Europe, where the bands performed.

An airboat parade begins at dusk today on the Hernando Pool of the Tsala Apopka Lake. Decorated boats will begin lining up at the Hernando boat ramp at 4:30 p.m. and then cruise the shoreline. Entry fee is a new unwrapped toy for donation to the Citrus United Basket. The parade ends at Armante's Restaurant. It is sponsored by the Citrus County Airboat Alliance.

The Sugarmill Chorale Holiday Concert will be at 3 p.m. today at Curtis Peterson Auditorium in Lecanto. Tickets are $7; available from all chorale members or by calling 382-4555; seats also may be available at the auditorium box office one hour before the concert. Under the baton of its new director, Debi Allen, with Martin Bachthaler as accompanist, the 50-voice chorus will present a program of favorite music of the holiday season, both sacred and secular. Included are such favorites as We Need A Little Christmas from the musical Mame; a medley of Irving Berlin's Happy Holiday and White Christmas; and Birthday of A King.

The Citrus Springs Chorus presents its third annual Holiday Concert at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Citrus Springs Community Center, 1570 Citrus Springs Blvd. The concert selections include solos by Joe Kelble, Joan Bucher, Helen Harrison and Bob Chandler, as well as duets by Juanita Bowden and Nancy Gordon. A sing-along and refreshments will follow. Free admission.

Jorge Sanchez covers arts and entertainment in Citrus County. Call 860-7313 or e-mail sanchez@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 10, 2005, 00:51:18]