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Forget Kokomo, Beach Boys are coming to St. Petersburg
The classic rockers willheadline the 10-day Festival of States springtime celebration.
By MARY JANE PARK
Published April 16, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Beach Boys will headline the 85th edition of the Festival of States, a 10-day springtime celebration also featuring Second City comedy, a pet parade, expanded children's offerings and its traditional night parade and fireworks. The legendary musical group, sans Brian Wilson but featuring original band members, will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 13 in Vinoy Park. Opening acts include Rob Tyre & the Rockets of Love and an undisclosed well known performer. The festival, initially designed to encourage winter residents to extend their stay, also will feature a later start, May 5. Missing this year will be the event's day parade, axed because of waning interest and lack of sponsorship. "Attendance kept falling," said Lane Hosmer, the event's executive director. The two parades were relatively similar in format, and the night parade was "undeniably more popular," she said. The night parade will begin at 8 p.m. May 12. Hosmer said the later start was done to accommodate the recent St. Petersburg Grand Prix. The festival and the Tampa Bay Blues Fest share fencing, stage management and tents, requiring two consecutive weekends. With Easter, the annual Mainsail Arts Festival and the St. Anthony's Triathlon booked for the waterfront the next few weeks, pushing the festival to May. The Awesome Original Second Time Arounders, the Pinellas Youth Symphony and the Entertainment Revue will present a free concert at 6 p.m. May 9 in North Straub Park. The Suncoasters, the civic group that presents the festival, will open this year's festivities with the annual Coronation Ball, scheduled in the Coliseum at 7 p.m. May 5. The 2006 Sungoddess will be crowned at the event, and a prominent civic leader will be named Mr. or Ms. Sun.
[Last modified April 16, 2006, 08:36:45]
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Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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