Festive favorites

The festivals are here and there's something for everybody.

By KELLY STEFANI

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

The Clearwater Fun 'N Sun Festival wraps up this weekend with races, music and the traditional grand finale parade.

Begin the weekend with a series of outdoor concerts and a craft festival at Sunsets at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. Relax with some fresh blues and swing from 6 to 9 tonight by Lounge Cat. Kick back with reggae by Ambush from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Then rock out to the wild sounds of Ozona from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Area craft vendors display their works for two hours before and two hours after sunset each night.

Enjoy a fresh fish fry by the Clearwater Historical Society from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Clearwater High School, 540 S Hercules Ave., Clearwater. Admission is $6 per person. Proceeds benefit the upkeep of the historical Plumb House.

Lace up your shoes and work off your lunch at the Fun 'N Sun 1 Mile Run/Walk and 5K Run/Racewalk beginning at 5:50 p.m. Saturday at Station Square Park, 620 Cleveland St., Clearwater.

The Fun 'N Sun Illuminated Night Parade steps off at 7:35 p.m. Saturday, beginning at Crest Lake Park at Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Highland Avenue. This 46-year-old tradition features with colorful floats, bands and clowns.

For information or a complete schedule of Fun 'N Sun events, call (727) 562-4800.

Do you want to dance?

This weekend is hopping -- Lindy hopping, that is.

Join 150 of the nation's finest dancers for a jumping, jitterbugging Lindy Hop weekend with live music, demonstrations and workshops at the Gulfport Casino, 5550 Shore Blvd. S, Gulfport.

Even if you don't have a dance partner, international Lindy hop instructors Steven and Virginie Mitchell can teach you the Jitterbug Stroll and Swing Line Dance, beginning at 8 tonight. Stick around after the lessons and cut a rug to DJ tunes from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Admission is $6 at the door.

Saturday features the live traditional swing jazz sounds of Johnny Varro Swing Seven. Swing Seven plays New Orleans, Kansas City and Chicago Jazz/Swing as well as Harlem Jazz from the '30s to the '50s that's perfect for Lindy hoppers, East and West Coast swingers and fox trotters. An East Coast lesson begins at 8 p.m. Swing Seven plays from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Intermission features a performance by the Southern Fried Lindy Hoppers. Admission is $10 at the door.

Dancers of all levels can get pointers and learn a few tricks at Lindy hop workshops from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Call (727) 893-1066.

Ruskin hosts Tomato Festival

It's tomato season and Ruskin is booming with activities.

Eat your fill of free tomatoes and enjoy live country music, games, auctions, a cookoff and more at the Ruskin Tomato and Heritage Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at E.G. Simmons Park, Ruskin (take I-75 and exit west to U.S. 41, turn west on 19th Avenue NW; the park is located on the bay at the west end of 19th Avenue).

Ruskin area growers will sell their flavorful fruits and vegetables at the market Saturday and Sunday.

Hundreds of cars, trucks and motorcycles will be on display. If you need a part to get your wheels running, check out the auto parts swap meet.

Bring your favorite tomato recipe and try your luck in the cook-off.

Check out a display of American Indian artifacts.

Continuous live entertainment includes Brave Sounds Brave Tones, Panacea Steel Drum Band, Sundance Explorers, Paul Carr's Southern Breeze Band, South Hillsborough Minister's Association singers, Jack Sigler and Klassix Tunes by DJ Starvin Marvin.

Admission to the festival is $2, children 6 and under free. Parking is free, and free shuttle rides are available to the front gate. Call (813) 645-3808.

Festival treats all senses

Combine an array of food with arts and crafts and you get the Third Annual Taste of Tarpon Springs Craft Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Craig Park, Tarpon Springs (take U.S. 19 north to Tarpon Springs; turn west onto Tarpon Avenue, which runs into Craig Park).

Munch on sweet kettle corn, roasted nuts, hamburgers and hot dogs while you check out original works by more than 100 area crafters. Items include beaded jewelry, calligraphy, blown glass, photography, gourmet spices, leather goods, watercolor paintings and more.

Enjoy live musical entertainment by Steve Mikes playing exotic sounds on the Indian sitar and Shirley Dominguez performing on the Paraguayan harp.

Admission to the festival is free. Food and art items sold separately. Call (813) 962-0388.

Dancers put best toes forward

Expand your cultural horizons with a free ballet performance by the Florida West Ballet.

Nearly 30 dancers representing five area counties present Spring Bagels and Ballet at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen- Booth Road, Clearwater.

This performance features eight pieces including Three Movements, Melody, Lucid Apocalypse, Pas de deux from Le Corsaire, Spanish Suite and others.

All dancers are trainee, apprentice and company level and range in age from 10 to 18.

Admission to the performance is free. No tickets necessary. Bagels and beverages can be purchased in the lobby before the performance and during intermission.

This free performance is being presented in an effort to raise public awareness of ballet and the arts.

Call (727) 447-8771.

Sip for a good cause

Enjoy fine food, wine and music at the 2000 Abilities Wine Tasting and Auction from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Tropicana Field, First Avenue and 16th Street S, downtown St. Petersburg.

Chefs from more than 30 bay area restaurants, including Salt Rock Grill, Mise en Place and Le Bordeaux, have whipped up their best dishes for you to enjoy while you sample more than 150 fine wines.

Check out the 250 items in the silent auction: wine, fine artworks, sports memorabilia and more while you listen to live piano music by the Chabo Brothers and Alan Darcy.

Tickets are $60 at the door. Proceeds benefit Abilities of Florida, which trains people with disabilities for mainstream jobs and productive community lives.

Call (727) 538-7370.

Paella recipe serves thousands

Combine 300 pounds of rice with 400 pounds of chicken, 200 pounds of pork loin, 250 pounds of squid, 300 pounds of shrimp, 100 pounds scallops, 100 pounds grouper and 30 pounds of mussels and what do you get? It's a Super Paella.

Chefs mix up the Super Paella from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in Centennial Park, at 18th Street and Ninth Avenue, Ybor City. The suggested number of servings in this 10-foot diameter dish is 3,000. Get a taste of this giant seafood dish, beginning at 11 a.m.

Fee is $10 per person at the event. Proceeds benefit the American Red Cross Latin Initiative Program.

Call (813) 251-0921.

Festival serves bluegrass, barbecue

If youfeel like taking a road trip this weekend and love folk music, head to St. Augustine for the Fifth Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival.

The fun starts tonight with live bluegrass music by bay area musicians and an outdoor barbecue. Saturday features concerts by Richie Havens, Steve Gillette, Cindy Mangsen and Georgia Sea Island Singers. The event also has a full schedule of live acoustic music, storytelling, dancing, folk art, crafts and a 10K run/walk.

You can also pick up some guitar pointers at the finger-style guitar competition and the "I Remember Gamble Rogers" Contest.

All events take place tonight through Sunday at the St. Augustine Amphitheater, off A1A South in St. Augustine. For event information, call (904) 471-1965. Camping is available at Anastasia State Park. For reservations or information on additional camping facilities, call (904) 461-2033.