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February Events

South Walton
Feb. 1-Feb. 23: Art Exhibit displaying paintings of Lois Kennedy at the Coastal Branch Library. 850-267-1216.

Tampa
Saturday, Feb. 6: FREE Grand opening of the long-awaited, striking new Tampa Art Museum, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Festivities include hands-on art activities for all ages, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular hours: daily, from 11 a.m-7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, & Friday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.. General admission is $10 adult, $7.50 seniors, military plus one guest, groups, $5 students; ages 6 and under Free. The museum will offer a “pay what you will” fee every second Saturday of the month, 9-11 a.m.. and every Thursday, 5-9 p.m. 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza off Ashley Drive.
www.tampamuseum.org

After museum opening, stay for Sunset Cinema, Tampa Theatre’s FREE outdoor picture show. Curtis Hixon Park gates open 4:30 p.m., film begins 6:30 p.m. www.tampatheatre.org

Saturday, Feb. 6: Ybor City’s Illuminated Night Parade with 100 floats, marching bands and krewes begins at 7 p.m. Come to Seventh and Nebraska avenues for a nighr of beads, beer and booty.

Feb. 4-15: Florida State Fair, 4800 U.S. Hwy. 301; $10 adult, $5 ages 6-12; $12 and $6 on weekends. Free parking.
www.floridastatefair.com

Ellenton
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 6-7: Gamble Plantation Historic State Park annual festival offers FREE tours of the mid-1800s sugar plantation and Patton House, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Arts and craft show, kids art competition, and food vendors are part of the mix. 3708 Patton Ave. Donations welcome. 941-723-4538.
www.floridastateparks.org/gambleplantation

Winter Park
Sunday, Feb.7: Movie Amadeus. If you missed the earlier film on the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, you can see it at 11 a.m., $5; Enzian Theatre, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland.

Saturday, Feb. 13: Big Band Bach is a fun concert presented under the auspices of the Bach Festival Society Rollins College; 3:30-5:30 p.m. Winter Park’s Central Park. FREE.
www.BachFestivalFlorida.org

Tarpon Springs
Friday, Feb. 12: Rotary Club’s annual pancake supper, 5 .p.m., at the Boys and Girls Club, 111 Lime St. $5 ticket will buy an all-you-can-eat meal of pancakes, sausage, o. j. and coffee. Proceeds benefit local youth programs. 727-804-8332.

Brooksville
Feb. 26-28: Sertoma Youth Ranch, 85 Myers Road, highlights Charlie Daniels Band in 3 days of numerous Country, Southern Rock and Southern Gospel artists. Along with the music, comes food, merchandise and craft exhibits, beer tent and a children’s zone. Karaoke lovers can enter a special contest for a $300 grand prize and back stage meeting with the master himself. Second and third place win $200 and $100 respectively. Single tickets: Fri: $10, Sat. $15, Sun. $20; ages 12 and under FREE. Go to www.journeyfest.org for scheduled artists, weekend pkg, Karaoke contest rules, etc.

N. Fort Myers
Feb.26-March 7: SW Florida-Lee County Fair. 10 days of exhibits and Midway fun at the Lee Civic Center, a 100-acre indoor/outdoor complex at 11831 Bayshore Rd.. $4 adult, $2 ages 6-11. 239-543-8368.
www.leeciviccenter.com for scheduled events

Tampa Bay
Farmer’s Markets are open for business in towns throughout the TB area. Along with fresh and locally grown produce, there may be such extras as plants, herbs, cheeses, baked goods, even clothing, music, arts and crafts.

Tuesdays: Gulfport: 9-3 p.m. Beach Blvd. 727-366-4086.

Wednesdays: Clearwater: 500-600 blocks Cleveland St. 9 a.m.-2 p.m, 727-461-7674; Oldsmar: Downtown 9 s.m.-1:30 p.m., 727-733-4215; Tampa: University of South Florida, Marshall Student Center, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (spring and fall semesters), 813-974-5309, www.msc.usf.edu

Thursdays: Safety Harbor: 401 Main, St 9 a.m.-1:30, 727-724-1572; Trinity: 3104 Town Ave. 3-7 p.m. 727-375-1956,
www.longleafmarket.com

Fridays: Dunedin: Pioneer Park 8 a.m.-1 p.m.727-733-4215. Treasure Island Community Center, 727-360-4121; Tampa: Lykes Gaslight Park, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
www.tampasdowntown.com

Saturdays: Largo: Market in the Park, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Heritage Village, 727-582-2123, www.pinellascounty.org/heritage; St. Pete: Progress Energy Park/Al Lang Field, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 727-455-4921. Ybor City: Centennial Park, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 813-241-2442, www.ybormarket.com ; Brooksville, Historic Courthouse, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 352-848-0090. Ellenton: Ice and Sports Complex, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 941-723-3663.
www.ellentonfarmersmarket.com

Sundays: Palm Harbor: 2043 Curlew Rd. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 727-724-3054; St. Pete Beach: 155 Corey Ave. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 727-498-8778. Tarpon Springs: 7 S. Pinellas Ave, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 727-942-4675.

Florida State Parks are celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2010 with a variety of events throughout the year. From their beginning in 1935 they have grown from eight to 160 parks scattered throughout Florida. In the last fiscal year (July, 2008-July, 2009) over 21.4 million visitors enjoyed one of the most economical vacations in the state. Keep checking Bargains, www.vacationfunflorida.com/blog , and Tampa Bay on the Cheap for more Park celebrations for little money.

January-February is the Panhandle’s turn with “Go Play Weekday” specials at six state parks. A 75 cent admission, Monday through Thursday will take you to the white sands of Grayton Beach, Santa Rosa Beach; or rare dune lake at Camp Helen, Panana City Beach, along the Gulf (US 98). Closer to Georgia and I-10 are state parks where canoeing at the Blackwater River State Park, Holt; nature walks at Falling Waters, Chipley; fishing at Three Rivers, Sneads; and hiking the high bluffs at Torreya , Bristol are popular activities. To get in for 75 cents: you must say “Go Play Weekday” to the ranger or write it on the envelope with your money, if entrance is on the honor system.

To learn more about the parks, www.floridastateparks.org. Blackwater River and Camp Helen State Parks are also in our eBook; Three Rivers and Torreya State Parks are in www.vacationfunflorida.com/blog (10/1 and10/26/09).

Love the outdoors? Want to do your part in preserving the state’s environment? The Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service has joined with Volunteer USA Adventures to offer families, organized groups, and individuals, an affordable holiday while conserving outdoor recreation areas. In exchange for helping on such projects as clearing trails and waterways, volunteers will be given complimentary entrance to the park and campsite space, if available. To see what, where, and when current projects are available, click on www.volunteerUSAdventures.com.

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Panhandle Florida:
Florida State Parks are celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2010 with a variety of events throughout the year. From their beginning in 1935 they have grown from eight to 160 parks scattered throughout Florida. In the last fiscal year (July, 2008-July, 2009) over 21.4 million visitors enjoyed one of the most economical vacations in the state. Keep checking here at Bargains,as well as the VacationFunFlorida blog, and TampaBayOnTheCheap.com for more Park celebrations for little money.

January-February is the Panhandle’s turn with “Go Play Weekday” specials at six state parks. A 75-cent admission, Monday through Thursday will take you to the white sands of Grayton Beach, Santa Rosa Beach; or rare dune lake at Camp Helen, Panana City Beach, along the Gulf (US 98). Closer to Georgia and I-10 are state parks where canoeing at the Blackwater River State Park, Holt; nature walks at Falling Waters, Chipley; fishing at Three Rivers, Sneads; and hiking the high bluffs at Torreya , Bristol are popular activities. To get in for 75 cents: you must say “Go Play Weekday” to the ranger or write it on the envelope with your money, if entrance is on the honor system. To learn more about the parks, www.floridastateparks.org. Blackwater River and Camp Helen State Parks are also in our eBook; Three Rivers and Torreya State Parks are in www.vacationfunflorida.com/blog (10/1 and10/26/09).

Love the outdoors? Want to do your part in preserving the state’s environment? The Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service has joined with Volunteer USA Adventures to offer families, organized groups, and individuals, an affordable holiday while conserving outdoor recreation areas. In exchange for helping on such projects as clearing trails and waterways, volunteers will be given complimentary entrance to the park and campsite space, if available. To see what, where, and when current projects are available, click on www.volunteerUSAdventures.com

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