Pasco County Area Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals

Fall is here, even if it doesn't feel like it outside.  Get in the seasonal spirit by visiting one of the many pumpkin patches and fall festivals gearing up around the area!

Fall Festival
Every Saturday and Sunday in October, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Horsepower for Kids, Inc.
8005 S. Racetrack Rd., Tampa, FL 33635

Admission $10/children, $8/adults. Parking $1 per car. Cash only, please.  Admission includes pony rides, hay rides, train rides, farm animals, face painting, bonfire, games, live music, hot dog and soda. Pumpkins also available for purchase.

Fall Maze
Every Saturday and Sunday thru November 4, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
Sweetfields Farm
17250 Benes Roush Rd., Masaryktown, FL 34604
Admission 12 years and older: $8.50, 3-11 years: $4.50, 2 years and under are free.  Admission includes fall maze, hay ride, hay maze, hay play area, picnic area, duck race, spider web maze, treehouse, storyteller, craft, animal visits, and more. Bring extra money for the pumpkin launcher, face painting, pumpkin painting, food and drinks, and U-pick or gathered produce.

Fall Festival
Friday, October 12, 6-8:30 p.m.
Morton Plant Mease Outpatient Center
2102 Trinity Oaks Blvd., Trinity, FL 
Free dinner, health screenings, Ask-A-Doc, face painting, pumpkin painting, Radio Disney, and more! Preregistration required, click here to register online or call (727) 940-2875.

Scarecrow Festival
Saturday, October 13, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Downtown Dade City
Free admission, bring your own long sleeved shirt and pants and stuff a scarecrow for free, arts and crafts vendors, carnival games (bring money!), pumpkins, pony rides, and bounce houses.


Fall Festival
Saturday, October 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Holiday Community Fellowship Church
5144 Sunray Dr., Holiday, FL 34690
Pumpkin patch, activities, games, food, and fun!

Fall Festival of Hope Vendor and Craft Fair
Saturday, October 13, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
HERS Fitness Center
7135 State Road 54, New Port Richey, FL 34653
Free doorprizes, free Zumba class at 9:30 a.m., food, and children's crafts

Wesley Chapel Fall Festival
Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Grove at Wesley Chapel
Oakley Blvd., Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

Arts and crafts vendors, Battle of the Wings contest, Lil Mr. and Miss Pumpkin Patch contest, pumpkin patch, hay rides, bounce houses, face painting, and more!

Family Fun Festival
Friday, October 19, 4-7 p.m.
Seal Swim School
19509 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Lutz, FL 33548
Pumpkin painting, bounce house, arts and crafts, face painting, music, and more.

Pumpkin Patch Bash
Friday, October 19, 6-8 p.m.
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Pkwy
Land O' Lakes, FL 34639
Come join our Pumpkin Patch Bash where we will have games, candy, hay rides and activities inside and outside. Costumes are encouraged but not required! This event is for ages 10 years old and under. Admission is $1 per person.

Pumpkin Patch and Fall Family Festival and Food Drive
First United Methodist Church of New Port Richey
5901 Indiana Ave., New Port Richey, FL 34652

Pumpkin patch open Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., October 17-27
Fall Family Festival and Food Drive
Saturday, October 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Summer Lunch Bus in Holiday!

Gulfside Elementary School, working with the Pasco School District, is running its Summer Lunch Bus Program, which will continue weekdays until Aug. 10.
Children ages 18 and younger in the Gulfside Elementary area in Holiday have access to a free lunch weekdays during summer vacation. Volunteers prepare lunches at the school and then take them out into the neighborhood to distribute them at specified times and locations.
The schedule is as follows:

• 11 a.m.: Holiday Lakes West Civic Center, 2728 Holiday Lake Drive.

• 11:20 a.m.: Holiday Lakes Estates Civic Center, 3628 Atlantis Drive.

• 11:45 a.m.: Westin Oaks Apartments, 1251 Westin Oaks Drive, off Alt. 19.

• 12:20 p.m.: Corner of Roselawn Drive and Lange Road.

• 12:45 p.m.: Corner of Orange Drive and Bonita Road.

No ID or registration required.

Movie on the Beach - May 11, 2012

Movie+on+the+Beach

School Supply Drives

In two weeks, Pasco County children will be returning to the classroom.  Unfortunately, not all of them can afford the supplies they need to help them succeed in their studies.  Some area organizations are collecting school supplies for these students in need.  While you are doing your shopping, consider picking up a box of crayons, a pack of notebook paper, or even a backpack and donating it to one of these organizations.

CARES Rao Musunuru, M.D. Enrichment Center
12417 Clock Tower Pkwy
Hudson, FL
Collecting notebooks, paper, pencils, backpacks, other school supplies for Hudson Elementary and Middle Schools.  Cash donations gratefully accepted.
Donations may be dropped off at the center weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Call (727) 863-6868 for more information.

The Volunteer Way
7820 Congress St.
New Port Richey, FL
Collecting school supplies and backpacks for the 3rd Annual School Bash.  Cash donations gratefully accepted.
Donations may be dropped off at the center between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays.  Donations should be dropped off by August 13th.  Call (727) 815-0433 for more information.

Joining Hands Community Mission
3214 U.S. 19
Holiday, FL
Collecting back to school supplies for families in need.  Donations may be dropped off at the Resource Center Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon or Friday from 10 a.m. until noon.  Call (727) 937-3268 for more information.

Salvation Army Community Center
7745 Ridge Rd.
Port Richey, FL
Collecting back to school supplies for families in need.  Donations needed include backpacks, highlighters, scissors, plastic zip bags, notebooks, index cards, pocket folders, binders, lined filler paper, #2 pencils, colored pens, pencils & markers, graph paper, nonscientific calculators, baby wipes, tissues and hand sanitizer.  Donations may be dropped off weekdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Community Center on Ridge Road or at the Salvation Army Center of Hope, 8040 Washington St., Port Richey.  Donations are needed on or before August 9.

2010 Pasco County Summer Camps

Summer is almost upon us!  Need ideas on what to do with the kids during their summer vacation?  Consider a summer camp!

YMCA of the Suncoast - Ages Vary By Location
Participating Pasco County locations include James P. Gills Branch and New Port Richey SunTrust Branch.  Other area locations are available in Hernando and Pinellas counties.

Scuba West Scuba Camp - Ages 12 and Up Only
6815 Tower Dr.
Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 863-6911

Camp Seal - Aquatic Summer Camp for Ages 3-12
Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church
19501 Holly Ln.
Lutz, FL
(813) 229-7946

Pasco County Parks & Recreation
Various Locations
Contact Administrative Office at (813) 929-2760

Joining Hands Community Mission

A wonderful new resource has opened on US 19 for those in need in Pasco County. Joining Hands Community Mission, Inc. is now open and operating at the site formerly known as Community United Methodist Church, 3214 U.S. Highway 19 in Holiday.

Joining Hands is a faith-based social service agency supported by Metropolitan Ministries and Gulf Central District UMC. Its resource center offers evaluation and emergency assistance to people in financial distress. Emergency food provisions and clothing are available, as is assistance in locating shelter, if necessary. Joining Hands is also an ACCESS Florida Community Partner, offering assistance in applying for food stamps, Medicaid, and temporary cash assistance.

In the future, Joining Hands is planning to offer transitional housing.

For more information or to help, call the mission at (727) 937-3268.

School Supplies

It's that time again - time for Back to School Shopping! If you, like so many others, are wondering how you are going to afford your child's school supplies, perhaps one of the following events can help!

Back 2 School Festival
Saturday, August 1
10 a.m. - 12 Noon
Alice Hall
38116 Fifth Ave.
Zephyrhills, FL
This event is sponsored by HIS Storehouse Outreach & Thrift Center and will offer free backpacks and school supplies, free food, carnival games for kids and a coupon for a $5 kid's haircut at Artistic Hair. Donations of school supplies and backpacks are still being accepted, and can be dropped off at the Thrift Center at 35362 State Road 54 during business hours (10-5 weekdays or 10-2 Saturday).

Joining Hands Kids Camp
August 3 - August 7
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Joining Hands Community Mission
3214 U.S. Hwy 19
Holiday, FL
A weeklong day camp for children whose families are experiencing homelessness or financial hardship. Campers will receive a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack and will experience many fun crafts and activities. At the end of the week, each camper will receive a new pair of shoes and a back-to-school backpack filled with school supplies. Call (727) 937-3268 for more information.

School Supply Giveaway
Saturday, August 8
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Victory Apostolic Church
102 Lake Hobbs Rd.
Lutz, FL
Free backpacks and school supplies will be provided. Call (813) 949-9001 for more information.

Backpack Giveaway
Saturday, August 8
Life Point Christian Church
6219 River Rd.
New Port Richey, FL
Free backpack giveaway. Call (727) 849-1251 for more information, to register, or if you would like to donate a backpack.

Back-to-School Sunday
Sunday, August 23
8:10 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:20 a.m.
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
6825 Trouble Creek Rd.
New Port Richey, FL
Attend any one of the three church services on this date and you could receive a free backpack. Online pre-registration is required. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Pre-registration does not guarantee you will receive a backpack, however there will also be free haircuts, games, prizes, ice cream sundaes and more.