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.

From the Sun to Pluto Interactive Exhibit - Ribbon-Cutting Saturday, Sept. 8

Back-to-School Freebies!

If you are a parent of a school-aged child, you know how expensive August can be.  If you need a little help getting your child's school supplies together, check out one of these events to get free school supplies:




Month of August
Free Back-to-School Haircuts (Kids K-6th Grade)
All JCPenney Salons
Click here to find a salon near you!


Saturday, August 4  11 a.m.-1 p.m.
4th Annual Back to School Bash
Cobb Theatres Grove 16 & Cinebistro
6333 Wesley Grove Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL
Free school supplies, free games, face painting, health screens, free hair cuts

Saturday, August 11 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine's Annual Back to School Fair
Glazer Childrens Museum
110 W. Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, FL
Live entertainment, informative speaker sessions, karaoke, games, arts & crafts, face painting, balloon artist, kids workshops, and a whole bunch of fun! There will be giveaways and prizes given every hour and the first 150 kids will receive a back to school bag with school supplies. Admission is $5 per person (free for museum members).

Sunday, August 19  8:10 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:20 a.m.
Back to School Backpack Giveaway
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
6825 Trouble Creek Rd.
New Port Richey, FL
Free backpacks, school supplies, games, prizes, free hair cuts, gently used clothing, and more.  Register onsite the day of or call Olivia Masterson at (727) 376-7733 for more information.

Mothers Day Weekend Happenings

21st Annual Mothers Day Powwow
May 11-13, 2012
Withlacoochee River Park
12449 Withlacoochee Blvd.
Dade City, FL 33525
$3 donation to enter, children 12 and younger are FREE!  Gates open at 9:00 AM daily.  Food, fun, Native American music and dancing, and much more!

Many Bay Area attractions and restaurants are offering freebies for moms on Mothers Day weekend!  Highlights include free admission for mom at Lowry Park Zoo, the Florida Aquarium, and MOSI.  Click on the link below for all the details:
Freebies for Moms

It's Strawberry Festival Time!

Our Central Florida fair season continues with the 2012 Florida Strawberry Festival, kicking off tomorrow, March 1st in Plant City!  Open daily from March 1-11 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., the Strawberry Festival offers midway rides, live entertainment (racing pigs! sea lions!  REBA MCENTIRE!), and, of course, strawberries for sale in bulk and as tasty treats.

Gate admission prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12.  Children 5 and under are free.  Discounted tickets are available at area Sweetbay Supermarkets - adult tickets are $8 and children's tickets are $4.

For more information, including a complete concert schedule, directions to the festival grounds, and to purchase concert tickets, visit the Strawberry Festival's website at http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com.

From the Sun to Pluto - Family-Friendly 5k - February 4, 2012

5KFlyer+(3)-1

Dade City Kumquat Festival - Saturday, January 28

If you want something fun and family-friendly to do this weekend, check out Dade City's annual Kumquat Festival, Saturday, January 28, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in historic downtown Dade City. 

Dade City's Annual Kumquat Festival™ , held the last Saturday in January each year, has become extremely popular for its homegrown, family-friendly entertainment. Visitors can listen to local entertainment, get their face painted, look at antique cars, and shop for arts and crafts. There are also 5k and 10k races/walks and a recipe contest where you can invent or re-invent your favorite dishes using kumquats. Participants recipes will be published in our Kumquat Festival™ Cookbook, available for sale at the festival. Our BBQ Dinner and Kumquat Growers' Open House are part of the festivities that round out our Kumquat Festival™ month in January.

For more information please call the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at 352-567-3769 or visit the Kumquat Festival website.

Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway on Friday for needy families - St. Petersburg Times

If you are in (or can get to) the Trinity area on Friday, December 17, 2010, the annual Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway is taking place at Generations Christian Church, located at 1540 Little Road. This event provides fresh food for a full holiday dinner for approximately 500 families in need. Sponsored in part by state Sen. Mike Fasano and state Reps John Legg and Richard Corcoran.

What: Holiday Food Giveaway
When: Friday, December 17, 2010 - 10 a.m. until 12 noon
Where: Generations Christian Church, 1540 Little Road, New Port Richey.
Click below or call Sen. Fasano's office at (727) 848-5885 for more details.

Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway on Friday for needy families - St. Petersburg Times

Miss the State Fair? Here's Another Chance at Funnel Cake!

If you didn't get a chance to get over to Tampa for the Florida State Fair this year, consider taking a trip to our very own Pasco County Fair in Dade City! Running from February 16th through the 22nd, the County Fair offers music, rides, the ever-popular racing pigs, great food, and much more! The County Fairgrounds are located at 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

Visit the Pasco County Fair website or call (352) 567-6678 for more details.

Make Tracks to Crews Lake Park

The Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad operates a 7 1/2" gauge railroad in Pasco County's Crews Lake Park. This miniature railroad is fun for children and adults alike, and is open to the public to ride the second Saturday of each month (next date is January 10, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.). Do you have a tiny train fan with a birthday coming up? The CP&G Railroad is also available for birthdays and other private parties for a reasonable fee.

For more information, visit the CP&G Railroad's website.