FREE Jeff Corwin Lecture - USF Tampa, Thursday, November 15, 8 p.m.

Jeff Corwin, host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning show “The Jeff Corwin Experience,” will be sharing his animal adventures as well as the importance of wildlife conservation and sustainability with University of South Florida (USF) students, staff, and community. The heavily anticipated lecture, “Tales from the Field with Jeff Corwin,” takes place Thursday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom on the Tampa campus.

Sponsored by the USF Student Affairs’ University Lecture Series (ULS), Corwin’s lecture will feature various live animals, potentially including a cougar, alligator, coati and Burmese python.

While Corwin is best known for his entertaining shows on Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and ABC, he is also one of the world’s leading environmental journalists. His passion for conservationism and sustainability attracts audiences from all around the globe. Also an author, his latest book is “100 Heartbeats: The Race to Save Earth’s Most Endangered Species.”

All lectures in the University Lecture Series are free to students, faculty, staff and the public. For more information about the series, the speaker, the seating and attendance policy, or parking, visit http://uls.usf.edu/. For reasonable accommodations, please contact (813) 974-1001 (FL Relay 711).

Other inquiries may be directed to Renee Svec at (813)974-5383 or svec@usf.edu or Lara Wade-Martinez at (813) 974-9060 or larawade@usf.edu.

Paddling Pasco Trip # 8 - Eagle Point Park to Green Key, Saturday, November 3

Paddling Pasco Trip #8, a sunset paddle, is planned for Saturday November 3rd from Eagle Point Park to Robert Rees Memorial Park (AKA Green Key) with a bonfire on the beach at sunset. Boats will need to be dropped off at Eagle Point Park between 3:30 and 4pm and vehicles will need to park at Green Key - a shuttle will return you to your boat for a launch at 4:30pm promptly. The trip is scheduled to be about 2 to 2.5 hours along the mangrove shoreline to include some mangrove tunnels in the park. Sea life and sea birds in this area is abundant and winter sunsets can be spectacular. Eagle Point Park is located at the western end of Trouble Creek Road and Green Key is located at the western end of Green Key Road - both roads are off US 19 in New Port Richey.

Things to consider bringing other than boat, paddle, PFD and whistle:  drinks, snacks, camera, flashlight or head light, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellant, chair for around the fire and towel. If you want to register for this trip please contact us at fbuckman@pascocountyfl.net or 813-929-2760 with names and contact information including email and phone number. This will allow us to prepare properly. We will ask those attending to read and sign a simple liability waiver on site before we launch. Cost will be $2 for parking.

Paddling Pasco Trip #8 - Upper Withlacoochee River, Sunday, October 28

Paddling Pasco Trip #7 on the upper Withlacoochee River, Sunday October 28, 9am to about 11:30am.

Please meet at the kayak launch on the river in Pasco County’s Withlacoochee River Park. Once we all gather, we will access this launch location and may move to a nearby boat ramp for easier access. A local guide in the area, Marty Warburton, will lead the paddle. The water level is high and there will be river current, but it should be manageable in kayaks. We hope to go up river into the Green Swamp area. Hopefully there will be opportunities to see and take pictures of wildlife and wild lands.

All paddlers will need to wear a PFD while on the river and sign a waiver on site.

This trip will be unlike any of the others done along the coast, although the trip on the upper Cotee River did go through some of Old Florida wild lands. The trip is planned to be approximately 2 to 2.5 hours on the water. If we launch in the park, there will be a $2 fee.

To register or if you have any questions, please contact the Pasco County Parks & Recreation office at 813-929-2760.

Note: The park is hosting a Native American Indian Pow-Wow this weekend, so you might want to stay a bit to take in this event. For more information on this event please contact Withlacoochee River Park at 352-567-0264 or 352-521-4104.

2nd Annual Day in the Country - Saturday, Nov. 3

Sky Harbor 2nd Annual Day in the Country

Haunted Pasco 2012 - Haunted Houses to Thrill and Chill You!

The Haunted House on 41 
October 25, 7:30-9:30 p.m.;  Oct. 26-27, 7:30-10 p.m.
Land O'Lakes Community Center
5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd.
Land O' Lakes, FL
Thursday night is Sneak Peek night and admission is free!  Friday & Saturday's admission is $1 per person. Some scenes may be too intense for young children. For information, call (813) 929-1229. Hosted by the Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department.

The Angelus 6th Annual Haunted House
12413 Hudson Ave.
Hudson, FL 34669

October 19-21 and 26-31

Hours of Operation:  Fridays & Saturday 6:30pm - 12:00am    

Sundays & Weekdays  6:30pm - 10:00pm
Admission costs vary; check website for details.

Haunted Forest

North Anclote River Nature Park
550 Dixie Hwy
Tarpon Springs, FL
October 19th, 20th & 26th, from 6:30-9:30pm. 
Admission: $5.00 for all ages.
Hike through the haunted trails at the North Anclote River Nature Park, off Old Dixie Highway.  If the hidden terrors don't frighten you, the insects will!   Concessions will be available in the parking lot. 

Horror at the Ridge

9349 Calle Alta Dr.

New Port Richey, FL 34655

October 19-21 and 26-31

Hours of Operation: 7:30pm - 11:00pm

Admission: $2.00 for all ages

Additional items available for purchase: novelties, food & drink

Proceeds benefit River Ridge High School band programs

House of Fright

18701 Shady Hills Rd.

Spring Hill, FL 34610

October 19-21 and 26-31

Fridays & Saturdays from 7pm-1am
Sundays, Monday & Tuesday from 7pm-11pm
Halloween Wednesday from 7pm-1am

Admission costs vary; check website for details.

Halloween Howl
5th Avenue
Downtown Zephyrhills, FL
Saturday, October 27, 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Take a hair-raising hayride to the haunted house. Other activities include safe trick-or-treating, costume parade, bounce houses, cake walk, food vendors and live entertainment.

 

2nd Annual CVS Halloween Bash! Sunday, October 21

This Sunday, October 21st, visit your local CVS/pharmacy between 1 and 3 p.m. for their free Halloween bash!  Kids in costume will be able to have their picture taken by CVS staff for a free 5x7 print and will receive a FREE Halloween fun pack, containing Halloween goodies and over $10 in coupons.

To find the closest CVS/pharmacy, check out their Store Locator.

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.