New Year's Eve parties

• Seventh annual "Tangerine Time" New Year's Eve celebration, 9 p.m. to midnight, Jerome Brown Community Center, Tom Varn Park complex, 99 Jerome Brown Place, off Darby Lane, Brooksville. This is a free, nonalcoholic family event that will include games, food and live entertainment. Door prizes will be awarded. The first 500 to arrive will receive free event T-shirts. The evening will culminate with the countdown to 2009 and the drop of a lighted tangerine globe at midnight (a spin on the New York City tradition). Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item, which will be donated to the Salvation Army. For information, call Wayne Vutech at (352) 799-7420 or the city of Brooksville at (352) 544-5407.

• St. Jude Knights of Columbus New Year's Eve celebration, 10470 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Individual and full table reservations are available, while they last. Tickets are $50 per person, which includes an open bar from 8 p.m. to midnight, dinner catered by Argento's, music by Larry Greer and a continental breakfast served at 12:30 a.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Dec. 31. For information or reservations, call Anthony, Pasquale or Angelo at the Knights, (352) 683-1227.

• The Hernando County Fair Association New Year's Eve celebration, 6436 S Broad St., Brooksville. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., dinner at 8 p.m. and entertainment by Clay Keith will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The dinner menu includes salad, roast beef or ham, potatoes, vegetables and dessert. Four bottles of champagne will be provided per table of eight. Wine and beer set-ups will be available for purchase; those attending may bring their own liquor. Tickets are $25 per person. For information or tickets, call the fair office at (352) 796-4552 or Sherry at (352) 796-0600.

• African-American Club of Hernando County New Year's Eve dinner party, starting at 8 p.m., Regency Oaks Clubhouse, 4445 Breakwater Ave., Spring Hill. Dinner will be served at 9:55 p.m. A champagne toast and party favors will be provided. There will be dancing until 1 a.m. Tickets are $25 per person. For reservations, call (352) 597-8098 or (352) 688-2851.

• Hernando Beach Club New Year's Eve celebration, 3145 Flamingo Blvd., Hernando Beach. Doors open at 7 p.m.; dinner served at about 8:15 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by Vintage. Tickets are $65 each, which includes a prime rib dinner, hats, noisemakers, an open bar (beer, wine and well drinks) and a light breakfast at midnight. Seating limited. All reservations must be prepaid. For tickets or information, call Bunni at (352) 688-4976.

• Hernando Beach Yacht Club New Year's Eve party, 4163 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Phantastic Sounds, which will perform a Phantom of the Opera show. Dancing will follow. A prime rib dinner will be served, and there will be a champagne toast at midnight. Dress is semiformal. Tickets are $55 per person. Call Karen Gemmel at (352) 592-0037 or Walter Gordon at (352) 597-0030.

• Wellington at Seven Hills New Year's Eve party, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., 400 Wexford Blvd., Spring Hill. Cocktails and butler-served hors d'oeuvres from 7 to 8 p.m., which include stuffed mushroom caps with crabmeat, hand-rolled meatballs with zinfandel sauce, mini brie cheese bundles and chicken quesadillas. Dinner will be from 8 to 9 p.m. and will include a choice of filet mignon with demi merlot sauce, stuffed chicken breast with ricotta cheese and spinach, or flounder stuffed with crab meat; all will be served with caesar salad, duchess potatoes, green beans, cheesecake, coffee and tea. There will be a champagne toast, danish pastries and coffee at midnight. Dinner choices must be given at time of reservations. Tickets are $75 per person, which must be paid by check only. Reservations are required by today. Call (352) 666-6888, ext. 207, or Chris at (352) 688-3889.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9236 dinner-dance, starting at 7 p.m., 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. A prime rib dinner will be served starting at 8 p.m. Stan Prinston will entertain, starting at 9 p.m. There will be an open bar and a champagne toast at midnight. Party favors will be provided. Tickets are $45 each or two for $75, and must be purchased in advance at the post. Call (352) 596-9236.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8681 New Year's Eve party, starting at 7 p.m., 18940 Drayton St., Shady Hills. Tickets are $25, which includes dinner, set-ups and entertainment. Call (727) 856-1860.

• Filipino-American Social Club of Hernando New Year's Eve party, 7 p.m. to midnight, Hernando County Senior Citizens Club, 7925 Rhanbouy Road. This is a potluck event; guests are requested to bring a special dish to share with 10 people. Music, party favors, hats, horns and noisemakers will be provided. This is a family event for all ages. The cost is $10 for adults, free for children. Call Ernie de Venecia at (352) 684-9252, Brenda Mandery at (352) 556-3968, Lucia Rodgers at (352) 397-8308, Glyen Terborg at (727) 376-3680, or Gigi Gerbolingo-Smith at (352) 683-9423.

• German-American Club New Year's Eve dinner-dance at the Hernando County Shrine Club, 13400 Montour St., west of Brooksville. Tickets are $30 for members, $40 for guests (must be purchased in advance). Semiformal to formal attire required. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and dancing to Alpen Diamanten from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will be a champagne toast and sandwiches at midnight. Bring your own beverages. For tickets, call Lisa Yaskulski at (352) 688-3744.

• Latin-American Civic and Cultural Association's New Year's Eve Gala Dance, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., SNPJ Lodge, 13383 County Line Road, Spring Hill. Music By DJ Frankie Guzman "Cayuco." The champagne toast and noisemakers will be provided. Guests may bring their own beverages. Advanced tickets are $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers; tickets purchased at the door are an additional $5. Tables can be reserved if paid in advance. Proper attire is required. Call Ana Burgos at (352) 688-0763, Elsa Serrano at 688-5890 or Carmen Torres at (727 )869-9398.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10209 New Year's Eve celebration, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., 14736 Edward R. Noll Drive, Spring Hill. Entertainment will be from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with Eddie Lawrence and the Ultimate Band. Dinner will be at 8 p.m.; the choice is prime rib or chicken, which includes potatoes, vegetable, roll, salad, dessert and coffee. There will be a champagne toast. Tickets are $35 per person, available in the canteen. For information, call (352) 796-0398.

• Aripeka Elks Lodge 2520 New Year's dinner-dance, 19135 Denton Ave., Hudson. Open bar at 7 p.m.; prime rib dinner at 8 p.m. Music provided by the Bendys from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 1 a.m. Tickets are $50 each, reserved seating only. Tickets may be purchased in the secretary's office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. For information, call Judi at (727) 868-2994.