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Things to Do in Pasco and Hernando counties

 
Salto El Rocio1, a photograph by Clyde Butcher, will be part of Butcher's exhibit, "Cuba: The Natural Beauty," which opens Jan. 9 at the Rao Musunuru, M.D. Art Gallery at Pasco-Hernando State College's West Campus.
Salto El Rocio1, a photograph by Clyde Butcher, will be part of Butcher's exhibit, "Cuba: The Natural Beauty," which opens Jan. 9 at the Rao Musunuru, M.D. Art Gallery at Pasco-Hernando State College's West Campus.
Published Dec. 27, 2018

Festivals

SnowBash: Twenty tons of real snow and a sledding area will be the highlight of this event that was rescheduled due to inclement weather. It will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 5 at Tom Varn Park, 301 Darby Lane, Brooksville. Featuring live entertainment, music, food trucks, games and vendors. Funds raised will benefit the SEED Foundation, Hernando County Education Foundation, Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, Veterans HEAT Factory and the Friends of the Children. Admission is $5 per person; $5 parking. Email Karen@DoveDreamDeveloper.com. Visit theseedfoundation.org.

Florida Gulf Coast Cluster of Dog Shows: Ten days of American Kennel Club's All-Breed Dog Shows kicks off at 8 a.m. Jan. 10 at Florida Classic Park, 5360 Lockhart Road, east of Brooksville. Shows continue from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day from Jan. 10-14 and Jan. 16-20. There will be two days of agility trials, 10 days of conformation, owner handler, junior showmanship, obedience trials, rally trials, puppy competition and the new coursing ability tests. Vendors and food on site. Spectators are encouraged to bring a travel or folding chair. Free admission. Parking $5. Florida Classic Park, 5360 Lockhart Road, Brooksville. (352) 799-5180. Visit floridaclassicpark.com/cluster-shows.html

Dade Battle Re-enactment: Commemorating the 183rd Anniversary of Dade's Battle of 1835, the beginning of the Second Seminole War. The reenactment will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 5 and 6 at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, 7200 County Road 603, Bushnell. Includes period soldier, Seminole and civilian camps, period vendor trade fair, historic arts and crafts demonstrations, full-scale cannon firing and barricade building. There also will be 19th-century games and activities for children. The battle is at 2 p.m. each day. Admission $5; 5 and younger free. $3 parking. Call (352) 793-4781.

Hobbies

Stargazing at Starkey Park: Join the local Pasco Astronomers for an evening of stargazing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd, New Port Richey. Bring a telescope, or use one of the group's. Free. Call (727) 255-3083.

Toy Train, Hobby and Collectible Show: Regal Railways presents this show that will include a running train layout, drawings and vendors selling model trains, collectibles, die-cast cars and more from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Hernando County Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St, Brooksville. Admission is $5, 12 and younger free. Call (727) 244-1341 or visit regalrailways.com.

Art events

CUBA: The Natural Beauty: The exhibit will open Jan. 9 through Feb. 22 at Pasco-Hernando State College West Campus, Rao Musunuru, M.D. Art Gallery, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey. Featuring the works of nationally-acclaimed nature photographer Clyde Butcher. An opening reception will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 9. Clyde Butcher books will be available for purchase from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Jan. 9, preceding a formal presentation from 6 to 7 p.m., and a book signing from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Butcher will not be available for the opening reception. The exhibit is free. Call (727) 816-3231 or visit phsc.edu.

Down by the Water: The exhibit runs Jan. 8-30 at West Pasco Art Guild, 6206 Jefferson St., New Port Richey. A reception will be 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 13. There is no cost. Call (727) 841-7732.

Holiday Spirit exhibit: The exhibit continues through Jan. 12 at Uptown Art Gallery/Brooksville City Hall, 201 Howell Ave., Brooksville. It includes display of works by local artists, as well as Just Poets. Works in the gallery will be for sale. Call (207) 809-9066.

Music

Dunellon Concert Singers: The group will sing songs from the Big Band era at 3 p.m. Jan. 6 at Unity Church of Citrus County, 2628 W Woodview Lane, Lecanto. Featuring vocalists Mary Mahoney, Bill Thomas and Mary Ellen Craver, and pianist Bob Cubbage. Donations appreciated. Call (352) 419-8796.

Look ahead

Big Band Bash: The Hernando Jazz Society will present the JR Farley Orchestra live at 2 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Wellington Clubhouse, 400 Wexford Blvd., Spring Hill. The afternoon will include music and dancing to tunes from the Big Band era. Admission is free for Hernando Jazz Society members; nonmembers pay $10 each or $15 per couple. An optional buffet is available for a separate cost. A cash bar is available. Call Bill McLoughlin at (352) 799-9690.

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Pasco County Events

5 Saturday

Learn & Grow Volunteer Days: Join the Pasco County Farmden & Community Garden the first Saturday of every month through May for weeding, harvesting, washing produce and planting. Learn about gardening as you help grow food for the community. This fall, all the produce from the farm will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Dade City. Bring a hat, water, gardening gloves, and closed-toed shoes. This is a family-friendly event, but please leave pets at home. Community garden plots are still available to lease for free at the community garden. Contact Eden Santiago Gomez at esantiagogomez@pascocountyfl.net or call (352) 518-0156. 9 a.m. Pasco County Farmden & Community Garden, 15029 14th St, Dade City. ifas.ufl.edu

Pasco Park Walk: Join Pasco County Animal Services on this monthly walk. Bring a dog or walk one of the shelter dogs (all shelter dogs participating in the walks are available for adoption). All dogs must be on a leash. For guidelines and meeting locations, visit bit.ly/2DQl7QU. 9 a.m. J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd, New Port Richey. Free. (813) 929-1212.

Elementary Indoor Beach Party: Youth in kindergarten through third grades and their families are invited to play like they're at the beach. 2 p.m. Centennial Park Library, 5740 Moog Road, Holiday. Free. (727) 834-3204.

7 Monday

Choice Hearing Clinic: Includes ear wax checks, ear wax removal, hearing screenings and the cleaning and servicing of hearing aids. Participants with hearing aids receive one free package of batteries. 10 a.m. CARES Rao Musunuru, M.D. Enrichment Center, 12417 Clock Tower Parkway, Hudson. Free. (727) 807-7082.

CPAP/BiPAP Clinic: Screenings are offered every Monday. 1 p.m. Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, 6600 Madison St, New Port Richey. Free. (727) 953-6877. baycareevents.org

Roller Derby Recruitment: Revolution roller derby is looking for men and women ages 16 and older to join their teams. Bring a mouth guard, meet the current team and find out what it's about. 7 p.m. SpinNations Skating Center, 8345 Congress St., Port Richey. Free. (727) 280-7981.

10 Thursday

Growing Winter Veggies: Florida has two growing seasons for vegetables. However, with a little special knowledge, you can add a third growing season in winter. This is a free UF/IFAS Pasco Extension seminar to learn what to grow and how to do it in winter. Registration recommended. 6 p.m. New Port Richey Public Library, 5939 Main St, New Port Richey. ifas.ufl.edu

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Hernando County Events

5 Saturday

Croom Zoom 100K, 50K and 25K: Participants have a choice of racing three distances — 100K, 50K or 25K — through the Withlacoochee State Forest. Everyone begins with a 2.2-mile starter loop and then the 100K will run six loops, 50K will run three loops, and the 25K will run one loop along. Pre-race packets can be picked up from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 4 at the race start/finish location. 100K and 50K start at 6 p.m., 25K starts at 7 a.m. T-shirts guaranteed for those who pre-register. Trophies awarded. 6 a.m. Croom Trails at Tucker Hill Fire Tower, 26416 Croom Road, Brooksville. $45-$85.

Soup-a-Thon: Several seating times will be offered: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30 to 3 p.m., 3:30 to 5 p.m., and 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event will include soup donated from about 63 restaurants, such as Carrabbas Italian Grill, Fish Bones, Kally K's, Greek City, Argento's and others. There will be a minimum of 20 soups available at all times for tasting, as well as bread and butter on all tables. This is an all-you-can-eat, one cup at a time, no carry-out event. Purchase tickets early; there are only 250 tickets available for each seating and usually sell out quickly. Call Jack Hauser at (352) 238-1878, John Moonan at (352) 397-5817, or the church office at (352) 683-9666. St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 5030 Mariner Blvd, Spring Hill. $7.

Master Gardener Nursery: Find a large selection of Florida native and Florida-friendly plants, all from healthy stock, at budget prices, at the nursery open from 9 a.m. to noon, each Wednesday and Saturday, weather permitting. Master Gardener Nursery, 19490 Oliver St, Brooksville. ifas.ufl.edu

7 Monday

Hernando Computer Club Open House/Newcomers' Orientation: Learn what the club has to offer. Light refreshments will be served. 10 a.m. Monday. Grace Presbyterian Church, Building B, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Free. (352) 684-7171. hcc.org

9 Wednesday

Nature Explorers, Bears: This monthly program is for ages 5-9. Children can explore a variety of animals through games, activities and, on occasion, live animals. Registration is preferred. Older or younger siblings are welcome. 10:30 a.m. Chinsegut Conservation Center, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, Brooksville. Free. (352) 754-6722.

10 Thursday

Access Health Care Lecture: The lecture topic is "Get Out of Park and Don't Reverse: Restart Your Engine and Go!", presented by Maria Scunziano-Singh, MD, whose practice focuses on combining traditional medicine with holistic treatments. 5:30 p.m. Access Health Care, 5350 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Call to register. (352) 688-8116, ext. 4344.

Contact Phyllis Day at pday@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1408. Follow @pdaytimes.