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5 things to do under $5: Kite festival, Florida Manatee Festival

 
A cat themed kite during the 2014  Treasure Island Kite Festival in Treasure Island, FL on January 18th,  2014.  LUKE JOHNSON/STAFF
A cat themed kite during the 2014 Treasure Island Kite Festival in Treasure Island, FL on January 18th, 2014. LUKE JOHNSON/STAFF
Published Jan. 10, 2018

1 Treasure Island Sport Kite Festival: The annual competition returns to the beach behind the Thunderbird Resort, filling the sky with kites as flyers perform to music at this two-day event. There will be dual-line and multi-line sport kite flying in a wide array of disciplines, and free lessons on how to fly stunt kites. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 10700 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island. (727) 320-9463.

2 Author readings: The bonus for the public during the Eckerd College Writers in Paradise conference is the free evening reading series in which top authors read from their works. Saturday at 8 p.m. brings fiction writer Ana Menendez (Adios, Happy Homeland!) as keynote speaker. The conference's closing speaker at 8 p.m. Jan. 20 will be award-winning novelist Russell Banks. Free. Eckerd College Dan and Mary Miller Auditorium, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 864-7994. writersinparadise.com.

3 Florida Gulf Coast Cluster: The largest dog show in Florida runs Thursday through Jan. 21 with 10 American Kennel Club all-breed dog shows, two days of agility trials, two days of specialty shows, 10 days of conformation, junior showmanship, obedience trails and coursing ability tests. Visitors can go behind the scenes and meet the dog handlers. Free, $5 parking. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Florida Classic Park, 5360 Lockhart Road, Brooksville. (813) 480-3975.

4 Beginners Guide to Disc Golf: The Tampa Bay Disc Sports Club will hold a short clinic on Sunday followed by a supervised round for players looking to learn the game of disc golf. It's similar to golf, with players throwing Frisbee-like discs at upright baskets along a course using some discs for long throws, others for putting. There will be discs available to use during the event. Free. 2-6 p.m. Sunday. Northeast Coachman Park, 1120 Old Coachman Road, Clearwater.

5 Florida Manatee Festival: The biggest event of the year in Crystal River comes at a time when the iconic sea cows are mobbing the spring-fed waterways of the tiny town. There will be a fine arts and craft show, manatee education and viewing, entertainment, food, a tiny house display, inflatables, costumed characters and face painting. Parking available at the Crystal River Mall with free shuttles. $5, 12 and younger free.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. U.S. 19 and Citrus Avenue, Crystal River. (352) 795-3149. gomanateefest.com.

FORECAST: Check the weekend's weather forecast while making your plans.

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