Happy St. Patrick's Day!
The Irish will be celebrating this weekend. The traditional Rough Rider's St. Patrick's Day night parade will be held in Ybor City beginning at 8 PM. The Bay area Renaissance Festival currently going on in Tampa will have an Irish theme this weekend.
It is being held behind MOSI, Tampa's Museum Of Science and Industry. I went to the Renaissance Festival last weekend and it was fantastic. As you go through the gate and enter the woods you are instantly transported back in time. Dunedin will hold a street festival starting at 11AM on Saturday morning. Their will be traditional Irish music, food, and step dancers.
Tampa Bay Downs is celebrating its biggest racing day of the year on Saturday. Post time is 12:15 with over $850,000.00 in purses awarded. It is a great precursor to the Kentucky Derby coming up in May.
Just down the street from where I live on St. Pete Beach, historic Corey Avenue will have its annual Spring Sidewalk Festival. Lots of little boutique shops line the St. Pete Beach Business District, each will be featuring sales.
Many of the restaurants around St. Pete and Clearwater will be featuring corned beef and cabbage on their menu this weekend.
If I still haven't mentioned something to interest you, perhaps you want to go back in time at Heritage Village located Largo. This Saturday from 10AM until 4PM they will be saluting World War II and the Swinging 40s. There will be costumed soldiers, A Tuskegee Airmen presentation, big band music and swing dance demos. The event is free. For details enter: www.pinellascounty.org/heritage
Want still another festival? The St. Petersburg waterfront area downtown will be the site of the SPIFFS Folk Fair in Vinoy Park on Saturday and Sunday. Crafts, food, music even a parade of nations will be part of this festival featuring various ethnic and cultural groups. Gates open at 10AM on Saturday. The parade is scheduled for 1PM. On Sunday gates open at noon and the festivities continue until 6PM. Tickets are $10 at the gate; children under 12 are free with an adult. It is a fun way to experience the variety of cultures our world offers.
Whether you attend a festival, go to the races, eat corned beef and cabbage, drink green beer, travel back in time, or around the world the St. Pete area has its welcome sign out.
Come and enjoy the fun!
